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Language Learning Resource Center

Proficiency and Placement Examinations in Modern Languages

Standard Course Sequence

Students demonstrate proficiency in a modern language by taking a sequence of four progressive courses: 1010, 1020, 2010 and 2020 – in Arabic, Chinese, French German, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish. Students who begin their language study at a level above 1010 may NOT go back and take lower-level courses for credit without permission from the Chair. As soon as students enroll at Wright State, they should take the WECAPE placement test in the Department of Modern Languages to determine their level of proficiency. Once students begin language study at a certain level, they may not skip courses in the sequence without permission from the Chair.

Guidelines for Placement, Proficiency, and Exemption
from the College of Liberal Arts Language Requirement

PLEASE NOTE: no matter what your major is, it is Department POLICY that you may buy back credits ONLY at EITHER the 1000-2000 level OR the 3000 level, NOT BOTH.

WEBCAPE PLACEMENT TEST SCALE

FRENCH
0-259                      FR 1010
260-336                   FR 1020
337-402                   FR 2010
403-500                   FR 2020
500-600                   3000-LEVEL FRENCH
600 & above             Meet with advisor

GERMAN
0-291                      GER 1010
292-383                   GER 1020
384-492                   GER 2010
493-550                   GER 2020
550-600                   3000-LEVEL GERMAN
600 & above             Meet with advisor

SPANISH
0-269                      SPN 1010
270-345                   SPN 1020
346-427                   SPN 2010
428-510                   SPN 2020
510-600                   3000-LEVEL SPANISH
600 & above             Meet with advisor

Students, please NOTE the following possibilities and restrictions:
HOW TO BUY “BACK CREDITS” TO ADVANCE YOUR COLLEGE CAREER

1. Take the WEBCAPE placement exam
2. Receive a score of 497 (for example), and place into 2020
3. Finish the course, achieving a 'C' or better and
4. Purchase optional credits for courses below that level at $50 /credit hour (1010, 1020, 2010 – at 3 credit hours each)
5. You need to fill out the Credit by Examination Registration Form, available from the Administrative Specialist in 325 Millett.

FOR NATIVE, HERITAGE (language learned from relative or parents, but student has little grammar/writing knowledge) AND ADVANCED SPEAKERS OF FRENCH, GERMAN OR SPANISH:

If you score 600 or above on the WEBCAPE Placement test, you are eligible to take the Proficiency Exam ($25 fee) to receive up to 6 hours of graded credits for $50/credit hour. Courses awarded are chosen from the following:
One of 3110, 3120 (Conversation)
One of 3210, 3220 (Composition)

Please note that you MAY NOT buy back credits from both the 1000-2000 level and the 3000-level; only one of these two options is available to each student.

click here to take the placement test

Proficiency in Languages Other than French, German
and Spanish

Students who claim their native language as English but would like to take a proficiency exam in a language Wright State offers other than French, German, or Spanish, which includes Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian, may do so by arrangement with the department. Students can take one of these exams to exempt themselves from the CoLA foreign language requirement, but again, cannot buy back any credit unless they take an upper-level course and receive a "C" or better in that course.

Students who claim as their native language a language NOT offered at Wright State (such as Hindi, for example) can find a qualified professor at another local college or university who speaks that language to test them and officially verify to the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages that they are proficient. In this case, the student can be declared exempt from the College of Liberal Arts language requirement, but cannot buy back any credits.

Students who claim a language other than English as their native language may complete their CoLA foreign language requirement by taking one of several ESL or ENG classes. These students should contact the English Deparment at 775-3136.