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Language Placement Guidelines

Language Placement Guidelines

It is very important for you to begin your language studies at Salem State at the appropriate level. If you have studied a language in high school or if you speak the language due to life experience, you should not enroll in the 101-level course. The 101 course is designed for beginners who have very little or no prior experience with the language.

Language Placement Guidelines

Students who have previous experience with a language other than English, should follow the department’s placement guidelines listed below. It is also worthwhile to contact Chairperson Kenneth Reeds.

Course Basic guidelines for placement

Course Guidelines
 101
  • No experience in the language (true beginner)
  • Less than two years of high school study in the language
  • Less than 400 in the SAT-II
 102
  • 2-3 years of high school language study
  • 400-460 in SAT-II test
 201
  • 3-4 years of high school language study
  • 461-559 in SAT-II test
  • Documented achievement of the intermediate level on the Seal of Biliteracy will earn a student 3 credits (201 level).
 202
  • 4-5 years of high school language study
  • At least 560 in SAT-II test
  • 3 in the AP test

  • Documented achievement of the intermediate-high level on the Seal of Biliteracy will earn a student 6 credits (201-202 level).  
300+

and

400+
  • Five or more years previous language study
  • Above 700 in SAT-II test
  • 4 or 5 in AP test
  • Or permission of the department’s chairperson

  • Documented achievement of the advanced-low level on the Seal of Biliteracy will earn a student 9 credits (201, 202, and 300 level).  

 

Department Policies

It is considered academically dishonest for native speakers, heritage speakers (those who learned a language through family or life experience), or students with significant prior study of a language (in secondary school or at another institution of higher education) to enroll in elementary-level language courses. Students who intentionally conceal their language background and place themselves into elementary-level language courses may face charges of academic dishonesty which can result in exclusion from the course and the filing of a report of Academic Misconduct. See the University’s policy on Academic Integrity for more information about academic dishonesty.

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