"The individual's whole experience is built upon the plan of his language."
~ Henri Delacroix ~

Placement

Starting in the fall 2008 all entering students in the School of American and International Studies will have to fulfill a language requirement. Please refer to the description below for information on placement and exemptions.

For students in the School of American and International Studies (AIS)

All undergraduate degree candidates in AIS are required to show proficiency in a language other than English at the “Intermediate Low level” as described by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines. This minimum proficiency standard is only a stepping-stone to mastery. Therefore, we encourage students to continue coursework, immersion activities, and study abroad that will help them reach the ultimate goal of linguistic and cultural competency in a language other than English.

The proficiency exam will be administered in the first year of the student’s enrollment and can be taken in Spanish, French, and German. The result of the proficiency exam will determine if the student needs additional courses, in which case the student will be placed in the appropriate level: Foundation I, Foundation II, or Intermediate I.

In the event that the language chosen by a student is not tested and/or taught at the College, it will be the responsibility of the student, in consultation with the language faculty, to identify a test and/or courses off-campus that will serve to prove the required proficiency.

Satisfactory evidence of Intermediate Low proficiency can be demonstrated in the following ways and will constitute exemption from further coursework:

Successfully completing Intermediate I World Language course
Completing equivalent coursework in an approved study abroad program
Receiving transfer credit for equivalent coursework
Passing a Ramapo College Placement Test at the intermediate low level or higher
Passing the ACTFL OPI at the required level (Life and telephone interviews offered at cost through state and national testing centers)
Passing the NYU Language Test (for those languages not offered through CLEP or STAMP at Ramapo; cost is responsibility of student)
Receiving a score of 4 on the High School Advanced Placement Test
International High School Graduates whose native language is not English are exempt from the component and encouraged to study an additional language
International Baccalaureate (IB) Graduates

For students not in the School of American and International Studies and continuing students

Placement in foreign language courses will be decided according to the following criteria:

Students with one to two years of high school foreign language enroll in a Foundations I course
Students with two to three years of high school foreign language enroll in a Foundations II course
Students with three to four years of high school foreign language enroll in a 200-level course
Students with five or more years of high school foreign language, life experience, or study abroad enroll in a 300-level course

Students who received an A or B in high school courses or who have equivalent proficiency can be placed at the higher level. Proficiency levels are designated according to the Association of College Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guidelines. A score of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement language exam earns three credits.

Please consult with an advisor at the Advisement Center or the foreign language faculty if you have any questions.

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* Summary of ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for Speaking and Writing: Intermediate Low speakers can maintain simple face-to-face conversation by asking and responding to simple questions in informal settings dealing with topics related primarily to one’s self and immediate environment. In writing, they create statements and formulate simple questions by recombining familiar structures and vocabulary in order to meet elementary needs. These speakers and writers can be understood, with some repetition or additional effort, by speakers unaccustomed to non-native speakers.