Foreign Language Advising Guide

Q: Which languages departments consistently offer their first semester introductory course in both the fall and spring semesters, allowing students to begin a new language at any time during the academic year?

A: American Sign Language (SPHS)
French (FRIT)
German (GER)
Hebrew - Modern (JSTU)
Italian (FRIT)
Latin (CLAS)
Portuguese (HISP) * Intensive Introductory course, combining first two semesters, in Spring
Spanish (HISP)
Turkish (CEUS)

Q: Which languages/departments consistently offer all 4 courses in their basic language sequence in the summer?

A: American Sign Language (SPHS), Arabic (NELC), Chinese (EALC), French (FRIT), Italian (FRIT), Korean (EALC), Russian (SLAV), Spanish (HISP), Turkish (CEUS)

Q: Which languages/departments offer accelerated or intensive courses, allowing a student to complete a language sequence in less than 4 semesters?

A: Dutch: GER-N105: Accelerated Elementary Dutch – Recommended for motivated students or those with proficiency in another foreign language.
French: FRIT F115: Accelerated Elementary French; FRIT F265: Accelerated Second-Year French
Italian: FRIT M115: Accelerated Elementary Italian; FRIT M215: Accelerated Second-Year Italian
Portuguese: HISP-P 135 Intensive Portuguese - For students from secondary school placed into the second semester of first-year study or those with prior knowledge of another Romance language.
Spanish: HISP-S 105 First-Year Spanish - For students with any prior experience in Spanish.
Turkish: CEUS offers Introductory Turkish I and II as 1^stand 2^nd 8-week courses in the Spring, allowing students to complete a year’s worth of language in one semester. Other CEUS languages may be offered, but not on a regular basis.
Ukrainian: SLAV-U182 and SLAV-U282 Ukrainian Through Russian I & II - Each semester covers a full year (two semesters) of language, but these courses are not offered regularly.
See also: Language Workshop 

Q: Which languages/departments offer online or hybrid options for some/all introductory language courses?

A: Dutch (GER), French (FRIT), Italian (FRIT), Pasto (CEUS – summer only); Portuguese (HISP); Spanish (HISP); Zulu (AFRI)

Q: What’s the difference between a placement test and a proficiency test?

A: A placement test score indicates which IU language course is most appropriate for the student’s current level of language learning.  Proficiency tests are intended to give students an opportunity to demonstrate language proficiency (exemption) without having to enroll in additional language coursework.  Students interested in this option should contact the appropriate language department as soon as possible upon matriculating to IUB to determine if a proficiency test is available. 

• Online placement exams are available in the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish.  Refer to the following website: https://foreignlanguageplacement.indiana.edu/.
• In-person placement exams are regularly scheduled for the following languages:
  • Arabic: Contact Dr. Nader Morkus (nmorkus@indiana.edu) to make arrangements.
  • Indic languages - Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu: Refer to Dhar India Studies Program.
• Contact the appropriate department’s main office to schedule a placement exam for the following languages: Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Czech, Estonian, Finnish, Greek (classical), Hungarian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Uyghur, Uzbek.
• Contact the faculty coordinator for the specific language to schedule a placement exam for the following languages: Akan, American Sign Language, Bamana, Dutch, Egyptian (ancient), Greek (modern), Kinyarwanda, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swahili, Yiddish, Yoruba, Zulu. Check the faculty list on the appropriate department’s website to identify the current coordinator for a particular language.

Q: What is the policy for special credit?

A: Degree-seeking students can earn a maximum of two semesters of special credit for foreign language and this special credit is limited to two semesters of second-year study (the third and fourth semesters). The number of credits varies according to the language. To earn special credit, students must take the placement test offered by the appropriate department at IUB, complete a validating course on the IUB campus with a grade of C or higher, and apply for the special credit to be posted retroactively. If a student earns a grade of C- or below in the validating course, s/he will not earn special credit. Students interested in special credit in foreign language should complete their validating course as soon as they begin their studies at IUB. For more information, refer to the full policy in the College Bulletin.

Additional Resources

• Application for Establishment of Foreign Language Proficiency for International Students who are Non-Native Speakers of English (PDF Form)
• College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin (contains information about policies related to foreign language placement, foreign language proficiency, and foreign language special credit)
• How Long Does it Take to Become Proficient? (Source: Language Testing International)
• Language Workshop (formerly known as the “Summer Language Workshop” and “SWEESL”)
• UD Guides: Foreign Language Placement 

Revised May 2023

Note:  International students who were admitted prior to Summer 2013 are subject to the FL policies that were in effect when they matriculated to IU (please see the College Bulletin that corresponds to the student’s matriculation date), including the following: 

• Students who graduated from a U.S. high school and took a proctoredproficiency exam (not an on-line placement test) at IUB in his/her native language may be able to satisfy the General Education World Languages and Cultures requirement as well as the CASE Foreign Language requirement
• Students may also be eligible for special credit (up to four semesters)

The information below applies to international students who matriculated in Summer 2013 or later. College Recorders review the documents submitted to the Office of International Admissions by students when they apply to IU. College Recorders review these documents for new matriculants and add a proficiency notation to student records if the documents meet the criteria for satisfying the General Education World Languages and Cultures requirement and the CASE Foreign Language requirement (for students in the College). If additional documentation is needed to establish proficiency, the College Recorder contacts students directly via email with additional information and instructions.

If international admissions documents are not available (e.g., for students who transfer to IUB from other US institutions), students should compete the Foreign Language Proficiency form, which is available on the College of Arts and Sciences website >> Student Portal >> Information for Undergraduate Students >> Forms. Students should submit the form to the College Recorder as soon as possible after matriculation in case supporting documentation is required.

• Documentation: Students may need to submit documentation to establish their language proficiency. This can be any of the following:
  • High School Transcript showing at least two years of instruction in the student’s native language
  • Non-US High School Diploma
  • National Exam Results (for example, A-level or O-level exams)
  • Leaving Certificate issued by the Ministry of Education
• Students can satisfy the General Education World Languages and Cultures requirement through this process
• Students in the College of Arts and Sciences can also satisfy the CASE Foreign Language requirement through this process
• Students whose foreign language proficiency is established automatically by the College Recorder or through the Foreign Language Proficiency form are not eligible for special credit

International students who are unable to provide one of the documents listed above and are speakers of languages for which a test option is not available (see chart below) or whose native language is English:

• Must fulfill the General Education World Languages and Cultures requirement and CASE Foreign Language requirement in the same ways as domestic students. Students should be encouraged to begin their language study as early as possible, if needed.
  • General Education World Languages and Cultures: completing the fourth semester of a language offered on campus, completing two World Cultures courses, or through approved overseas study experiences
  • CASE Foreign Language requirement: Students pursuing BA and BFA degrees in the College must complete the fourth semester of a language in order to fulfill the CASE Foreign Language requirement. All students in the College pursuing other degree objectives should check their foreign language degree requirement on the AAR or consult with their academic advisor.

>> Please see the College’s Foreign Language Special Credit policy for additional information.                    

Native speakers of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean who do not have high school documentation from their home country but who completed middle school in their home country:

• Students should obtain an official copy of their middle school transcript (6^th grade and above). They should take this documentation (in person) to the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) located in GA 2050A where they will complete the Language Proficiency Certification Form. The appropriate language program coordinator will review the completed form and documentation. Once the information has been verified, if the form is approved, EALC staff will submit this information to the College Recorder who will certify the foreign language proficiency for the General Education World Languages and Cultures requirement and the CASE Foreign Language requirement (for students in the College). Please note that no special credit is available through this process.

Test options are currently available in the languages listed in the chart below, however, the list is subject to change and tests may not be available each year.

• International students who are native speakers of the languages listed below should complete the Foreign Language Proficiency form rather than taking a proctored test, when possible. Establishing proficiency through the application process is generally much quicker and easier for students.
• International Students who matriculated prior toSummer 2013 and who wish to take a proctored test in one of the languages listed below, with the exception of Chinese, Japanese and Korean, should contact Terri Greenslade, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, at coasaado@indiana.edu. Students who need assistance with Chinese, Japanese, or Korean should contact the College Recorder’s Office at coasrecd@indiana.edu.
• Students who demonstrate proficiency beyond the fourth-semester level will be able to satisfy the General Education World Languages and Cultures requirement as well as the CASE Foreign Language requirement. No special credit is awarded for students who matriculated in Summer 2013 or later.

(Note: the chart is not for language courses taken at IUB--see the first Q&A above to that information.)

*proficiency testing only available to students who matriculated prior to Summer 2013