Placement in Foreign Language Courses

Thanks to SOAR foreign language consultant Dr. Andrew Irving, and to former SOAR consultant Lew Bosworth, for providing the following information!

Students with previous experience in a foreign language, including heritage learners, are strongly encouraged to take an appropriate placement test for that language.

Placement tests for French, German, Latin and Spanish are offered through Testing and Evaluation Services at SOAR. While the placement test score does not prevent you from enrolling in another level, it is strongly recommended that you take the course indicated by the placement test score, unless advised otherwise by the SOAR foreign language advisor or by the undergraduate advisor in that department. Students should keep in mind, however, that years of analysis and feedback tell us that the students who are most successful in their foreign language classroom, and who have the most positive experiences, are those who enroll at the level that the placement test indicates.

Placement tests or interviews in other languages (e.g. Hebrew, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese; etc.) are also available. Students should contact the appropriate department for details. Permission to enroll in courses higher than the first semester is then granted to the student based on his or her placement test or interview.

AFRICAN LANGUAGES and LITERATURE
1414 Van Hise Hall
262-2487

Placement by examination given during Wisconsin Welcome. Interested students should contact the Department in advance. Retro credits are available in Arabic, Hausa, Swahili and Yoruba. See the language instructor.

NOTE: African 120, 201, 210 and 270 each provides 3 literature credits, and 201, 210, 300, and 306 are open to freshmen. All language courses open to freshmen.

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CHINESE
1210 Van Hise Hall
262-0689

Students with previous experience in Chinese should contact the department during or before SOAR to make an appointment for assessment. Retro credits are available in Chinese.

Note: East Asian 351-352 provides 8 literature credits.

Understanding the introductory sequence of courses in Chinese can be confusing. The 6-credit course sequence begins in the fall with First Semester Chinese 101. The 3-credit course sequence begins in the spring with Elementary Chinese 121.

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FRENCH
618 Van Hise Hall
262-3941 / 262-5074

Click here for information about the Certificate in French for students in the School of Business.

Placement Scores and Cut-offs:

NOTE: Students scoring at or near the cut-off points should see the foreign language consultant for more options, including permission to enroll in 'honors' sections (181, 182, 283, 384, 287, 288).

Retro Credits:

Students enrolled in 102, 182, 203, 283, 204, 284, 227, 287, 228, 288, 271, or 271 (H) are eligible for retro credits. Consult complete retrocredit policy for more information.

Honors:

Honors (H) courses are available at all levels of French. Course numbers with an "8" as central digit are designated "honors'. Courses without a specific honors section (271 and higher) can be taken for honors. Consult instructor or French Department for more information.

Students not enrolled in the "Honors Program" must get permission for registration. See foreign language consultant or contact the Department: 262-3941, 262-5074.

Advanced Placement Credit Policy:

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GERMAN
818 Van Hise Hall
262-2192

Click her for information on the Certificate in German for students in the School of Business.

Placement:

NOTE: Students scoring at or near the cut-off points should see the foreign language consultant for more options.

Retrocredits

Students enrolled in 102, 203, 204, 284/285 (H), 225, 226, 221, 222, or 337 are eligible for retro credits.

Retrocredits are also available for Dutch when students enroll in German 112, 213, 214, or 325 (Dutch).

Advanced Placement Credit Policy

German 221 (3 cr.), 222 (3 cr.) and 284/5 (6 cr.) are literature courses carrying literature credit. 284/5 counts as 221 and 222 together and is recommended for honors students and others wanting to proceed rapidly with their study of German.

German 337 is an advanced conversion and composition course to be chosen only upon consultation with the SOAR FL Advisor.

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HEBREW
346 Van Hise Hall
262-3204

Placement exams are administered by the Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies via the mail. Students may have received their placement when they arrive at SOAR. Students who do not know their placement or who did not take the test for any reason should see the SOAR FL Advisor.

Retrocredits

Students enrolled in 102, 203, 204, 284/285 (H), 225, 226, 221, 222, or 337 are eligible for retro credits.

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ITALIAN
618 Van Hise Hall
262-3941 / 262-5074

There is no departmental test for Italian. Students with previous experience in Italian should consult the Foreign Language Consultant or the Department. Students who have had Italian in high school could be placed according to the number of high school years:

Students enrolled in 102, 182, 203, or 204 are eligible for retro credits. Consult complete retrocredit policy for more information.

Note: Italian 201, Italian for Speakers of Other Romance Languages, is an intense, 2 semesters-in-one course designed for students who have had the equivalent of 4 college semesters of another romance language (French, Spanish, Portuguese).

Advanced Placement Credit Policy

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JAPANESE
1210 Van Hise Hall
262-2291 / 262-0689

Students with previous experience in Japanese should contact the department during or before SOAR to make an appointment for assessment. Retro credits are available in Japanese.

Note: East Asian 353-354 provides 8 literature credits.

Understanding the introductory sequence of courses in Japanese can be confusing. The 6-credit course sequence begins in the fall with First Semester Japanese 103. The 3-credit course sequence begins in the spring with Elementary Japanese 123.

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LANGUAGES and CULTURES of ASIA
1238 Van Hise Hall
262-3012

Languages offered during the academic year: Arabic, Hindi, Hmong, Indonesian, Kazak, Pali, Persian, Tagalog, Sanskrit, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Uzbek, Vietnamese.

Languages offered during the summer: Hindi-Urdu, Nepali, Tamil, Burmese, Hmong, Indonesian, Javanese, Khmer, Lao, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese.

Placement is determined in consultation with the instructor. It is possible to receive retro credits for previous language study. Consult with the Department Office within the first two weeks of classes.

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LATIN
908 Van Hise Hall
262-204l

Latin Placement based on HS Background and Placement Test Score

Generally students with 1-2 years of high school Latin will be placed in Latin 103, those with 3-4 years in Latin 203. Exceptional students will be allowed to take Latin 301.

Notice that the score ranges overlap; thus some scores will fall into the bottom of one category or the top of another. For example, a student with 3 years of high school Latin and a score of 49 is eligible to take Latin 203 or years of high school Latin and a score of 49 is eligible to take Latin 203 or grade necessary for retrocredits, then Latin 203 might be a better choice, but grade necessary for retrocredits, then Latin 203 might be a better choice, but satisfying.

The department does not offer the 2nd semester course (Latin 104) in the fall, and has found that students who are not competent at the level of Latin 203 will benefit more from a term of fast reading in Latin 103 than from trying to come in at a level beyond their preparation. Although this path does not offer any retrocredits, many students have enjoyed the additional first year readings.

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POLISH
1432 Van Hise Hall
262-6764

Any student with previous experience in Polish should contact Dr. Ewa Miernowska who will follow up with placement recommendations and other options.

Students enrolled in 112, 207, 208, 277/278, 331/332 are eligible for retro credits.

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PORTUGUESE
1018 Van Hise Hall
262-2093

The placement test for Portuguese is administered directly in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Students wishing to take the test should call the department for an appointment.

Students enrolled in 102, 201, 202, 221, 222, 225 or 226 are eligible for retro credits.

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RUSSIAN
1432 Van Hise Hall
262-6764

NOTE: Any student with previous experience in Russian should contact Professor Ben Rifken (brifkin@wisc.edu) who will follow up with placement recommendations and other options.

• Heritage Learners (students born in the former Soviet Union, students who grew up in Russian-speaking families); these students may be interested in the major in Russian native speakers track
• Students with previous college-level instruction in Russian (with or without study abroad experience in Russia)
• Students with previous high school-level instruction in Russian (with or without study abroad experience in Russian)
• Students with experience living in Russia (study or work in Russia), but no previous classroom instruction in Russian
• List of Russian-Language Textbooks & Listing of courses in Russian at UW-Madison with descriptions of what students are expected to accomplish in each semester of instruction (to facilitate placement decisions).

Heritage Learners of Russian: students born in the former Soviet Union and emigrated at any age, or student who speak Russian at home.

1. Did you go to school in the former Soviet Union (FSU)? If so, for how long?

• If not, or if you didn't go to school in the FSU past age 12, skip to question 2.
• If you went to school in the FSU past age 12, but not past age 18, take Slavic 321.
• If you finished school in the FSU, you are considered a native speaker according to university rules and are not eligible to take Russian language classes in the four-year curriculum. You can get a waiver from the foreign language requirement for L&S if you want. You are eligible to take 400-level Slavic classes in literature.

2. If you went to school in the FSU but left the FSU before you turned 12 ...

• Can you read and write in Russian?
• Do you continue to read and write in Russian with family members to this day?
• Have you read some of the classics of Russian literature in Russian (e.g., Pushkin's poetry and prose, Tolstoy, and so forth)?
• Can you talk about yourself and your family in Russian with ease?

If the answers to all these questions is "yes," then you are most appropriately placed in Slavic 321.

If you can read and write in Russian, can talk about yourself and your family in Russian, but haven't read some of the classics of Russian literature in Russian, you should take Slavic 275.

If you can read and write in Russian, but can't talk about yourself and your family in Russian with ease, then you should take Slavic 203.

If you can speak with ease, but can't read or write, you should register for Slavic 203 but actually attend class for BOTH Slavic 101 and 203 in the first two weeks of the semester. After the first two weeks are over, you should attend only Slavic 203. In the first two weeks of Slavic 101, you'll learn the alphabet and spelling rules. Be sure to tell your instructors what you're doing so that they know that you're a heritage learner and you're attending two classes until you master the alphabet.

If the answers to all these questions is "no," then you should sign up for Slavic 101.

In all cases, please be sure to see Professor Rifkin (1440 Van Hise Hall, 262-1623, brifkin@wisc.edu) after a few class sessions in the fall in order to check in with him that your placement is appropriate.

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Students with previous experience studying Russian in College or Students who have studied in the former Soviet Union.

If you studied Russian at another college or university before transferring here ...

How many semesters/quarters/years you studied Russian?
How many hours a week did you meet in class for your Russian course(s)?
Were classes conducted mostly in Russian or in English?
Can you talk in Russian with ease about yourself and your family?
Have you spent time in Russia on an exchange program? If so, for how long? Did you speak mostly Russian while there?
Did you use any of the textbooks listed on the textbook sheet the advisor will show you? How much (what %) of those textbooks did you cover?

If you had over 120 contact hours, but under 250 contact hours, of formal instruction in Russian in which classes were conducted mostly in Russian, if you used one of the first-year books listed above, and if you can talk comfortably in Russian about yourself and your family, you might do well to take Slavic 203 (third-semester Russian), unless you also had some time living abroad in the former Soviet Union (in which case see below)

If you had fewer than 100 contact hours before coming to UW-Madison, or if classes were not conducted mostly in Russian, if you aren't comfortable talking in Russian about yourself and your family, you might be better off taking Slavic 101.

If you had more than 250 contact hours of formal instruction in Russian and used one of the textbooks marked "Second Year and Above" and completed it or much of it, if you can talk comfortably in Russian about yourself, your family, the school where you used to study, and something that you did last week, last month or last year, then you might be best off taking Slavic 275 and/or Slavic 315. Slavic 275 and Slavic 315 are BOTH required for the major in Russian. Slavic 275 focuses more on reading, writing and grammar, while Slavic 315 focuses more on listening and speaking skills, although both classes are conducted in Russian and both classes require students to read, write, listen and speak in Russian.

If you had over 120 contact hours, but under 250 contact hours of formal instruction in Russian, and you spent at least 3 months living in Russia in the recent past, you might want to try Slavic 275 and Slavic 315 for your placement IF you feel confident about your mastery of the Russian grammar. If you feel that your knowledge of Russian grammar is not as strong as you would like it to be, then you should take Slavic 204.

In any event, in the first two weeks of the fall semester, please check in with Professor Rifkin (262-1623, 1440 Van Hise, brifkin@wisc.edu) to confirm your placement decision.

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Students who studied Russian in High School or who studied in the former Soviet Union while in High School

If you studied Russian previously in high school ....

How many years/semesters/quarters you studied Russian, how many hours a week you had Russian class, and to what degree class was conducted in Russian. Look at the list of textbooks the SOAR advisor will show you and point out any that you used in your high school Russian classes.

In your study of Russian grammar, did you spend some time in class on ALL of the following grammar topics: cases, singular and plural, for nouns, adjectives, and pronouns (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, locative, instrumental); tense of verbs (past, present, future); aspect of verbs (imperfective, perfective); imperatives (command forms); conditional or subjunctive mood; chtoby clauses; kotoryi clauses; how to ask questions. (We're not asking about whether or not you mastered these topics, but rather if you are familiar with them.)

Can you talk comfortably in Russian about yourself and your family?

If you had two years of instruction in Russian in high school (more than 250 contact hours), completed Face to Face Level 2 or the equivalent, studied all or almost all of the grammar topics listed above, can talk comfortably in Russian about yourself and your family, then you should probably go into Slavic 203. (Don't worry if you don't know all the grammar topics listed above: the list is just a point of departure, the topics are all reviewed in Slavic 203.) If you didn't have all (or all but one or two) of those topics presented to you at least once, if you didn't complete two full years of instruction in Russian in high school, then you should probably go into Slavic 101. You might prefer to wait and join the class in second semester (Slavic 102), but then you'd be missing some of the vocabulary that our students learn in first-semester and you might find that to be a disadvantage. You should know that the first-year course (Slavic 101/102) uses a single textbook with a year-long video (a soap opera) and if you join the class in mid-year you'll have missed half the story (and half the fun!)

If you can't talk comfortably in Russian about yourself and your family, then you should go into Slavic 101.

In any event, in the first two weeks of the fall semester, please check in with Professor Rifkin (262-1623, 1440 Van Hise, brifkin@wisc.edu) to confirm your placement decision.

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Students who studied in the former Soviet Union but who have had no formal instruction in Russian.

If you haven't studied Russian formally (in the classroom), but have lived for some period of time in Russia ....

Can you read and write the letters of the Russian alphabet?
Can you talk comfortably about yourself and your family in Russian?
Are you familiar with the following grammar topics: cases, singular and plural, for nouns, adjectives, and pronouns (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, locative, instrumental); tense of verbs (past, present, future); aspect of verbs (imperfective, perfective); imperatives (command forms); conditional or subjunctive mood; chtoby clauses; kotoryi clauses; how to ask questions.

If the answer to all the questions above is "yes," and you have spent more than 6 months, but less than a year, living in Russia, then you should go into Slavic 203. If you have spent a year or more living in Russia and you feel confident that you have mastered all the cases (the declension system), then you should go into Slavic 275 and Slavic 315.

If you can talk comfortably about yourself and your family, but don't know how to read and write in Russian, then you might try registering for Slavic 203 and attending both Slavic 101 and Slavic 203 simultaneously for the first two weeks of the semester while you learn the Russian alphabet. Then, after you have learned the alphabet, just attend Slavic 203.

In any event, in the first two weeks of the fall semester, please check in with Professor Rifkin (2-1623, 1440 Van Hise, brifkin@wisc.edu) to confirm your placement decision.

In any event, in the first two weeks of the fall semester, please check in with Professor Rifkin (262-1623, 1440 Van Hise, brifkin@wisc.edu) to confirm your placement decision.

Classes and textbooks in the Russian Language Sequence

Slavic 101, first-semester Russian, we use Russian Stage One: Live from Moscow and complete most of Volume 1. In Slavic 102, second-semester Russian, we use the same textbook and complete the rest of Volume 1 and all of Volume 2. In the first-year, we complete a survey of the structure of the Russian grammar (all cases, singular and plural, conjugation, tense, aspect, imperatives, chtoby and kotoryi clauses), while providing our students with the basis for communication on topics of primary concern to Americans traveling in Russia, especially on the topics of "self" and "family." Students are encouraged to create with the language and express their own ideas in Russian. By the end of the first semester, classes are conducted exclusively in Russian.

In Slavic 203/204, second-year Russian, students use Russian Stage Two: Welcome Back. In this course, we review and systematize students' understanding of the basics of Russian grammar, expanding certain topics along the way. Students improve their ability to speak in this course by practicing, on a daily basis, in activities that require them to create with the language and communicate with one another. Classes are conducted entirely in Russian.

The third-year Russian course consists of two separate sequences, Slavic 275/276 and Slavic 315/316. Both sequences are required for the major in either Russian Language and Literature or Russian Language and Civilization.

Students can get retrocredits for the sequence through Slavic 204 by completing Slavic 204 or a course above that level with a grade of B before they earn 30 credits in the College of Letters & Sciences. In order to get retrocredits, they must fill out a form available from the advisor for Russian, Professor Rifkin. Students can get transfer credits for language courses for previous college or university study as appropriate.

The major in Russian Language and Literature also requires a number of literature and culture courses: Literature in Translation 203 and 204, Literature in Translation 233 or 234, and a 400-level Slavic course (advanced literature.) Students can get transfer credit for Lit Trans 233 or 234 if they have had an appropriate course at a previous college or university.

The major in Russian Language and Civilization also requires Literature in Translation 233 or 234, Slavic 253 (the interdisciplinary course on Russia) and a number of area studies courses taken after students have completed Slavic 275.

Students cannot get transfer credit for LitTrans 201/203, 202/204, or any 400-level Slavic course without specific permission from the advisor for the Russian major. Such permission will be very rarely given for the 400-level Slavic course as the Slavic dept. views this course as the capstone course for the major and it should, in virtually all circumstances, be taken here on the Madison campus as the culmination of the Russian major and the degree in Russian.

Textbook Sheet for SOAR Advising

Selected High School Level Russian Textbooks

Russian Face to Face Level 1 - complete all for placement in Slavic 102
Russian Face to Face Level 2 - complete all for placement in Slavic 203
Russian Faces and Voices - complete all for placement in Slavic 204
Russian for Everybody - complete all for placement in Slavic 203
Mir russkikh - complete all for placement in Slavic 275

Selected College Level Russian Textbooks

First Year

Russian Stage One: Live from Moscow -- complete both volumes for placement in Slavic 203 *this is what we use in Madison in Slavic 101-102

Nachalo: When in Russia ... - complete both volumes for placement in Slavic 203
Golosa Volume 1 - complete for placement in Slavic 102
Golosa Volume 2 - complete for placement in Slavic 203
Troika - complete for placement in Slavic 203
Beginning Russian - complete for placement in Slavic 203
Russian for Everybody - complete for placement in Slavic 203

Second Year and Above

Russian Stage Two: Welcome Back! this is what we use in Slavic 203-204 at Madison; completion of this textbook suggests placement into Slavic 275 and 315

Russian Faces and Voices - complete for placement in Slavic 204
Making Progress in Russian - complete for placement in Slavic 204
V Puti - complete for placement in Slavic 275 and 315
Grammatika v kontekste - complete for placement in Slavic 321 and Slavic 315
Focus on Russian - complete for placement in Slavic 321 and Slavic 315
Intermediate Russian: The Twelve Chairs - complete for placement in Slavic 321 and Slavic 315

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SCANDINAVIAN STUDIES
1306 Van Hise Hall
262-2090

Languages offered: Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish.

For placement exams in Scandinavian Studies, please contact the Department.

Retro Credits:

Students enrolled in 102, 112, 122, 201, 211, 221, 202, 212, 222, 251, 267, 271, or 302 (Intensive Finish) are eligible for retro credits.

NOTE: Scandinavian 251, 261, and 271 provide literature credits.

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SPANISH
1018 Van Hise Hall
262-2093

Click here for Spanish major requirements.

Click her for information on the Certificate in Spanish for students in the School of Business.

Placement

NOTE: Students scoring at or near the cut-off points should see the foreign language consultant for more options. Students with appropriate placement or AP scores may enroll in Spanish 226 or 311. Spanish 226 is the prerequisite for introductory literature or culture courses (Spanish 223 and 224).

Retrocredits

Students enrolled in 102, 203, 204, 226, or 311 are eligible for retro credits.

Advanced Placement Credit Policy

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Upcoming

Lecture: New Media Literacies and the 21st Century Language Learner
Steven L. Thorne
Pennsylvannia State University
11:00 am, Saturday, May 31
104 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Avenue

An invited lecture for the 20th Annual Conference of the Central Association of Teachers of Japanese. Learn more >

Interdepartmental Orientation Workshop for New UW-Madison Language Instructors
August 25-27, 2008

A workshop for new language instructors comprised of lectures, readings, demo lessons, and practice teaching. Learn more >

Upcoming in the Fall 2008

Online Chinese courses for business professionals! Learn more >

New online methods course for postsecondary instructors of less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) Learn more >

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