Language Placement Policy

 

 

·        Freshmen are recommended to start the language courses the first year of their studies to take full advantage of study abroad and international opportunities at SJU.

Level one:    language never studied (as verified from HS transcript) or studied for a year or less, no need to take a placement test                              

Level two:     2 years of the language in HS, or 3 years of the language in H.S with a 2.7 average or less, or a score of less than 85% on the Regent’s     

Level three:    3 years of the language in HS with an average of over 2.7, or 4 years of the language in H.S. with a 2.7 average or less, or a score of over 85% on the Regent’s  

Level four:      60-67% on test, or 4 years of the language in HS with an average over 2.7       

Level five:     68-80% on test, or 4 years of the language in HS with good grades (A or B+ average)

Advanced level: above 90% on test, or AP score of 3, 4 or 5 (see coordinator for advisement, or lab director during summer)  

For levels 4, 5 & Advanced please have the students see or e-mail language coordinator for proper advisement.

 

  • AP scores of 3, 4 or 5(language or literature) place students at an advanced level with a bonus of 6 credits towards a minor or major. See the language Coordinator.
  • No International-students native speakers accepted in elementary/ intermediate courses.

Please note:

  • The 2-semester language requirement must be fulfilled in the same language.
  • Only French, Italian and Spanish offer beginning (1010, 1020), intermediate (2030, 2040) and advanced courses (2050 and above).  Freshmen are highly recommended to start with 1000 courses (6 credits) if they never studied the language and if they want to study abroad and have the fluency for an internship in France, Italy and Spain in their junior or senior year in the area of specialization.
  • For Arabic, German, and Russian only beginning (1010, 1020) and intermediate (2030, 2040) courses are available.
  • For Hebrew, Hindi and Portuguese only levels 1 and 2 are available (1010 and 1020)

 

    Additional Information for Placing Students in Language Courses

 

For students who never studied the language for which they are registering at SJU (after this is verified from their H.S. transcript), have a GPA of at least 2.8 and want to take care of their language requirements in one semester,  recommend the intensive level one and two courses: FRE 1000,  ITA 1000

 

For students who score from 50 to 60 on the language  placement test, have a GPA of at least 2.8 and want to take care of their language requirement in one semester, recommend the intensive level 3 and 4 courses if they are offered : FRE 2000, ITA 2000

 

Students scoring between 60 and 80 who are interested in reading modern texts in the target language and review some grammar should take level 5 (2050, or 3150)

 

Students placing at a very advanced level on the test (80-100) should take advanced level courses (from 3090 onwards) after consulting with the coordinator for that language during the academic year or with the GLCC director during the Summer.

 

Students who do not wish to continue with the language studied in H.S., because they want to study another language not previously offered at their H.S., or because they do not wish to study the same language at an intermediate or advanced level for fear that it should interfere with their studies in their major field, should be advised to start at the beginning level with one of the 14 foreign languages offered at St John’s : Arabic, Chinese, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Korean, German, Japanese, Italian, Latin, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

There are no placement tests at this time for:

  • Hebrew, Hindi, Latin, Ancient Greek or Portuguese. (Refer students to the Coordinator to make an appointment with an advisor for proper placement. Please see contacts below)

 

Contacts for Languages and Literatures

Chair & French Coordinator Zoe Petropoulou,   SJH 434 D      X5205     petropoz@stjohns.edu

GLCC Director:                         Michele H. Jones,       SJH 106A       X 6041       jonesm@stjohns.edu

GLCC Assistant Administrator    Katerina Trabazo, SJH 106A X 8352     trabazok@stjohns.edu

Coordinator for Arabic, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Mod. Greek, Portuguese, Russian:

                                    Millard Yoder,          SJH 434 Q    X 1930    yoderm@stjohns.edu

Latin & Ancient Greek Coordinator:Walter Petrovitz,    SJH 434 J     X 5701    petroviw@stjohns.edu

Italian Coordinator:         Florence Russo,    SJH 434 L    X 1999    russof@stjohns.edu

Spanish Coordinator:        Nicolas Toscano, SJH 434 B  X 5250      toscanon@stjohns.edu

ESL Coordinator. Ninah Beliavsky, SJH 434 FX 1929 beliavsn@stjohns.edu

L&L Administrative Assistants    Brenda Padro   SJH 434 E    X 5262      padrob@stjohns.edu

                                    Vivian Vescovacci SJH 434 E   X 6314        vescovav@stjohns.edu

 

Placement Test only for majors and minors

The Placement Test is administered at the GLCC located in St. John’s Hall rooms 104, 105 and 106..  Bring a student ID.  No prior preparation is required.  The test lasts about 45 minutes.  The students will be issued a placement result form and may in some case have a follow up interview with a coordinator.  The placement result form must be handed in to the instructor the first day of class.

Hours:

Fall and Spring Semesters:           Monday through Thursday:    9am-5pm      Fridays: 9am-3pm

Summer:                                     By appointment.  Please call : 718 990 6293

The language placement test is only administered to students intending to major or minor either in French, Italian or Spanish.  All other students will be placed by language faculty on the basis of their transcripts.