Languages Offered and Placement Tests

How do I take a placement test?

The language placement tests in Arabic, Japanese, and Spanish are available by appointment. Language placement tests will not be offered during summer or winter breaks.

Spanish: Please contact SRULLCWDepartment@sru.edu. The Spanish placement test is administered online and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Japanese: Please contact Professor Yukako Ishimaru at yukako.ishimaru@sru.edu. The Japanese placement test is conducted in the form of an interview.
Arabic: Please contact Professor Salwa Vandegrift at salwa.vandegrift@sru.edu to schedule your Arabic placement test.

For all other languages, students must complete the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and achieve a minimum score of Novice High in order to fulfill the B.A. language requirement (equivalent to the 103 level). Students are responsible for any associated testing fees.

Note on French: Our French program has been discontinued, and the French placement test is no longer available. However, students interested in learning French may enroll in introductory French courses offered through Distance Education via our partner university.

The department offers majors and minors in the following language:

Spanish

Why study Spanish?

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, and the number one second language spoken in the USA. There are over 37 million households in the USA where Spanish is the primary language.
The study of the Spanish language and its many cultures opens doors to jobs in over 20 countries in three continents, in addition to the USA.
Students who speak Spanish are invaluable employees in any profession, given that Hispanics are the largest minority in the USA; therefore, being bilingual can help you get that job over someone who is equally qualified but speaks English only.
Many students majoring in another discipline declare a Spanish minor to give legitimacy to their language studies to prospective employers. As an example, athletic trainers realize the importance of knowing Spanish when dealing with Latin American athletes who play baseball or soccer.

What kind of jobs can I get with a Spanish major?

International business and business-related professions
Communication (interpretation, translation)
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
Law, especially immigration law
Technology-related fields
Non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations
Teaching
Journalism
Health and Human Services professions
Safety Management
Homeland/Corporate Security
Tourism and Hospitality
Social Work
Counseling
Cultural Studies
School Administration
Hospital Administration
Public Health

I'm not going to be a Spanish major. Why else would I take Spanish?

To satisfy the Rock Studies language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in any discipline, students must successfully complete Spanish 103. Students with previous experience in Spanish can complete this requirement faster by placing into and starting at Spanish 102 or Spanish 103, rather than starting from Spanish 101.
Spanish 101, 102, 103, and 215 also satisfy some of the Thematic Threads in Rock Studies.
There are over 37 million people in the United States for whom Spanish is their first language.

How about study abroad?

Any SRU student is encouraged to study abroad. Students can earn 6 credits in the summer in Costa Rica or Spain (which could complete your language requirement) or 15 credits during a semester abroad in Spain. For more information contact Global Engagement.

The department offers basic instruction in the following languages:

Arabic

Why study Arabic?

Arabic is a principal language in 27 countries distributed around the world.
Arabic is considered a critical world language by the National Security Education Program

What are the benefits of studying Arabic?

Cultural awareness
Jobs in government
Jobs in business
Jobs in the military

Why else would I take Arabic?

To achieve a Middle Eastern Studies Certificate, Arabic Minor, and/or B.A. MLC Cultural Area Studies major with Arabic.
To satisfy the Rock Studies language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in any discipline, students must successfully complete Arabic 103. Students with previous experience in Arabic can complete this requirement faster by placing into and starting at Arabic 102 or Arabic 103, rather than starting from Arabic 101.
Arabic 101, 102, 103, and 215 also satisfy some of the Thematic Threads in Rock Studies.

How about study abroad?

Although SRU does not sponsor a program in Arabic, students interested in an immersion experience in an Arabic-speaking country are encouraged to work with Global Engagement.

Chinese*

*Currently, Chinese courses are offered by Individualized Licensed Instruction. Please contact the Chinese language instructor, Dr. Wei Bien (wei.bien@sru.edu) for availability.”

Why study Chinese?

Over 1.2 billion people (around 16% of the world's population) speak some form of Chinese; almost 3 million of these live in the USA.
Chinese is considered a critical world language by the National Security Education Program

What are the benefits of studying Chinese?

Cultural awareness
Jobs in government
Jobs in business

Where do I start?

If you have already studied Chinese, take the modern languages placement test to find your appropriate level.

Why else would I take Chinese?

To satisfy the Rock Studies language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in any discipline, students must successfully complete Chinese 103. Students with previous experience in Chinese can complete this requirement faster by placing into and starting at Chinese 102 or Chinese 103, rather than starting from Chinese 101.
Chinese 101, 102, 103, and 215 also satisfy some of the Thematic Threads in Rock Studies.

How about study abroad?

SRU sponsors exchange programs in both Nanjing and Shanghai. Students interested in these programs are encouraged to work with Global Engagement.

French*

*Currently, French courses are offered by Distance Education. Most of these classes are offered by zoom synchronously, but a class meets in a classroom.

Why study French?

The study of French language and Francophone cultures is a passport to the past, the present, and the future.
An example of the benefits of knowing French: students who speak French are able to read the original words of the philosophers and thinkers who influenced the birth of modern democracies, including our own.
French is a principal language in 43 countries, many of them in key regions in the world.
Over 2 million French speakers reside in the USA, with large concentrations in Maine and Louisiana.

What kind of jobs can I get with a French major?

teaching
health and human services professions
international business and business-related professions
communication
technology-related fields
library science/archivist
tourism
history

Why else would I take French?

To achieve a French minor.
To satisfy the Rock Studies language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in any discipline, students must successfully complete French 103. Students with previous experience in French can complete this requirement faster by placing into and starting at French 102 or French 103, rather than starting from French 101.
French 101, 102, 103, and 215 also satisfy some of the Thematic Threads in Rock Studies.

How about study abroad?

Any SRU student is encouraged to study at Collège International, Cannes, France. Students can earn 6 credits in the summer (which could complete your language requirement) or 12-15 credits during a semester abroad. For more information contact Global Engagement.

Japanese

Why study Japanese?

Almost half a million people speak Japanese in the USA.
Japanese is considered a critical world language by the National Security Education Program

What are the benefits of studying Japanese?

Cultural awareness
Intercultural Competence
Jobs in government
Jobs in business
Jobs in technology
Jobs in tourism
Jobs in Teaching
Jobs in Communication (interpretation, translation)
Jobs in Non-profit organizations
Jobs in Video Gaming Industry
Jobs in Technology-related fileds

Why else would I take Japanese?

To achieve a Japanese Studies Certificate, Professional Japanese Minor., and/or B.A. MLC Cultural Area Studies major with Japanese.
To satisfy the Rock Studies language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in any discipline, students must successfully complete Japanese 103. Students with previous experience in Japanese can complete this requirement faster by placing into and starting at Japanese 102 or Japanese 103, rather than starting from Japanese 101.
Japanese 101, 102, 103, and 215 also satisfy some of the Thematic Threads in Rock Studies.

How about study abroad?

SRU has three exchange programs in Japan: Saga University, Kansai Gaidai University, and Seinan Gakuin University. Students interested in an immersion experience in Japan are encouraged to work with Global Engagement.

Korean*

*Currently, Korean is not offered. Students interested in learning Korean are encouraged to study abroad at our partner institution in South Korea.

Why study Korean?

Over one million people speak Korean in the USA.
Korean is considered a critical world language by the National Security Education Program

What are the benefits of studying Korean?

Cultural awareness
Jobs in government
Jobs in business

Why else would I take Korean?

To satisfy the Rock Studies language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in any discipline, students must successfully complete Korean 103. Students with previous experience in Korean can complete this requirement faster by placing into and starting at Korean 102 or Korean 103, rather than starting from Korean 101.
Korean 101, 102, 103, and 215 also satisfy some of the Thematic Threads in Rock Studies.

How about study abroad?

SRU sponsors exchange programs in both Seoul and Kangwon-do. Students interested in an immersion experience in a Korean-speaking country are encouraged to work with Global Engagement.

Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and Writing

Languages Offered and Placement Tests

How do I take a placement test?

Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and Writing

Contact Information