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Foreign Language Placement Exams

For Students Enrolled in General Education 4* (GE4)

A. Automatic Placement:

  1. A student with 2 years (2 levels taken in sequence) or fewer of a foreign language in High School is placed into 111 -- or takes the Placement Exam to be placed into a level that corresponds best to his/her knowledge.
  2. A student with 3 years (3 levels taken in sequence) of a foreign language in High School within the last 2 years, being at checkpoint B (or 85 or better on the Regents Exam) is placed into 150 -- or takes the Placement Exam to be placed into a level that corresponds best to his/her knowledge.
  3. A student with 4 years (4 levels taken in sequence) of a foreign language in High School, being at checkpoint C -- and 85 or better on the Regents Exam -- is exempt from SUNY Plattsburgh's Foreign Language Requirement. (If the student wants to continue, he/she could do so at 213.)

B. Placement by Exams:

The placement exam assists the instructor to place a student appropriately. During Summer Orientation, Plattsburgh State University (SUNY Plattsburgh) offers several Placement Tests in French and in Spanish. (For time and location, please contact SUNY Plattsburgh's website or Stephen P. Matthews, Orientation Coordinator, Kehoe 606, 518-564-3282.)

In addition, Placement Exams in French, German, Spanish and Russian are given 2 days before the start of each semester by the FLL Department. (Please obtain time and location from the Registrar's web site.) The exam lasts for about one hour -- no preparation on the student's part is necessary. The results are posted the same day and students will be instructed where to find them. There are no make-up exams.

C. Placement Results:

  1. Placement into level 111 of a language means that the student must complete this course and level 112 prior to graduation in order to satisfy SUNY Plattsburgh's General Education 4 (GE4) requirement of proficiency in a foreign language at the 112-level. Successful completion of 111 results in 3 Elective Credits. Successful completion of 112 results in 3 General Education Credits. The FLL department strongly recommends that all students satisfy their foreign language requirement at the beginning of their studies.
  2. Placement into level 150 means the student must successfully complete this course to satisfy SUNY Plattsburgh's GE4 foreign language requirement at the 112/150-level. The student receives 3 General Education Credits. (Students who scored 85 or higher on the Regents Exam may enroll into level 150. )
  3. Placement into level 213 satisfies:
    1. SUNY Plattsburgh's General Education 4 requirement in a foreign language at the 112/150 level
    2. the one-year foreign language requirement for education majors.

Please note: Students receive zero (0) credits for satisfying these requirements through the placement exam.

D. Credit-bearing Exams:

Students who desire credit for their foreign language proficiency should arrange to take one of the following exams:

  1. The CLEP Exam (College-Level Examination Program) which offers up to 12 credits can be taken in French, German or Spanish.
  2. Students who desire credit in languages other than French, German or Spanish should take the NYU Exam (New York University Exam) which is available in 53 languages and also offers up to 12 credits.

(For dates, time and location, please contact: Office of Academic Advising, Kehoe Building, 518-564-2080.)

If the student passes any of the exams at the 112/150 level or higher, he/she will satisfy the GE4 requirement and the one-year foreign language requirement for education majors.

E. FLL Courses Offered:

  1. FRE/GER/SPA/RUS 111 is strictly for beginners, or for students with only two years or fewer of high school language knowledge.
  2. FRE/GER/SPA/RUS 112 is a continuation of level 111 and should only be taken by students who have passed 111. Successful completion of level 112 satisfies SUNY Plattsburgh's GE4 foreign language requirement and the one-year foreign language requirement for education majors. (3 General Education Credits.)
  3. FRE/SPA 150 is for students with three years of high school French or Spanish, or the equivalent in life experience. FRE/SPA 150 accomplishes a curriculum equivalent to FRE/SPA 111 and FRE/SPA 112. Although beginning at different points, FRE/SPA 112 and FRE/SPA 150 are designed to end at the same proficiency level, which permits entrance into FRE/SPA 213. Successful completion of FRE/SPA 150 satisfies SUNY Plattsburgh's General Education 4 foreign language requirement and the one-year foreign language requirement for education majors. (3 General Education credits.) (Please note: There is no GER 150 equivalent; students should take GER 112.)
  4. FRE/GER/SPA 213 is a second-year course, normally reserved for those who have passed level 112 or 150, or for those who have had at least four years of high school French, German, or Spanish. Placement into level 213 can be accomplished through the FLL Placement Exam or through the CLEP or NYU exams.

*Students who matriculated as freshmen in Fall 2004 or later are enrolled in General Education 4 (GE4). Those who began as freshmen prior to Fall 2004 may complete Plattsburgh's previous General Education Program 3 (GE3). If there is uncertainty, which General Education Program should be completed, the student should consult an advisor or the Office of Academic Advising, Kehoe, 564-2080.

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December 1, 2005

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

For more information about the Foreign Languages and Literature program at Plattsburgh State please contact

Dr. Jean Ouedraogo, Chair
Associate Professor
Office : Champlain Valley Hall 315
Phone: (518) 564-3833
E-mail: jean.ouedraogo@plattsburgh.edu

SUNY Plattsburgh
Department of Foreign Languages and Literature
Champlain Valley Hall 311
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
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