ASK A QUESTION OR SUBMIT FEEDBACK ON THIS POLICY

Students intending to study Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish should take the placement assessment 48 hours before their academic advising appointment.

Students planning to study a language other than the ones listed above should contact the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies via email or website for further placement instructions. All students should begin foreign language study in the appropriate course, which may be determined in one of the following ways:

1. Webcape Placement Exam available on the Placement Channel in FlashLine for Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.
2. Placement interview with a faculty member in the Department Modern and Classical Language Studies for languages for which there is no Webcape Placement Exam.
3. Placement based on alternative credits accrued per one of the approved methods specified in the University Catalog.

Foreign Language Requirements: Generally, foreign language requirements are met by passing the highest level course in the language requirement or a course beyond the highest level in the requirement. Students should review the University Catalog and consult with their academic advisor(s) to determine specific language requirements for their college and program. Some students may begin their university foreign language experience beyond the Elementary I level without receiving credit for the previous course(s) and, thus, may complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses than specified in their language requirement. In this case, the credit hours not used for the language requirement may be still required for graduation, but may be applied toward coursework in the student’s major or minor or as electives.

Foreign Language Proficiency Waiver: Students able to demonstrate foreign language proficiency comparable to the highest course in their foreign language requirement may be able to have their language requirement waived. Students should review the University Catalog and consult with their academic advisor(s) and the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies to verify eligibility. Proficiency waivers will be granted for the following:

1. International students who were educated through high or secondary school in a language other than English. Foreign language waivers will be granted to international students who have
   1. TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, PTE Academic score recorded in their Kent State University academic record;
   2. completed English-as-second-language courses at Kent State; or
   3. provided documentation that they attended a secondary or high school in a country in which courses were taught in a language other than English (e.g., high school transcripts or diploma in the original language along with a certified English translation).
2. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Exams. The tests are administered by Language Testing International. Students are responsible for the costs of the exam(s) and for providing the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies with a copy of the certificate(s). Instructions for taking the ACTFL Exams may be found on the department's website.
   1. A proficiency waiver will be granted through Elementary II of a foreign language to students who provide either
      1. an official ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) certificate that documents proficiency at the Intermediate Low or higher level; or
      2. comparable qualifying score on an ACTFL-based proficiency exam such as those accepted for the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy confirming oral proficiency of at least an intermediate low level.
   2. A proficiency waiver will be granted through Intermediate II of a foreign language to students who provide either
      1. an official ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) certificates with scores at the Intermediate Low or higher level; or
      2. comparable qualifying ACTFL-based proficiency exams such as those accepted for the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy confirming oral proficiency and writing proficiency of at least an intermediate low level.
3. Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) Ratings. A proficiency waiver will be granted through Elementary II of a foreign language to students who provide an official (European) CEFR certificate confirming oral proficiency of at least the B1.1 level. A proficiency waiver will be granted through Intermediate II of a foreign language to students who provide an official CEFR certificate confirming oral and writing proficiency of at least the B1.2 level. Students are responsible for providing the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies with a copy of the certificate(s).
4. Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT). A proficiency waiver will be granted through Elementary II of a foreign language to students who were tested during military service and provide an official DLPT certificate confirming oral proficiency of at least ILR 1. A proficiency waiver will be granted through Intermediate II of a foreign language to students who provide an official DLPT certificate confirming oral proficiency of at least ILR 1+.
5. Ohio Seal of Biliteracy. A proficiency waiver will be granted through Intermediate II of a foreign language to students with an Ohio Seal of Biliteracy. Students who have qualified for the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy by means of an International Baccalaureate or AP exam or who submit their ACE transcripts may be eligible to receive credit for the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy. For more information, visit the Credit Transfer website.
6. Alternative proficiency measures. Students may have proficiency in a language for which no standardized test exists. In this case, students should contact the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies to arrange for assessment by an approved native speaker of that foreign language (e.g., teacher, professor or certified translator), with the assessment method approved in advance by a department administrator.