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Northwestern University

Language Placement Testing Times and Locations

Information for Fall 2022 Incoming Students

Language placement and validation of proficiency exams with a time listed below will take place on Wednesday, September 14.  Otherwise please see details for each language.

Language Location Time Exam Format Notes
Arabic

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Virtual Academic Directions Fair: Sept. 15 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (see Canvas for link)

In-person MENA languages academic fair:
Monday, Sept. 19, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm in Kresge Hall 4531

Online placement/
oral interview
All students with any prior experience with the language (formal or informal) must take the online placement test, which includes an extensive questionnaire about their experience with the language. Students will then be notified by the Arabic placement coordinator via email about their placement. Some will be invited to schedule an oral validation exam. Follow the instructions in the email. Students who have questions about which Arabic class to take, or any other question regarding language study should visit the Academic Fair (online or in person). You may also contact mena-languages@northwestern.edu with your questions.
Chinese BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Essay test via Canvas/ Oral interview via Zoom Students with prior experience in Mandarin Chinese should complete the online placement test. If a validation exam is needed, students will be added to Canvas for written exam. Once completed, please schedule an appointment for oral interview with Prof. Chin-Hung Chang at chin-hung.chang@northwestern.edu
Czech BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Written test/
oral interview
To schedule please contact  Prof. Elisabeth Elliott: eelliott@northwestern.edu.
French Kresge Hall 2415 2:00-5:00 pm Written test/
oral interview
The interview/validation test will take about 30 minutes total, and students can stop by anytime between 2 to 5:00 pm. However, please arrive no later than 4:30 in order to be done by 5:00 pm.
German

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

German info session: Monday, Sept. 19, 2:00 to 3:30 pm, Kresge Hall 3317

Written composition/
oral interview
Students take the online placement exam over the summer and will be notified of their results via email. If a validation exam is needed, students will be notified over email and asked to make an appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students should attend the Sept. 19 info session if they have questions about which German class to take. You may also contact Prof. Franziska Lys at flys@northwestern.edu with your questions.
Ancient Greek BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Written test/
oral interview
To schedule please contact Prof. Ryan Platte: ryan.platte@northwestern.edu.
Hebrew

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Virtual Academic Directions Fair: Sept. 15 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (see Canvas for link)

In-person MENA languages academic fair:
Monday, Sept. 19, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm in Kresge Hall 4531

3:00-5:00 pm Written test/
oral interview
All students with any prior experience with the language (formal or informal) must take the online placement test, which includes an extensive questionnaire about their experience with the language. Students will then be asked by the Hebrew placement coordinator, Dr. Hanna Tzuker Seltzer, via email to schedule an interview with her in Hebrew. The interview can be on Zoom or in person and is an inseparable part of the placement exam in Hebrew, regardless of the student's background in the language.  Please follow the instructions in the email. Students who have questions about which Hebrew class to take, or any other question regarding Hebrew language study should visit the Academic Fair (online or in person). You may also contact Dr. Hanna Tzuker Seltzer at hanna.seltzer@northwestern.edu.
Hindi Kresge Hall 2339 1:00-3:00 pm Written test/
oral interview
• Students who received a score of 5 or above on the Hindi high-level IB exam, or who took the 10th or 12th grade Hindi Board/Standardized Examination and scored 70% or above, should bring a copy of their IB exam or Standardized exam grade sheet and submit it to Dr. Rami Nair at the start of the placement/proficiency exam.
• The Hindi placement/proficiency test consists of both oral and written components. Both components will be tested on the same day.
• Please see the Dept. of Asian Languages and Cultures website for more information on who should take the Hindi-Urdu placement exam.
• Students should fill out the online questionnaire before they come to take the placement test.
Italian BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Oral interview If you are interested in Italian and have questions about Italian language courses or if you have taken the online placement test and still need to complete it with an interview, please contact Prof. Paola Morgavi at p-morgavi@northwestern.edu
Japanese Kresge Hall 2524 1:00-5:00 pm Online and written exams

Students can start taking the test as early as 12:00 p.m. The online part of the exam is for those who did not complete it in July.

See Dept. of Asian Languages and Cultures website for more information on Japanese language placement

Korean

VIRTUAL/ZOOM on September 14

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY after September 14

3 to 5 pm Online test/  Written test and oral interview via Zoom

All students with prior experiences in Korean should complete the online placement exam by September 13. The validation test will be taking place via Zoom on September 14. You will be provided a Zoom link in your online test result. Please be ready to show your student ID.

If you have any questions, please contact Professor Ihnhee Kim at ihnhee.kim@northwestern.edu

Latin BY APPOINTMENT ONLY All students with any prior experience with the language must take the online placement exam If a validation is needed, they will be contacted via email. If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Francesca Tataranni: f-tataranni@northwestern.edu.
Polish BY APPOINTMENT ONLY VIRTUAL/ZOOM Online placement/ oral interview Students take the placement exam online over the summer and will be notified of their results via email. If a validation (oral) exam is needed, students will be notified over email and asked to make an appointment with Prof. Micał Wilczewski. Students may also contact Prof. Wilczewski at michal.wilczewski@northwestern.edu with questions about placement, Polish classes, etc.
Portuguese BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Online placement/ oral interview All students with prior experience studying Portuguese should take the online placement exam before arriving on campus. For questions about placement results and the Portuguese language Program, please contact Prof. Ana Thome Williams at ana-williams@northwestern.edu.
Russian BY APPOINTMENT ONLY VIRTUAL/ZOOM Online placement/oral interview Students take the online placement examm over the summer and will be notified of their results via email. If a validation (oral) exam is needed, students will be notified over email and asked to make an appointment with Prof. Elisabeth Elliott. Students may also contact Prof. Elisabeth Elliott at eelliott@northwestern.edu with questions about placement, Russian classes, etc.
Spanish BY APPOINTMENT ONLY VIRTUAL/ZOOM Written composition/
oral interview
The Spanish reassessment took place September 8 via Zoom and was for students who earned "reassessment" on the placement exam. Students who did not attend should email s-millikin@northwestern.edu to request an alternative appointment. The reassessment takes between 30 to 60 minutes.
Swahili BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Written test/
oral interview
To schedule please contact Prof. Peter Mwangi: peter.mwangi@northwestern.edu.
Turkish

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Virtual Academic Directions Fair: Sept. 15 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (see Canvas for link)

In-person MENA languages academic fair:
Monday, Sept. 19, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm in Kresge Hall 4531

Online placement/oral interview All students with any prior experience with the language (formal or informal) must take the online placement test, which includes an extensive questionnaire about their experience with the language. Students will then be notified by the Turkish placement coordinator via email about their placement. Some will be invited to schedule an oral validation exam. Follow the instructions in the email. Students who have questions about which Turkish class to take, or any other question regarding language study should visit the Academic Fair (online or in person). To schedule the validation exam or for questions regarding the Turkish language program, please contact Prof. Oya Topçuoğlu: oya.topcuoglu@northwestern.edu.
Urdu Kresge Hall 4438 1:00-3:00 pm

Written test/
oral interview

•Students who received a score of 5 or above on the Urdu high-level IB exam, or who took the 10th or 12th grade Urdu Board/Standardized Examination and scored 70% or above, should bring a copy of their IB exam or Standardized exam grade sheet and submit it to Dr. David Boyk at the start of the placement/proficiency exam.
• The  Urdu placement/proficiency test consists of both oral and written components. Both components will be tested on the same day.
• Please see the Dept. of Asian Languages and Cultures website for more information on who should take the Hindi-Urdu placement exam.
• Students should fill out the online questionnaire before they come to take the placement test.

 

 

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