Welcome Students,
On behalf of the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, I would like to welcome you to Baldwin Wallace University!
We are delighted to see that you have expressed an interest in continuing or beginning your language studies here at Baldwin Wallace University. Studying a language at the university level opens the door to many academic, experiential, and pre-professional opportunities. The time that you put in to gaining a foundation in a language in high school or at BW sets you up to add an exciting international and intercultural dimension to your studies and can prepare you for a range of opportunities including bilingual internships and study abroad experiences. To maximize these possibilities, we encourage you to take language courses early at BW, preferably starting freshman year. When possible, it is always beneficial to not have a gap of too much time between your high school and university classes.
This is a brief computerized test which will give us information about your level. It should take 10 - 25 minutes to complete. No preparation is needed.
For students who have studied one year or more of French, German, or Spanish in high school, we require you to take the World Language Placement Test to ensure placement in the proper course.
If you have taken 3 years of a language, start at level 201 or meet with advisor. If you have completed 4 years or more of a language, AP, IB, start at the third-year level or meet with advisor. In Spanish, students generally start with SPN 301 and in French, any course above 202. For German placement, contact Dr. Karen Barahona via email at kbarahon@bw.edu
The links to the test are below. It will ask for an email address, your BW ID, and you will need to set a password:
For French placement or French courses, contact Dr. Nadia Sahely at nsahely@bw.edu or 440-826-2246.
For German Placement, contact Dr. Karen Barahona at kbarahon@bw.edu or 440-826-8537.
For Spanish Placement, contact Dr. Karen Barahona at kbarahon@bw.edu or 440-826-8537.
While taking the test, it is essential to not use any dictionary or online tools. The score will help confirm which course you should take. It is very important that all students are comfortably placed in the correct course and begin their study at the highest level into which they place. A high score does not give you any advantage nor credit towards language requirements.
The scores will be used by your advisor to schedule your classes for the fall. We will follow up with further information about your placement and the many opportunities involving languages and cultures at BW over the summer. If you have any questions about the placement test or studying a language at BW, please don't hesitate to contact me at kbarahon@bw.edu
Sincerely,
Karen J. Barahona, Ph.D
Chair, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Frequently Asked Questions about the World Languages Placement Test
Why take the test? The World Language placement test is used to help gauge the proficiency of incoming BW students who have had previous language experience in French, German, and Spanish to help place them in the appropriate course for their level. It is a short multiple-choice placement test which should take anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes to complete.
Is it mandatory? Any incoming student who has previously taken classes in French, German, or Spanish during high school is required to complete the test to register for a course in the corresponding language. Transfer students who have taken French, German or Spanish in high school and who have not yet taken a university-level course are also required to take the test. Any incoming students who want to take a language course with no prior background in that language are not required to take the test.
When can the students take the exam? The exam can be taken as soon as the student receives the link. The test must be completed prior to arrival at BW for orientation and meeting with their advisor.
When will the students get their results? The students receive their score as soon as the test is over. Upon completion, the student is taken to a screen with the score. The student is then asked to print the screen or save a picture of the screen digitally. It is important to keep this printout or photo handy to present to your professor when you attend class. The scores will be automatically recorded and coded onto the student's record.
What do the results mean? The placement test score is only one measure of a student's high school preparation in the language, though it is found to be highly accurate. Results will indicate if students should be placed in 101(first semester); 102 (second semester); 201 (third semester); 202 or above (fourth semester). Students must begin their study at the highest level they place. During the first week of classes, you should have your test results handy and speak to your instructor if you feel you are not placed in the most appropriate course.
| Course Placement | French | German | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 0-120 | 0-165 | 1-120 |
| 102 | 121-160 | 166-292 | 121-270 |
| 201 | 261-400 | 293-492 | 271-427 |
| 202 | 337 or higher may be placed in FRN-202 with permission | 384-492 may begin at GER-202 with permission | 346-427 may begin at SPN-202 with permission |
| Any course above 202 | 401+ | 493+ | 428+ (SPN-301 recommended) |
101 is meant for true beginners and is most appropriate for students who have had no previous knowledge of the language. Students with up to 2 years of high school instruction may take this course if their preparation is not sufficient to take 102 or 201. If other factors such as those listed above make you feel that you need to take 101, despite having had more than two years of previous experience, you should take the placement exam and contact the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and Literatures for advice.
102 is most appropriate for students who have previous knowledge of the language such as that equivalent to the catalog course description of 101, but who still need an introduction to the topics listed in the catalog description of 102.
201 is most appropriate for students who have been introduced to and have some understanding of the basic grammar, but who now need to review and refine what they know. Typically, students with 3 or more years of high school instruction and those who have completed the 102 level enroll in 201. This course builds upon the foundation laid in the 101-102 sequence by providing an expansion of the 4 skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
202 or above may be appropriate for students with more than 4 years of solid high school preparation, for those who have followed an Advanced Placement track, and for students who might have spent a significant time abroad in a country where the language is spoken. In Spanish, students generally start with SPN 301, in French, FRN 221, and in German, any course above 202.
