Arabic Language Placement Testing SFS

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

Okay so I was accepted at Georgetown’s SFS EA (WHOOO), and I really wanna take Arabic as my intensive language and maybe dabble in Spanish or French on the side. I was wondering about Arabic placement and the placement test for first years. I already have the equivalent of a semester of intensive Arabic (high beginner/ low intermediate) under my belt due a summer exchange program with the State Dept (nsli-y) during high school. Could I score high enough on the Arabic placement exams to get out of the most basic beginner courses? I can read and write, know the alphabet, have a basic vocabulary built up, and am conversational on an every day level. Basically, I speak well enough to get myself into trouble, but not out of it.

I was hoping to test out of the most basic courses so that taking Spanish/French on the side is more realistic (I took Latin in high school RIP).

Thoughts?

2

No thoughts?

3

no thoughts, but I’m so glad I came across this post!!! I remember reading one of your posts a while back and often wondered where you and your brothers got accepted! So is it definitely Georgetown for you? How bout the bros?

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Hey @NikkuWadde I have been reading into Georgetown’s language placement policies and I think you can definitely take a placement exam. Then, you could test into a higher level and take the proficiency exam sooner.
However, I have heard that GTown’s language programs are very difficult, and many current students have recommended not advancing too far in the beginning- you can always go up a level if need be.

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Thanks @yonceonhismouth I’ll look into it

6

NikkuWadde,

Congrats on your acceptance to SFS!

As you may know, both Intensive First Level Arabic 1 and Intensive First Level Arabic 2 at Georgetown are demanding six-credit courses. As such, taking them constitutes the functional equivalent of two years of language study at other universities that offer only three-credit introductory Arabic courses.

Your language immersion experience in the outstanding NSLI-Y program should provide you an excellent background for your Arabic studies at Georgetown. Whether or to what extent you place out of first-level Arabic will, of course, depend on how well you do on the Georgetown placement exam you will take during orientation next fall.

Am I correct in assuming that you attended the NSLI-Y program last summer, that you scored a high beginner/low intermediate on your OPI immediately following that program, and that you have not studied Arabic this year since you are taking Latin in high school? If so, you might consider refreshing your Arabic skills this summer.

If you score again at the high beginner/low intermediate level on the Georgetown placement exam, you may place into Intensive First Level Arabic 2. That is just a guess, so your best guidance will come directly from the Arabic Department. I believe the Georgetown placement exam tests grammar, reading, and writing.

One more thing: be wary about academically overloading yourself while making the transition to college. SFS has specific guidelines regarding taking intensive language courses,* so be sure to discuss your language studies plans with your academic advisor.** Good luck and congratulations again on your acceptance to SFS.

*“A normal semester course load is 5 courses for 15-16 credits. If one of your courses is an intensive language, for your very first semester, you need to determine if you would like to take 5 courses for 18-19 credits or 4 courses for 15-16 credits. The decision is affected by when you will be taking PHIL-099Political and Social Thought, which is a challenging 4-credit course.” See https://georgetown.app.box.com/s/sou4que3bpsrzctsvu97821o38nfvjjq.

**See also https://sfs.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SFS-First_Year_Students_Preregistration_Guide.pdf