Foreign Language Placement

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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<p>I was accepted Early Decision and am confused about Spanish placement. I will have completed 3 years of spanish in high school, none of which were at the AP or honors level because they are not offered. The bad part is that I know almost ZERO spanish. The spanish department at my public school is awful and I havent learned very much at all. Almost all grades were given based on effort and the quizzes/test were simply matching vocab (spanish to corresponding english) so i made good grades but am not really well-schooled in the language. </p>

<p>To illustrate my poor skills, my teacher gave a professionally prepared "easy" exam created by the textbook manufacturer as the final. I made a 74!! on the final after the curve but luckily was able to pull off a 93 (A) because my class grade was so high. (Exam grades do not go on transcript.) </p>

<p>As for my question, I am confused about Duke's placement because they want you to take an AP or SAT Subject Test. Obviously I havent done this and think it will be a waste of time because if the test is given in Spanish, I will have no clue what I'm doing and fail miserably. I also heard there are minimum class levels you can enter based on your years of spanish instruction. I assume Duke expects you to at least know SOME spanish when you enter. I am confused about the whole foreign language requirement and intro level placement. If anyone could explain or offer advice I would appreciate it greatly. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Ok, let me try to break down the foreign language requirement, using Spanish as a specific example:</p>

<p>For Trinity students, you are required to take three semesters of a language, OR one semester of a 100-level language course. The only way for you to jump immediately into a 100-level course out of high school is to have a 5 on the AP Spanish Language exam. However, just because you don't have a 5 on the AP doesn't mean you need to start at Spanish 1. For example, here are the Spanish courses Duke offers that are sub-100 level:</p>

<p>Spanish 1: Elementary Spanish (take this if you're starting the language)</p>

<p>Spanish 2: Elementary Spanish (prerequisite for this class is Spanish 1)</p>

<p>Spanish 63: Intermediate Spanish (for people who have taken Spanish in high school, but not necessarily taken the AP exam...you should be pretty comfortable with Spanish if you're jumping in here, as I believe the entire course is conducted in Spanish at this point)</p>

<p>Spanish 76: Advanced Intermediate Spanish (I took this course first semester, and I got a 4 on the AP Exam. I felt that it was the perfect placement for me)</p>

<p>Because I jumped into Spanish 76, I only need one more semester of Spanish, which will be at the 100-level. However, if I started at Spanish 1,2, or 63, I would need to take two additional semesters of Spanish. </p>

<p>Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about placement until you get the Blue Book in May and begin registering in late June. If you would have no idea what you were doing if the class was conducted in Spanish, I would recommend one of the Elementary level courses, in which case you would have to take 3 semesters to fulfill the requirement, but only you can really make that judgement call.</p>

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<p>Some language departments offer and/or require students to take placement tests. When I took Chinese, I had to take one and I was placed accordingly. But I can see how some of the popular languages might not have it and instead use AP/SATII scores for intermediate/advanced student placement.</p>