<p>D took the language placement in the summer and was placed in 3000-level course. She signed up but dropped because the course was way over her head. She really would like to take Spanish, so she wants to sign up for a 2000-level course in the Spring, but was told that the policy is once you get placed in a higher level course, you cannot enroll in a lower level course.</p>
<p>She is in a tough spot. She will not do well in the level 3000, but not allowed to take a lower level course. What can she do? It's sad if she has to give up Spanish at UVa. Is there an appeal process?</p>
<p>She could go meet with the placement advisor, but my guess is that they will tell her she placed up for a reason. She could take it pass/fail if allowed by the professor, or take spanish at a local CC over the summer. She could join Spanish club/house events to practice her Spanish that way. She could independent study or private tutor. I did a Hebrew speaking club every now and then, and did private tutoring when the class no longer fit my needs. I also took 2 semesters of Spanish at a local CC over the summer and it was perfect for what I wanted. I tried to take languages pass/fail but the profs were not receptive to that. She could start a new language. I took German in HS, Spanish through the CC, Hebrew at UVA from 101, and Yiddish 101 at UVA. She has lots of options! The Spanish department is REALLY strapped, even having to eliminate their minor and restrict most courses to majors. Keep that in mind and find the best solution you can.</p>
<p>I would definitely ask for an exception. It would not be much to ask to take a class one lower than the placement level, particularly after she tried and had difficulty. If that doesn’t work, I like the idea of taking online classes or community college classes during breaks. Since those online or community college classes wouldn’t count for credit, you might be able to get a cheaper tuition rate for auditing the class. </p>
<p>UVa does require that the first 4 language classes (through 2000 level) be taken at UVa, if you are not placed out.</p>
<p>She might ask her advisor’s advice, but if the adviser is not in a language dept. he or she may not be able to help much. Next thought is for your daughter to make an appointment with Ricardo Padron, Director of Undergraduate Spanish Studies (see: [UVA</a> Department of Spanish, Italian & Portuguese Whom to Contact](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/people/whom-to-contact]UVA”>http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/people/whom-to-contact)). She can discuss her situation with him. The good news is your daughter appears to have met her language requirement, since she tested above the 2020 level – so she is not required to take a class she feels is currently over her head. </p>
<p>Has she thought about a summer Spanish program, such as the one in Valencia? It accommodates those with a lower proficiency in Spanish and might be just what your daughter needs to feel comfortable in a higher level course. </p>
<p>charlie, …there is no spanish minor as I mentioned in my post.
There is a specific placement advisor for language credits, likely a specific spanish one. You would have to google that. Her general advisor would be useless like ava said, but that was not my suggestion.
Study abroad is a great idea!!!</p>
<p>Charlie, I don’t see anywhere on the UVA Arts and Sciences site that states that the Language requirement must be satisfied at UVA. Where did you see that stated? My S plans on taking the 202 level he needs when he studies abroad.</p>
<p>Mamalumper – your son should check with the Spanish dept. or someone in CLAS office on that. In the past, FL credit was earned through specific study abroad opportunities with the Spanish Dept. Not sure if that applies to every study abroad program, though.</p>
<p>It’s been my understanding that “core competency” requirements must be met through exam or through classes taken through the University. The core competencies are first writing requirement, second writing requirement and foreign language.</p>
<p>“Some or all of the requisite 14 credits can be earned by transfer students from coursework completed at a previously attended college or university, IF PRIOR TO MATRICULATION TO THE COLLEGE. Dual enrollment courses, however, do not fulfill the requirement.” (emphasis added)</p>
<p>Of course with the limited classes, especially in Spanish, perhaps there has been a softening on this requirement. It is always worth checking.</p>
<p>Yes, check with the department. There may be an exception for UVa-sponsored study abroad programs (which would make sense). However, the text on the Arts and Sciences website is very definitive that the foreign language requirement must be met at UVa. It took me a while to find it a couple months ago, but it is there. </p>
<p>Since the language departments cannot handle the current demand, it may be worth putting in a formal request to the College that this on-grounds requirement be relaxed, at least temporarily. Maybe that is something for the UVa Parents Committee to work on. It also is the type of thing that a Student Council SHOULD be involved with. </p>
<p>I’m sure that the language departments will say - stay the summer at UVa. However, that is not an option for many students, who have jobs or internships lined up elsewhere and who need to work full-time during the summer. Also, I want my son home for the summer months.</p>
<p>It’s always better to be placed in a higher level language. Your d might think she’s not ready for it, but she should try it out, especially if it’s the 3000 level Grammar class, she will be fine, trust me. No one in my class was good at all and they all got As. Spanish, for some reason, has a history of attracting people who can’t speak the language worth a darn…this seems to hold true over the years (perhaps because there’s no official requirement for students of Spanish to study abroad)</p>