<p>I will be attending U of I next year studying computer science, but have a couple of minor issues I want to work out quick. I was accepted into U of I with two years of German, but after visiting on an admitted students day I was informed that in order to graduate I would need three years of a foreign language. They also recommended that I take another year to fulfill this requirement prior to taking placement tests. So I talked to my counselor and found an online course through University of Missouri Center for Distance and Independent Study that I enrolled in (High school Course) but soon found out that I am not too sharp on the German I took two years ago and just cant learn it very well. </p>
<p>So my question is basically what is your advice to me? I'm not really sure what to do, I don't know if id be able to pass that independent study or even finish it on time before I become an official college student? Also, how hard would it be for me to place into the third year of a college level foreign language and how difficult would the class be?</p>
<p>Don’t take the online class. Contact your advisor at U of I, and ask when the next placement exam would be. With two years of high school level German, it is most likely that you would place into second year German in college. However, if your background is not strong, you might place only into the second semester of the first year course. If you took the German SAT II exam, you may be able to use that for placement.</p>
<p>You also should ask whether you can use a CLEP, DANTES, or other similar exam to exempt from this requirement or place into the level that you need to complete the requirement. The CLEP exams are a bit longer than the SAT II exams and have a listening component. If you study with the SAT II German Exam prep materials from the College Board, and the listening materials for a German AP exam you will probably be reasonably well prepared for the CLEP. Here is a link: [CLEP:</a> German Language](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>German Language: Levels 1 and 2 – CLEP | College Board)</p>
<p>Lastly, if you don’t have to work this summer, and you can find a college course to take near where you live, you may be able to fulfill your requirement that way.</p>
<p>Learning a new language requires continuity and practice Two years of high school language followed by a gap typically leads to a significant loss of skills in the language.</p>
<p>The recommendation to “take another year of German somehow”, well intentioned though it might seem, is not really practical unless you have a passion for the language and strong skills in languages. In any case there isn’t that much time to catch up between now and September.</p>
<p>Best I think is for you to assume that you’ll need to do 2 years of German at the University of Illinois. Work to bring your skill level up to the equivalent of German College Level 1. Even that may prove difficult, but it’s still a realistic approach. You may want to get the test used at the University of Illinois for German 1, and work through the exercises.</p>