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Foreign Languages
Introduction
All students are required to demonstrate that they have completed work in
a foreign language through the intermediate level. Because of our commitment to global study,
most students complete the language requirement via study of language at
Dickinson. For those students who do not
intend to continue the study of language at Dickinson, the following describes
the other possible ways for a student to fulfill this requirement:
FOR
STUDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH:
If
the student took the TOEFL test, send scores to the Registrar. The TOEFL confirms a language other than
English as first. Acceptance to
Dickinson is verification that the student has completed a foreign language
(English) equivalent to the intermediate level.
o
The
Registrar will review the information and provide written notification to the
student, the student's advisor, and will update the student’s official
record.
o
In
this case, the language requirement is fulfilled but no academic credit is
posted to the student’s record.
If
the student did not take the TOEFL but if there is appropriate documentation
confirming that the student completed academic work (i.e., high school level)
in his/her native language, this can serve as confirmation that a language
other than English is the student’s first language. Acceptance to Dickinson is verification that
the student has completed a foreign language (English) equivalent to the
intermediate level.
o
The
Registrar will provide written notification to the student, the student's advisor,
and will update the student’s official record.
o
In
this case, the language requirement is fulfilled but no academic credit is
posted to the student’s record.
If the student’s native language is one offered at Dickinson but the student does
not have TOEFL score or documentation of academic work in that language, he/she
can consult with the department regarding placement evaluation.
o
The
Department will provide written notification to the student, the student's
advisor, and the Registrar regarding results of the placement evaluation. The Registrar will update the student’s
official record with the appropriate placement or fulfillment of the
requirement.
o
In
this case, the language requirement is fulfilled but no academic credit is
posted to the student’s record
• If the student has studied or is fluent in a language other than those offered at Dickinson, the student should contact Associate Provost Brenda Bretz, representative for Provost/Dean of the College in these matters to obtain information regarding the procedure to be tested in that language. The student must identify and recommend a qualified examiner to Associate Provost Bretz who will provide the approved tester guidance to confirm intermediate level language completion. Any costs associated with such testing are the responsibility of the student.
o Tester will inform Associate Provost Bretz of the outcome. If confirmation of intermediate level is received, she will inform the student, the student’s advisor and the Registrar, who will update the student’s official record.
o In this case, the language requirement is fulfilled but no academic credit is posted to the student’s record.
Admissions
will expand Acceptance of English Proficiency Testing beyond the TOEFL and will
include the Academic IELTS and MELAB exams for admissions eligibility beginning
with the 2011-2012 admissions cycle.
FOR
STUDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH:
If the student has completed an Advanced Placement course in high
schoolas well as the AP test, the student must authorize the College Board to
send the official score directly to the Registrar’s Office. Consult the AP information on the Registrar’s
Web Page to determine if the score qualifies for placement only or both
placement and credit:
http://www.dickinson.edu/academics/resources/registrar/content/Advanced-Credit/
o
The
Registrar will review the score and, if it fulfills the requirement, will
update the student’s official record.
o
In
this case, language requirement is fulfilled and academic credit is posted to
the student’s record.
If
the student’s score on the College Board SAT II foreign language subject test is
sufficiently high, it may fulfill the requirement. Consult the SAT II information on the
Registrar’s Web Page: http://www.dickinson.edu/academics/resources/registrar/content/Advanced-Credit/
o
The
Registrar will review the score and if eligible for fulfillment will provide
written notification to the student, the student's advisor, and will update the
student’s official record.
o
In
this case, language requirement is fulfilled but no academic credit is posted
to the student’s record.
If
the student’s score on the on-campus language examplaces them beyond
the intermediate level, the language requirement is fulfilled.
o
The
department will inform the Registrar of the score and the Registrar will update
the student’s official record.
o
In
this case, language requirement is fulfilled but no academic credit is posted
to the student’s record.
NOTE: First-year students who take the on-line
placement test prior to course request and who score high enough to fulfill the
language must re-take exam in a proctored setting once on campus. The score from the on-campus re-take will be
used to determine language placement/fulfillment.
If
the student has studied or is fluent in a language other than those offered at
Dickinson (including American Sign Language), the student should contact Associate Provost Brenda Bretz,
representative for Provost/Dean of the College in these matters to obtain
information regarding the procedure to be tested in that language. The student must identify and recommend a
qualified examiner to Associate Provost Bretz who will provide the approved
tester guidance to confirm intermediate level language completion. Any costs associated with such testing are
the responsibility of the student.
o
Tester
will inform Associate Provost Bretz of the outcome. If confirmation of intermediate level is
received, she will inform the student, the student’s advisor and the Registrar,
who will update the student’s official record.
o
In
this case, the language requirement is fulfilled but no academic credit is posted
to the student’s record.
Transfer
of coursework equivalent to the intermediate level of language from an
accredited institution. NOTE: languages not offered at Dickinson (including
American Sign Language) can be used to fulfill the requirement.
o
The
student must consult with the Registrar regarding transfer of the credit
associated with eligible coursework.
Incoming
students may continue with a language from high school or begin a new language
at Dickinson. The following languages
require completion of three courses to achieve the intermediate level (consult
the College Bulletin for additional
information):
French Italian
German Russian
Modern Hebrew Spanish
The following languages require completion of four courses to achieve the
intermediate level (consult the College
Bulletin for additional information):
Arabic Japanese
Chinese Latin
Ancient Greek
Also see specific languages as listed alphabetically in this handbook. NOTE:
ModernGreek does not fulfill the language requirement.
For incoming students, up-to-date information regarding language
placement exams can be found on the Orientation web site.
Some
majors require course work in languages beyond the intermediate level. If you meet the college’s language
requirement through any of the above options but have chosen a major with
additional language requirements, be sure to review the language requirements
on the departmental webpage and discuss with your major advisor.
Advice
for first-year students
A. Students
who plan to continue with a language studied in high school should request it for
Fall semester. It is important not to lose language skills from lack of use. Detailed information regarding placement exams
and/or guidance for all languages is available on the Orientation Web site.
B. Students
starting a new language should select the first course in the language sequence. All languages offer the first course in the
fall. French and Spanish also typically offer
the first course in the Spring semester.
Students
should consider the connections languages have to other programs. For example, Physics students who study
German may be able to participate in the Physics summer program in Bremen. Students planning to study social sciences or
art in Italy may wish to begin Italian.
The International Studies and International Business & Management
majors require additional language study usually related to a geographic
concentration (e.g. Japanese and Japan).
Some
Dickinson study abroad programs require language beyond the intermediate level
as a prerequisite. Consult the Global
Education web page.