Foreign Languages

Introduction

All students are required to demonstrate that they have completed work in a foreign language through the intermediate level. If the student’s native tongue is not English, he/she may be eligible to fulfill the language requirement with his/her native language. The student should contact Brenda Bretz, Associate Provost, to request review of his/her record. If the student has studied a language for two or more years in a secondary school, the student may fulfill the language requirement on the basis of a sufficiently high score on the College Board SAT II foreign language subject test in the language, with the permission of the appropriate language department. Intermediate language courses do not fulfill any other general or distribution requirements at the college.

The following languages require completion of three courses to achieve the intermediate level (consult the College Bulletin at: www.dickinson.edu/bulletin/ for additional information):

French
German
Hebrew
Italian
Russian
Spanish

The following languages require completion of four courses to achieve the intermediate level (consult the College Bulletin at: www.dickinson.edu/bulletin/ for additional information):

Arabic
Chinese
Greek
Latin
Japanese

Also see specific languages as listed alphabetically in this handbook:
www.dickinson.edu/departments/advising/handbook/

Advice for First-Year Students

A. If you are going to continue with a language, take it now. It is important not to lose language skills from lack of use.

Students who have studied a language and wish to continue with it, may be able to qualify for placement above 101. Placement is determined by the language departments on the basis of placement tests or interviews.

French, German & Spanish placement tests are on the Web until July 15, 2005. http://orientation.dickinson.edu

Italian and Russian placement tests will be given on campus Friday, August 26, in the morning after the First-year Seminars meetings. Select the level which seems most suitable for you; you may change your course request after you take the placement test.

Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Chinese and Japanese interviews will be scheduled Friday, August 26, in the morning after the First-year Seminar meetings. Select the level which seems most suitable for you; you may change your course request after your interview. 

B. If you are going to begin a new language, register for the 101 course. French and Spanish offer sections of 101 in both the Fall and Spring semesters.

As you consider the language you would like to begin with, consider the connections the 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 the International Business & Management majors require additional language study usually related to a geographic concentration (e.g. Japanese and Japan).

Proficiency in a language that is not taught at Dickinson

Should a student wish to meet the foreign language requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a language other than those offered at Dickinson, that student may request a proficiency test. This is administered through the Office of the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs. These proficiency tests can be administered only when a competent examiner is available. Any costs associated with such testing are the responsibility of the student. if you have any questions, please contact Brenda Bretz, Associate Provost at bretz@dickinson.edu.

Back to main Advising Handbook page

Updated November 15, 2005