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| New placement tests
for foreign languages |
Sam Calhoun
Academic Affairs Beat
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 Appalachian
State University will implement a new foreign language placement
test beginning fall semester 2003.
The test will be required of new students to the university and
first-time language students.
This new placement test is only for the languages of Spanish, German
and French; the Latin placement testing will remain the same. Because
so many who enroll are beginners, classes in Chinese, Japanese and
Russian have no placement test.
By 2004 all students in North Carolina high schools will be required
to have two years of a single foreign language in order to graduate,
thus this new test will help the university adapt to meet higher
standards.
“We think this will allow for more efficient use of our resources
in tight budget times,” Interim Chairperson of the Department
of Foreign Languages and Literature Dr. Kay H. Smith said Friday.
“And it’s going to encourage people to take up a language
and pick up some credit.”
The placement test scores correlate to the different levels of courses
offered at Appalachian State, thus the exact amount of knowledge
a student demonstrates on the test will be exactly where he or she
begins in the class level they are placed in, Smith said.
“[The test] was quick, and it put me right where I need to
be,” Burnsville, N.C. freshman Andrew J. Howell said Monday.
On account of the new test, Howell began his Spanish education at
Appalachian State directly where he left off in high school, which
pleased him and his parents.
The test is easier to take than its predecessor. Whereas the old
test was pencil and paper, two hours long starting at 8 a.m. and
time-sensitive, the new test is computerized, takes a maximum of
30 minutes and offers instant results.
The new test also offers a chance for students to pick up extra
credits toward graduation.
In the past if a student scored at a high level, then they could
get credit for the prerequisite class leading up to that level,
Smith said. Now, if a student scores at a high level, they must
take the 2000 level course to get credit for the prerequisites.
Students can now get nine credits from actually taking three credits
if their score is high enough. The credits will go toward graduation;
however, they are not counted if a student goes over the 140-hour
limit
“We expanded the credit but added a validation course,”
Smith said.
The hope of this initiative is to make foreign language a more significant
part of the education at Appalachian State.
“I am a strong believer that each student should learn a foreign
language. Even though there may be no personal use of the language
subsequent to learning it, even to a modest degree, I believe that
learning a language provides insight not only into the culture,
traditions and customs of the country from which the language is
derived, but it also heightens the sensitivity to people of other
nations as well,” Chancellor Dr. Francis T. Borkowski said
Friday.
Students should be aware they need to take the test in a timely
manner if it affects their situation. There are multiple two-hour
time slots where students may take the test, which have already
begun and will continue throughout the year.
Upcoming test times are Thursday, March 27 from 10-12 a.m. and Friday,
March 28 from 2-4 p.m. in 2014 Raley Hall.
Advanced placement credits from high school are seen as transfer
classes and are handled separately from the placement testing.
Ninety-six percent of Appalachian State students already have had
two years of a foreign language, but this test will hopefully increase
enrollment and satisfaction and make foreign language a more significant
part of the Appalachian State education, Smith said. |
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