Placement and Proficiency Testing in Less Commonly Studied Languages

Placement testing is not necessary if you have never studied the language. If you are not familiar with a language, you will enroll in its first-semester elementary course. Only if you have previously studied or used the language should you take a placement test in order to determine which Illinois course is most appropriate for you as you continue your studies of that language.


Proficiency testing is carried out by the department that offers the language. The department decides the manner in which language proficiency is determined as well as the dates and times of the testing. The department also determines how much, if any, proficiency credit your performance may earn. Sometimes passing the proficiency exam will fulfill your Gen Ed language requirement but will NOT award you credit hours. You should consult with your academic advisor to find out how your academic record will be affected if you pass a language proficiency exam.


Please be aware that a less commonly studied language MIGHT NOT BE OFFERED every semester. Course availability depends on instructor availability. That means that placement testing, as well as proficiency testing, might not be available in a particular semester. Please check with the department that is responsible for the language (contacts listed below) to see what your options are.




LANGUAGE


Department Responsible For Testing


Sub-Saharan African Languages





Linguistics Dept.
Dr. Mary Gathogo
PHONE: 217-333-3563
EMAIL: gathogo@illinois.edu



American Sign Language





Speech and Hearing Science Dept.
Mr. Donald Haring (by appointment only)
PHONE: 217-333-2230
EMAIL: dharing@illinois.edu




Arabic





Linguistics Dept.
Dr. Eman Saadah
PHONE: 217-333-3563
EMAIL: esaadah2@illinois.edu




Basque





Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
Dr. Jose Ignacio Hualde
PHONE: 217-244-7161
EMAIL: jihualde@illinois.edu




Bulgarian





Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Dr. Richard Tempest
PHONE: 217-244-4720
EMAIL: rtempest@illinois.edu

*Placement Testing Only!*




Catalan





Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
Dr. Jose Ignacio Hualde
PHONE: 217-244-7161
EMAIL: jihualde@illinois.edu 




Chinese, Japanese, and Korean





Dept. of East Asian Languages and Cultures
PHONE: 217-244-2725
EMAIL: slclundergradservices@illinois.edu




Czech/Slovak





Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Dr. David Cooper
PHONE: 217-244-4666
EMAIL: dlcoop@illinois.edu




Farsi (Persian)





Linguistics Dept.
Dr. Aazam Feizmohammadpour
PHONE: 217-333-3563
EMAIL: afeiz@illinois.edu




Classical Greek





Classics Dept.
Dr. Kirk Sanders
PHONE: 217-333-7661
EMAIL: ksanders@illinois.edu




Modern Greek





Modern Greek Studies Dept.
Dr. Stefanos Katsikas
PHONE: 217-300-7188
EMAIL: skatsika@illinois.edu




Hebrew





Program in Jewish Culture & Society
Dr. Brett Kaplan
PHONE: 217-333-1253
EMAIL: bakaplan@illinois.edu




Hindi





Linguistics Dept.
Dr. Mithilesh Mishra
PHONE: 217-333-3563
EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu




Italian





Dept. of French and Italian
Ms. Laura Callegari Hill
PHONE: 217-244-9375
EMAIL: lchill1@illinois.edu




Latin





Classics Dept.
Proficiency testing only! Latin placement testing is done online. All Latin proficiency exams are administered on an individual basis.
Dr. Ariana Traill
PHONE: 217-333-7661
EMAIL: traill@illinois.edu 




Native American Languages: Quechua





Upon consent from the Associate Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Dr. Angelina Cotler
PHONE: 217-333-8419
EMAIL: cotler@illinois.edu




Polish





Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures 
Dr. George Gasyna
PHONE: 217-244-3070
EMAIL: ggasyna@illinois.edu




Portuguese





Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
Dr. Andreia Lisboa De Sousa
PHONE: 217-333-3390
EMAIL: alsousa@illinois.edu




Russian





Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Dr. Roman Ivashkiv
PHONE: 217-333-0680
EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu 




Sanskrit





Dept. of Religion
Dr. Jessica Birkenholtz
PHONE: 217-333-0473
EMAIL: jvanbirk@illinois.edu




Scandinavian Languages





Dept. of Germanic Languages and Literatures
Dr. Mark Safstrom
PHONE: 217-244-3248
EMAIL: safstrom@illinois.edu 




Serbian/Croatian





Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Dr. Roman Ivashkiv
PHONE: 217-333-0680
EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu 




Turkish





Linguistics Dept.
Ms. Ayse Ozcan
PHONE: 217-333-3563
EMAIL: aozcan@illinois.edu




Ukrainian





Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Dr. Roman Ivashkiv
PHONE: 217-333-0680
EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu





If your language is not listed above

and you need to take a placement or proficiency exam, you may contact the Testing Center and make arrangements through them to take the appropriate NYU exam. You are responsible for paying for all proctoring and testing fees.  Excellent performance on the 12-point NYU exam will fulfill Illinois' General Education LOTE requirement.


For other questions, please contact pnp@illinois.edu or call 217-244-4437.


Contact information

If you have any questions about placement and proficiency testing at Illinois, you may call us during normal business hours at 217-244-4437 or e-mail us at pnp@illinois.edu