Foreign Languages Placement Guideline

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.  331 Major Williams Hall. 231-5362.
-- Dr. Shryock (shryock@vt.edu), Pam Saville (psaville@vt.edu), Lois Doherty (doherty@vt.edu),
-- Dr. Becker (abecker@vt.edu)

The table below is a rough guide.  Placement can vary, depending on the level of proficiency reached in high school (not just the number of years). Placement in language courses also varies from language to language.  See a specific language coordinator, after August 16, to determine final placement.

YEARS OF A SINGLE LANGUAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL            PLACEMENT AT VT

Fewer than 2 years

1105 (Fall Semester)

2 years

1105 (Fall Semester) or
1106 (Spring Semester)

3 years      
-- Grades 10-11-12
-- Grades 9-10-11
-- Grades 8-9-10


2000 level class, usually 2105 or 2106
1106 (Spring Semester)
1105 (Fall Semester)

4 years
-- Grades 9-10-11-12
-- Grades 8-9-10-11


3000 level, usually 3105 or 3106
2000 level, usually 2105 or 2106

5 years or more

3000 level or higher.  See advisor.


AP AND IB CREDIT:  http://www.registrar.vt.edu/registration/tests_for_credit.php

Nota bene:

  1. 1105, 2105, and 3105 are offered only in the Fall. 1106, 2106, and 3106 are offered only in the Spring.

  2. Spanish has a diagnostic test during the first class of 2105-6 and 3105-6 to determine final placement.

  3. If a student has 3 years (or more) of a single foreign language in high school, departmental permission is required to take 1105 and/or 1106.  If such permission is granted, the course will count toward graduation.

  4. AP foreign language credits and 3000 level IB credits are awarded as ‘elective’ credits. Students must see an advisor, the Chair, or the Associate Chair of FLL to request credit to match specific courses.

  5. Students not attending the first and second class of (1000-level) and intermediate (2000-level) courses in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish will be dropped from the course.


Enrollment Procedures

Uninterrupted instruction is particularly crucial in foreign language study, especially at the lower levels. Unfortunately seats in elementary and intermediate foreign language courses will be limited.  If classes are full, students may need to postpone their foreign language study at VT.

A limited number of seats in first-year language courses will be available in French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.  If you are unable to get in, we encourage you to attend the first week of classes.  (Do not contact the department or the instructor seeking a force-ad.)

We automatically drop students who are absent either the first or second day of classes. This makes room for other students wishing to add the class. Students will add classes through Hokie SPA on a first-come, first-serve basis as students are dropped from class.

If you would like to take a first-year class that is full, attend the class and then check repeatedly online to see if a seat opens up. Please be persistent though the end of the first week. We are able to accommodate a considerable number of students each semester.

Force Add: A student should not ask the staff in the office of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, but attend the class and ask the instructor.  This does not, however, guarantee that there will be a spot.