Foreign Language Placement Instructions
Program Information
- Courses are offered at all levels in Spanish, French and Italian.
- SHU has a major in Spanish and minors in Spanish and Italian.
- Courses are occasionally offered in Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Gaelic and Latin. These courses are at the first-year level.
- Students with prior background in a language are not permitted to choose the level at which they will begin their study. The department will make placement decisions based on language background and placement exam results, as applicable.
Who needs to take a foreign language placement exam?
Students who plan to take either Spanish, French, or Italian and who have any previous experience in the language (junior high school or high school study, study abroad, experience speaking the language with family, etc.) within the past five years
Preferred Deadline for Completion of Exam
- Incoming Freshmen: As soon as possible (prior to registration, if possible)
- All Other Students: Prior to appointment with advisor
Who does not need to take a placement exam?
- Students taking Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, and Latin; these courses are offered at the beginning level and designed for students without background in the language
- Students who would like to take Spanish, French, or Italian and who have no prior study or experience in the language (no formal study, study abroad where these languages are spoken, experience speaking the language with their families within the past five years); these students may register for first-semester courses
- Students who transfer language course credit from another college or university; these students may enroll in the next level course
- Students who earned a high school diploma outside the United States where the courses were conducted in Spanish, French, or Italian; these students would enroll in courses at the level of SP/FR/IT 251 and above
Instructions for the language you plan to study:
- If you have never studied Spanish before, or if you have not had any experience in the language (formal study, study abroad, experience speaking the language with your family, etc.) within the past five years, you do not need to take the placement exam.
- The placement exam should be taken by the deadline indicated. Failure to meet this deadline may cause enrollment in language courses to be delayed.
- If you have any questions, email Prof. Mark Mascia, Spanish Coordinator, at masciam@sacredheart.edu
Read all of the instructions below before you take the exam
- The exam length will vary according to your level, but should not take more than approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Access the online exam using your internet browser
- You will be prompted to register, create an account, and select the language: Spanish
- Complete the language background survey. An incomplete survey will delay your placement.
In submitting your survey and completing the placement exam, you attest that you took the exam without assistance and put forth your best effort. You also attest that you did not use any dictionaries, textbooks, or other notes in taking the exam.
You should access your score report, print the exam score page, and keep it for your records. Please be advised that this score does not necessarily correspond to your placement into Sacred Heart University courses. Placement will ultimately be determined by the department. Freshmen and upperclassmen may also be contacted by a language representative or coordinator.
- If you have never studied French before, or if you have not had any experience in the language (formal study, study abroad, experience speaking the language with your family, etc.) within the past five years, you do not need to take the placement exam.
- The placement exam should be taken by the deadline indicated. Failure to meet this deadline may cause enrollment in language courses to be delayed.
- If you have any questions, email Prof. Claire Marrone, Coordinator of French and Italian, at marronec@sacredheart.edu.
Please read all of the instructions below before you take the exam
- The exam length will vary according to your level, but should not take more than approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Access the online exam in your internet browser
You will be prompted to register, create an account, and select the language: French
Complete the language background survey. An incomplete survey will delay your placement. - In submitting your survey and completing the placement exam, you attest that you took the exam without anyone's assistance and put forth your best effort. You also attest that you did not use any dictionaries, textbooks, or other notes in taking the exam.
You should access your score report, print the exam score page, and keep it for your records. Please be advised that this score does not necessarily correspond to your placement into Sacred Heart University courses. Placement will ultimately be determined by the department. Freshmen and upperclassmen may also be contacted by a language representative or coordinator.
- If you have never studied Italian before, or if you have not had any experience in the language (formal study, study abroad, experience speaking the language with your family, etc.) within the past five years, you do not need to take the placement exam.
- The placement exam should be taken by the deadline indicated. Failure to meet this deadline may cause enrollment in language courses to be delayed.
- If you have any questions, email Prof. Claire Marrone, Coordinator of French and Italian, at marronec@sacredheart.edu.
Read all of the instructions below before you take the exam
- The exam length will vary according to your level, but should not take more than approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Access the online exam in your internet browser
You will be prompted to register, create an account, and select the language: Italian - Complete the language background survey. An incomplete survey will delay your placement.
- In submitting your survey and completing the placement exam, you attest that you took the exam without anyone's assistance and put forth your best effort. You also attest that you did not use any dictionaries, textbooks, or other notes in taking the exam.
You should access your score report, print the exam score page, and keep it for your records. Please be advised that this score does not necessarily correspond to your placement into Sacred Heart University courses. Placement will ultimately be determined by the department. Freshmen and upperclassmen may also be contacted by a language representative or coordinator.
More Information
Mark Mascia, Ph.D.
Spanish Coordinator
203-371-7816
masciam@sacredheart.edu
Claire Marrone, Ph.D.
French & Italian Coordinator
203-371-7821
marronec@sacredheart.edu
Peter Sinclair, Ph.D.
Chair of Languages & Literature
203-396-6708
sinclairp@sacredheart.edu