Language Placement FAQs
Our department offers 1010 beginner-level courses in all of our language programs. 1010 level courses are typically offered in the Fall semester, but we encourage students to check the Class Schedule for each given semester for the most accurate information.
The option to begin directly at the 1010 course is for people who have never studied this language before. If you’ve studied this language, even briefly, please take a placement test.
You can visit this page to book an appointment to take a remotely proctored language placement test for the following languages:
Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese (simplified), Korean and Japanese.
Your placement test results will tell you which course at the U that you are qualified to enroll in based on your current language abilities.
- Arabic: Contact Professor Shereen Salah at shereen.salah@utah.edu
- Portuguese: Contact Professor Anna Hodgson at anna.hodgson@utah.edu
- Russian: Contact Professor Natalya Kuznetsova at natalya.kuznetsova@utah.edu
*If your language is not listed, please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu
If it has been more than a year since you have taken the AP test and you have had no further study or interaction with the language then we highly recommend taking a placement where available.
All AP World Language Exams except Spanish Literature (AP Chinese Language, AP French Language, AP German Language, AP Italian Language, AP Japanese Language, AP Latin Language, AP Spanish Language)
- Score of 5: Placement into first 3000-level course; 16 credits for 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 automatically awarded on Degree Audit; LR fulfilled.
- Score of 4: Placement into 2020; 12 credits for 1010, 1020, and 2010 automatically awarded on Degree Audit.
- Score of 3: Placement into 2010; 8 credits for 1010 and 1020 automatically awarded on Degree Audit.
- Score of 1-2: No placement; no credits awarded (students encouraged to take WLC Placement Exam and purchase credits if needed and eligible).
AP Spanish Literature Exam:
- Score of 4-5: Awards 2 Spanish literature courses at 1XXX level (3 credits each) AND 2 Spanish literature courses at 2XXX level (3 credits each).
- Score of 3: Awards 2 Spanish literature courses at 1XXX level (3 credits each).
- Above is general elective credit (not credit for specific classes) since we don’t offer lower-division Spanish literature courses.
- Students still eligible to purchase full 16 lower-division Spanish language credits after receiving 3000-level placement from the WLC Placement Exam (Spanish Literature AP Exam does not place students into language sequence).
WLC highly recommends taking a placement test to confirm accurate placement if it has been more than a year since you have studied or interacted with the language.
Additionally, if you are a Utah IB Chinese student we highly recommend taking a Chinese placement exam to confirm accurate placement.
| Language Acquisition | |
| Classical Languages—Standard Level | Score 5-7 = Placement into 2010 |
| Classical Languages—Higher Level | Score 5-7 = Placement into 2020 |
| Language ab initio—Standard Level | Score 5-7 = Placement into 2010 |
| Language and Literature | |
| Language A: Language and Literature—Standard Level | Score 5-7 = Placement into 2010 |
| Language A: Language and Literature—Higher Level | Score 5-7 = Placement into 2020 |
| Language A: Literature—Standard Level | Score 5-7 = Placement into 2010 |
| Language A: Literature—Higher Level | Score 5-7 = Placement into 2020 |
State of Utah Seal of Biliteracy:
- Gold (default): Placement into first 3000-level course; eligible to purchase lower-division credits.
- Platinum: Placement into 3060 course; eligible to purchase lower-division credits.
Other States’ Seals of Biliteracy:
- Take WLC Placement Test for placement.
What is the difference between a native and heritage speaker? A Native speaker can be defined as a person who has completed Secondary education in a country that speaks the target language. This person would have developed literacy skills in the target language.
A heritage speaker can be defined as a person who has been exposed to a particular language and culture in childhood or who has been raised with a strong cultural and linguistic connection to a particular language (usually through family interaction) but did not learn it to full capacity because another language became dominant.
American Sign Language:
Heritage: Please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu for placement.
Native: Classes are not offered at your level—please see the information on purchasing credits.
Arabic:
Heritage: Contact shereen.salah@utah.edu for placement.
Native: Limited classes are available for native speakers. Students wishing to take Arabic classes must contact shereen.salah@utah.edu for placement.
Chinese:
Heritage: Please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu for placement.
Native: Our Chinese language courses are not designed for native speakers. For questions, please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu.
French:
Heritage: If you're a heritage learner of French, register for FRNCH 3040 (taught in Fall semester)
Native: Native speakers of French are permitted in advanced French courses. Please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu for recommendations on placement.
German:
Heritage- If you're a heritage learner of German, register for GERM 3060 (taught in Fall semester)
Native- Native speakers of German are permitted in advanced German courses. Please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu for recommendations on placement.
Hindi-Urdu:
Heritage: Most heritage speakers of Hindi begin in HINDI 1010. If you think you should be placed in a higher level, please contact christine.everaert@utah.edu.
Native: Classes are not offered at your level—please see the information on purchasing credits.
Italian:
Heritage: If you're a heritage learner of Italian, register for ITAL 3060 (taught in Fall semester)
Native: Native speakers of Italian are permitted in advanced Italian courses. Please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu for recommendations on placement.
Japanese:
Heritage: Heritage learners of Japanese should email wlc-advising@utah.edu
Native: Japanese language courses are not designed for native speakers. For questions, please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu.
Korean:
Heritage: Any heritage learners of Korean wishing to take a Korean course should take a placement test.
Native: Korean language courses are not designed for native speakers. For questions, please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu.
Modern Greek:
Heritage: Please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu for placement.
Native: Classes are not offered at your level—please see the information on purchasing credits.
Nahuatl:
Please email wlc-advising@utah.edu for placement questions.
Navajo:
Heritage: Please email wlc-advising@utah.edu for placement questions.
Native- Korean language courses are not designed for native speakers. For questions, please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu.
Persian:
Heritage: Please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu for placement.
Native: Please contact Soheila Amirsoleimani at soheila.amirsoleimani@utah.edu.
Portuguese:
Heritage: Please contact Anna Hodgson at anna.hodgson@utah.edu.
Native: Please contact Anna Hodgson at anna.hodgson@utah.edu.
Quechua:
Please email wlc-advising@utah.edu for placement questions.
Russian:
Heritage: Please contact Natalya Kuznetsova at natalya.kuznetsova@utah.edu.
Native: Please contact Natalya Kuznetsova at natalya.kuznetsova@utah.edu.
Samoan:
Heritage: Please contact Lissie Ah Yen at l.ahyen@utah.edu.
Native: Classes are not offered at your level—please see the information on purchasing credits.
Spanish:
If you grew up with someone in your household speaking Spanish, please email spanheritage@utah.edu.
If you consider yourself a Native speaker of Spanish, please email wlc-advising@utah.edu.
Vietnamese:
Heritage: Most heritage speakers of Vietnamese begin in VIET 1010. If you think you should be placed in a higher level, please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu.
Native: Classes are not offered at your level—please see the information on purchasing credits.
If you participated a Dual Language Immersion program but do not have college or AP/IB credits, please take a placement exam.
WLC also highly recommends taking a placement test to confirm accurate placement if it has been more than a year since you have studied or interacted with the language.
If you completed the Utah Language Bridge program for Chinese, French, or Spanish your placement is different from typical AP placement:
Score of 3 or 4
- Chinese: Place directly into CHIN 3010
- French: Place directly into FRNCH 3040
- Spanish: Place directly into SPAN 3040
Score of 5
- Chinese: Place directly into CHIN 3060
- French: Place directly into FRNCH 3040
- Spanish: Place directly into SPAN 3060
If you completed the Utah Language Bridge program for Portuguese you will place directly into PTGSE 3060.
If it has been more than two years since you have interacted with the language since learning the language on a mission, please take a placement test with our department.
If you learned a language through a religious mission in the United States, you may need to take a placement test. Please email wlc-advising@utah.edu.
If you lived abroad for at least 1.5 years speaking any of the following languages, you can take the classes listed in fall semesters. If you need a class in a Spring semester, please contact wlc-advising@utah.edu.
- Chinese: CHIN 3060 (Contact wlc-advising@utah.edu if not available)
- German: GERM 3060
- Italian: ITAL 3060
- French: FRNCH 3040
- Japanese: JAPAN 3040
- Portuguese: PTGSE 3060
- Russian: RUSS 3060
- Spanish: SPAN 3060 (available fall & spring semesters)