The Language Resource Center coordinates foreign language proficiency testing for Columbia University students who seek an exemption from the foreign language requirement. Proficiency tests are offered in the following languages:
Languages offered through the Language Resource Center:
Bengali - Georgian - Hausa - Indonesian - Kannada - Pulaar - Punjabi - Swahili - Telugu - Wolof - Zulu
Languages offered at Columbia through other departments:
Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, Finnish, Farsi, French, Georgian, German, Modern Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yiddish.
Languages offered at NYU through the NYU-Columbia Agreement:
Akkadian - Aramaic - Cantonese - Tagalog - Irish - Ancient Egyptian – Ugaritic
The foreign language proficiency test consists of various components, which assess the student’s command of a foreign language and measure a student’s ability to communicate, read, and write in a foreign language. Usually, a standard proficiency test consists of a reading comprehension assignment, a writing assignment, and an oral interview between the test candidate and the tester. The duration of the test varies depending on the language.
Proficiency tests can be scheduled anytime during the academic year by calling Stéphane Charitos at (212) 854-6341 or emailing him at sc758@columbia.edu.
Additional Information
You may satisfy the requirement in one of three ways:
- Satisfactory completion of the second term of an intermediate language sequence.
- Successful completion of an advanced level language course that requires a 1202 course or the equivalent as a prerequisite.
- Demonstration of an equivalent competence by examination.
Additionally, students whose native language is not English can fulfill the language requirement by providing evidence that they completed their secondary school requirement in the native language.
A proficiency exam measures one’s ability in a target language, and can be used to satisfy or waive the language requirement. Proficiency exams are not used to determine what level language course one should be taking. Proficiency exams measure one’s command of a language regardless of one’s background in that language and as such are independent of particular class content or course materials.
A placement exam is used to determine which language class is appropriate for one’s background and ability. As such, placement exams are dependent on and a function of a particular language curriculum.
A proficiency exam should only be taken once.
You must score at the Intermediate level or higher in all four basic language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) to satisfy or waive the language requirement.
Most examiners will rate your proficiency using the ACTFL Guidelines even though some may use either the FSI Scale or the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Download the attached PDF files or click here for a more detailed description of Intermediate proficiency as measured by the ACTFL Guidelines on the ACTFL website.
Proficiency exams for languages taught at Columbia or through the NYU-Columbia Language Agreement are free.
As a matter of policy, the Language Resource Center will to strive to get other institutions to offer proficiency exam for Columbia students for free as a professional courtesy. However, some institutions as well as individual tester insist on getting paid for their services. If and when a third party charges the Center for the cost of administering a proficiency exam, these costs will be passed to the student seeking to be tested.
Please note that some programs, most noticeably Columbia College, will pick up all costs associated with proficiency testing for enrolled students. Contact Stéphane Charitos at (212) 854-6341 or at sc758@columbia.edu for more information.
The Language Resource Center can try to arrange for testing in any languages. Please note however, that the Center cannot guarantee that it will be able to find an experienced tester for all language. If this is the case, then a proficiency exam will not be administered in that particular language.
There is no set format for a proficiency exam. In general, a proficiency test consists of a written part to determine reading and writing proficiency followed by an oral interview to determine oral and aural competence in a given language. The written part is taken at the Language Resource Center under the supervision of the Center. It usually takes a maximum of two hours. The oral part takes the form of a telephone or a Skype interview and last from fifteen to twenty minutes.
When you register, you should tell the Language Resource Center who should be notified of the result of your exam. Normally, this is the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs in your particular school. However you should ask to make sure in your particular case. The examiner will send the results directly to that person with a copy to the Center for archiving purposes.
No. The role of the Language Resource Center is simply to arrange and certify that the proficiency test given is valid and meets criteria of professional standards. Only the appropriate dean can grant you an exemption.
Contact Stéphane Charitos at (212) 854-6341 or at sc758@columbia.edu if you have more questions or if you would like additional information about proficiency testing.
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