Simmons College

What is the language requirement?

As listed in the student handbook: Simmons students, with the exception of Dix Scholars and international students from non-English speaking countries, are required to demonstrate language proficiency at the intermediate level. Students may take up to three semesters of a modern language (through 201) in order to fulfill the requirement. In addition, students can fulfill the requirement with a score of a 3,4, or 5 on an Advanced Placement language exam, a score of 560 or above on an SAT II Language Test, or by passing a test given at Simmons indicating mastery of the third semester of a language. The Academic Support Center will provide language placement tests to students for the purposes of placement and/or fulfillment of the language requirement.

[top]

Do international students need to take a language?

No, international students from non-English-speaking countries are exempt from the language requirement. International students from English-speaking countries will still have to fulfill the language requirement. The Academic Support Center will notify advisors and the Registrar's Office whether students are exempted from the language requirement or not.

[top]

What if I am not an international student but I am fluent in or speak another language?

If you are not an international student but you speak another language at home, or are fluent for other reasons, and you have entered Simmons in the fall of 2005 or later, you will have to take an exam to prove your proficiency to at least the intermediate level. All exams are scheduled by the Academic Support Center (x 2474).

If you entered Simmons before fall 2005, please contact the Department of Modern Languages (x2183) regarding the language requirement.

If you are not an international student but lived abroad for at least one year and were schooled in another language — and if you can provide the Academic Support Center with documentation attesting to this fact — you will be exempted from the language requirement. You are not required to take an exam.

[top]

What if I am not an international student but I have lived abroad before?

If you are not an international student but lived abroad for at least one year and were schooled in another language-- and if you can provide the Academic Support Center with documentation attesting to this fact-- you will be exempted from the language requirement. You are not required to take an exam to be exempt, but you need to take a placement exam if you want to continue studying the language at Simmons College.

[top]

If I am going to study abroad, how do I fulfill the language requirement?

If you plan to fulfill your language requirement by studying abroad, your language courses must be pre-approved by the Chair of the Modern Languages Department before you go.

[top]

How do I know what level class I can take at Simmons?

The Academic Support Center offers placement exams for all of the languages offered at Simmons. Exams are only given at the beginning of the school year, but under exceptional circumstances, students may petition the Academic Support Center to be given a placement exam at another time.

Students may also be placed into a certain level based on their AP or SAT scores in the language.

[top]

What if I took the AP or SAT in a language?

Students must have all test scores sent to the Academic Support Center. The Academic Support Center will then notify student advisors and the Registrar's Office of the placements and credits received.

1. AP Test Scores:
   3: EXEMPT from language requirement; student may take 245. 4: EXEMPT; student receives 4 general credits and may take 245. 5: EXEMPT; student receives 8 general credits and may take 245 or higher.
   
2. SAT Subject Test Scores:
   560 or above EXEMPT; student may take 202.

[top]

Can I take a class higher than 101 without taking a placement test?

No, the only way to move into a class higher than the 101 level is to pass the exam for that level. You may retake the exam to try to move into a higher level.

[top]

What if I get placed in a class that seems too easy for me?

You may retake the exam to try to move into a higher level. You may also speak with your instructor who, based on your performance in class, will assess whether you are misplaced or not.

[top]

Do I have to start taking a language my first semester at Simmons?

Although students are free to take their language classes whenever they choose, we encourage students to begin working towards fulfilling the language requirement as early as possible in order to avoid delays in graduation. It is up to the student and her advisor to ensure that the requirement is fulfilled by the time of graduation. No exceptions to the requirement will be made due to scheduling problems.

[top]

Can I skip a level?

No, you are required to follow the sequence: 101, 102, 201. You cannot register in 102 if you did not pass 101 (or the placement test for 101), and you cannot register in 201 if you did not pass 102 (or the placement test for 102).

[top]

Can I retake the placement exam?

Yes, you may retake the language exam. However, exams are only given once a year so students should allow adequate time to fulfill the requirement.

[top]

When are placement exams offered?

Exams in French and Spanish are offered during Summer Orientation, Fall Orientation, January Orientation, and in special circumstances by individual appointment throughout the year. Exams in Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Italian, languages taught at Simmons, are offered only at Fall Orientation. All exams for languages not taught at Simmons are offered only at fall orientation.

[top]

What if I want to take a language not offered at Simmons?

Students are welcome to take language classes at other institutions to fulfill the language requirement. You have two options: 1) you can complete the courses at another institution without receiving Simmons credit for them, and then take a placement test at Simmons in order to prove you have reached the intermediate level; or 2) you can transfer credits for previously approved courses (101, 102 or 201) and fulfill the language requirement once you have completed 201, without having to take an exam. It is important to know that the Department of Modern Languages will have to approve your courses, and there are restrictions on what courses you may receive credit for.

[top]

How can I get transfer credits from language classes at another school?

The Department of Modern Languages must pre-approve transfer credits for language courses. Students can obtain a form from the Registrar's Office, which must then be signed by the Chair of the department. Students should be aware of the following restrictions on which courses may be approved:

1. Courses must be from an Accredited Institution of Higher Learning.
2. Each course must have at least 40 contact hours per semester. Courses with fewer than 40 hours will not be accepted.
3. Before taking the course, students must provide the Modern Languages department with documentation showing each of the following:
   • Official course description
   • Dates and times of the course (minimum of 4 weeks)
   • Number of contact hours (minimum 40)

If the student has passed the equivalent of the 201 level, the language requirement is fulfilled.

[top]

Where can I take classes in languages not offered at Simmons?

In addition to the other Colleges of the Fenway, schools in the area with foreign language offerings include Boston University, UMass Boston, Tufts, Boston College, Harvard University, MIT, and Northeastern University.

[top]

What if I have a learning disability?

In some cases, the language requirement may be waived for students with a documented learning disability or other disability that affects one's ability to fulfill the language requirement. If you have a disability that affects your ability to fulfill the language requirement, please contact Todd Herriott, the Learning Disabilities Specialist in the Academic Support Center (x2473).

Because the language requirement expresses, in part, the College's commitment to the curricular integration of global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding, these students must complete three courses in an area of study relating to global issues and perspectives, cross-cultural understanding, and interdisciplinary knowledge. The Academic Support Center will provide a list of such courses.

[top]

What if I need a language class to graduate but it won't fit into my schedule?

Exceptions to the language requirement policy will not be made under any circumstances. We encourage students to begin working towards fulfilling the language requirement as early as possible in order to avoid delays in graduation.

[top]

What should I do if I'm a transfer student?

Transfer students should refer to the policies listed for all other students. However, if you have studied the language at your previous institution, you may register for the next level class without taking a placement exam.

[top]