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FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE :
FOREIGN LANGUAGE Regardless of students'
high school language background or whether they are continuing
with a language they studied previously, students should understand
that for most individuals the best way to master a foreign
language is continuous study. For many students, allowing
a period of time to intervene between high school language
study and college language study will make college language
study more difficult. While many Kalamazoo College students
may not be able to continue their language studies during
their first year at Kalamazoo because of other curricular
requirements (for example if they are pre-med students and
need to take two science courses during their first term,
in addition to the required first year seminar), -- we recommend
that all students begin their college language study at the
earliest available opportunity. For other students the most
effective way to continue foreign language study and move
toward true foreign language capability will be to move into
the appropriate foreign language course in their first term
at K.
The study of a foreign
language is an integral part of a college education for a
number of reasons. Understanding - real understanding - of
a foreign language offers a variety of benefits, and whether
a student intends to major in a foreign language or not, the
intellectual and perceptual skills that such study offers
will be valuable assets throughout a student's life.
| Some groups of students
should absolutely begin their language studies during
their first year, including: |
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• Students interested
in Chinese, Greek, Japanese, or Latin, in order to be
prepared for study abroad. |
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• Students interested
in majoring or minoring in language, those who wish to
take more than one language, or who know they want a higher
level of proficiency than the 201 level. |
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• Students who hope
to participate in a GLCA program and thus may need to
work with the appropriate language department to explore
options for completing the 101, 102, 201 sequence. |
LANGUAGE PLACEMENT
EXAMS
You must take the placement exam in any language that
you have studied in high school or learned through life experience,
regardless of whether you intend to continue in that language
at K. You will receive a Language Placement Exam Ticket in
your Orientation materials with the date, time and place of
those placement exams appropriate for you. Please be aware
of the following:
- Students cannot enroll in a language class below the level
of their placement through the placement exam.
- Students who have had 3 or more years of a language in
high school may not receive credit for level 101 of that
language.
- Please consult your admissions ticket in your Orientation
folder for the day and times of the placement exams.
- There is an information session on foreign languages scheduled
in Dalton Theater for 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, September
13.
THE ADVANTAGES OF OBTAINING A HIGHER PROFICIENCY LEVEL
The study of a foreign language is
an integral part of a college education for a number of reasons.
Understanding - real understanding - of a foreign language
offers a variety of benefits, and whether a student intends
to major in a foreign language or not, the intellectual and
perceptual skills that such study offers will be valuable
assets throughout a student's life.
| Sometimes there are real
advantages to going beyond the minimum level of proficiency
required by the College. Having more than the minimum
required level of proficiency: |
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• Prepares the student
for a richer study abroad experience (but this needs to
be considered in light of the qualifications for each
study abroad site). |
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• May strengthen the
student's record for graduate or professional work in
many fields such as international commerce and area studies,
environmental science, medicine, human development and
social relations, the social sciences, fine arts, and
humanities. |
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• Leaves open the
possibility of a major in the study of foreign language,
culture, and literature. |
FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY AND THE STUDY
ABROAD CONNECTION
Study abroad programs are offered in all languages taught
at Kalamazoo, as well as many languages not taught at Kalamazoo.
English-language study abroad programs are also available.
Some programs are organized at specific competency levels,
so students should check with the Center for International
Programs early in their Kalamazoo College career to find out
the level of language competence necessary for specific programs
in which they are interested.
The policy of the Center for International
Programs is that students who have already taken the required
minimum level of foreign language for their study abroad program
are encouraged to maintain their level of proficiency during
the time before departure. Note, too, that there is a maximum
allowable level for some foreign-language programs. Students
should consult with language departments about ways to maintain
their level of language proficiency outside the classroom.
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