BA programs: YES. Grand Valley requires a third semester proficiency (completion of the 201-level) in a modern or classical language for all Bachelor of Arts degrees. Several programs, such as International Relations and International Business have additional language requirements. 

BS programs: NO, but students should still take the placement evaluation just in case they change their mind later. All students --no matter their choice of major or future plans--benefit from the study of world languages and cultures. For example:

• They can use 202 language courses to fulfill the Global Perspectives requirement.
• Languages and cultures are a valuable skill in all sectors of employment.
• Studying a language other than one’s own is an integral part of a liberal education. 
• Language learning equips students to actively engage with another culture on its own terms, promoting better informed global citizens.
• They might later discover that a language is required in a graduate program.

Placing into a language proficiency level through the language placement evaluation does not grant you credit in the corresponding course. So, for instance, placing into the SPA 102 proficiency level does not grant you credit for SPA 101, but it does allow you to enroll in courses that have SPA 101 as a prerequisite.

If you place into the 101-level of a language, but you have previous experience with learning the language, you may register for the 150-level without a class permit. The 150-level courses are designed for students who have studied a language before (a year or two of high school level courses or equivalent). It reviews the material of a 101 course and then covers the material of a 102 course.

After the 150 course, you can take a 201 level class, which means that you can move more quickly to complete your B.A. language requirement or to advance to higher levels of language proficiency. That’s a savings of one 4-credit class!

If you have questions about your AP language score and credit equivalency, you can find out more here at GVSU's Credit By Exam page. 

If you are pursuing a Bachelor or Arts degree (B.A.), the answer is YES. All Bachelor or Arts majors require language proficiency through at least the 201-level with a few majors that require language proficiency through the 202-level. If you are pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in International Business, you are required to have a language minor (please discuss that requirement with your Seidman advisor).

Please note:  in order to qualify for the Bachelor of Arts world language proficiency requirement waiver, you must take the FLATS exam and pass the 101, 102 and 201 levels. The Language Placement Evaluation (placement test) cannot be taken for the purpose of fulfilling the BA world language proficiency requirement. For more information on the FLATS exam, please see this document.

Once you start your language sequence, you cannot take the Language Placement Evaluation to try to place higher and skip levels. If you are unsure about your placement, please talk to your language professor or professional academic advisor right away. 

If you have questions about the BA world language proficiency requirement, please contact the Modern Languages and Literatures office at (616) 331-3203 or [email protected]. 

If you have questions regarding the language placement evaluation, please contact the Language Resource Center office at (616) 331-2507 or [email protected].

Grand Valley State University teaches 9 modern and classical languages and each of them satisfies the B.A. Language Requirement.

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures teaches: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish

The Department of Classics teaches: Ancient Greek and Latin

For more information on each of the languages, visit the Foreign Language Study webpage. 

Most students fulfill the B.A. Language Requirement by taking three semesters of language classes: 101-102-201. Without taking a language placement evaluation, students may only enroll in 101 or 150. French and Spanish offer a 150 class, which is an accelerated course intended for students with some prior language who still need some review. It includes the material from both 101 and 102 in an accelerated format, and qualifies students to continue on to 201 after only one semester of study.

We typically think of one year of high school language study as representing the equivalent of one semester of language study at the university level, so students who have studied for a year should be able to test into a 102 course. In practice, however, there is a great deal of variation in ability between students who have taken the same amount of language. The language evaluation helps us place students in the level most appropriate for their individual ability.

The Language Resource Center is open for in-person placement evaluations, or the placement evaluation can be taken online.

To take the evaluation online:
Request a GVSU World Language Placement Evaluation. In this form, you will be asked to enter some basic information as well as answer a few quick questions about your previous language experience. After you submit your information, you will receive an email within two business days either giving you an individualized link for the online placement evaluation or, if an online evaluation is not available for your chosen language, connecting you with a language advisor.

To take the evaluation in-person:
Please stop by the Language Resource Center during normal hours of operation.

Please note:  in order to qualify for the Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement waiver, you must take the FLATS exam and pass 101, 102 and 201 levels. The Language Placement Evaluation (placement test) cannot be taken for the purpose of fulfilling the BA world language proficiency requirement. For more information on the FLATS exam, please see this document.

If you have questions about the requirement, please contact the Modern Languages and Literatures office at (616) 331-3203 or [email protected].

If you have questions regarding the language placement evaluation, please contact the Language Resource Center office at (616) 331-2507 or [email protected].

The FLATS Exam is available in 52 languages, and can be used to fulfill the B.A. requirement. There is a no fee to take it, as GVSU covers the cost for students. For more information on the FLATS exam, please see this document.

The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) is an on-demand, internet, or phone-delivered proficiency test. In the computer version, an avatar provides a customized series of prompts based on the interests and experience of the test-taker, which are gathered during the survey phase at the beginning of the test. The test is recorded and assessed by ACTFL-trained, certified raters, and a score is assigned against either the ACTFL or the ILR scale. The phone-delivered version is a 15–30 minute telephonic interview between an ACTFL-Certified Tester and a candidate that is adapted to the interests, experience, and level of the candidate. The OPI resembles a conversation between two people but in fact follows a standard structure and protocol. The tester rates the speech produced during the interview according to either the ACTFL, ILR, or CEFR scales. 

The ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (iWPT) is delivered via the internet. It consists of a number of prompts customized to reflect the interests and experience of the test-taker which are gathered through survey questions at the beginning of the assessment. The candidate is presented with four to five prompts dealing with practical, social, and professional topics that are familiar to the individual and of general and/or cultural relevance, encountered in both formal and informal contexts. The candidate must write a written response to all the prompts. The written responses are assessed by certified ACTFL raters, and results are provided against the ACTFL, ILR, or CEFR scale. The test takes 20–80 minutes, depending on the range of proficiency being assessed. 

In order to take the OPI, students must complete an on-line application at least two weeks prior to their desired test date. Go to https://www.languagetesting.com/sign-in/test-candidates to sign in (or create an account if you're a first-time user) and schedule test. There is a fee for this test; that cost will be shown when you register.

To register, follow the steps below:

1. Click on Order a Test,
2. Select your language,
3. Then choose test: Programs with ACTFL requirements,
4. Type in Grand Valley in the "Search" box, continue
5. Continue,
6. Select ACTFL OPI ($145) or OPIc ($73), Continue to Schedule,
7. Select the Proctoring Option (GVSU if you would like to take the OPI on campus), Expand Proctor Info to see info for Lolita in the main MLL office,
8. Enter your availability,
9. Create an Account or Login
10. And so on…

When registering for the OPI, you will need to select Grand Valley State University, Allendale Campus as your test site.

Approval must be received from Seidman Undergraduate Programs before taking the OPI and WPT for the foreign language minor requirement within the International Business major. Please email the Modern Languages and Literatures Department Coordinator (Lolita Salindong, [email protected]) with your request to take the OPI and WPT. The Department Coordinator will then verify with Seidman Undergraduate Programs that you have been approved to take the tests. 

When registering for the OPI and WPT, you will need to select Grand Valley State University, Allendale Campus as your test site.

It is highly recommended that students complete a practice OPI before signing up for the actual test. Practice tests are administered by a department faculty member and must be scheduled between 9:00AM and 3:30PM.

Please contact one of the following professors to schedule a practice exam:

French
Professor Caillaud  [email protected]
Professor Eick  [email protected]
Professor Pettes Guikema  [email protected] 

German
Professor Koehler  [email protected]
Professor Neitzert  [email protected] 

Spanish
Professor Fernandez Florez  [email protected]

Test Proctor Information:

Lolita Salindong
[email protected]
Department Coordinator
(616) 331-3203

Education Students: students must receive an AL (Advanced Low), Q (Qualified), or A (Advanced Low Equivalent) to move on. All other scores will not count and students will be asked to re-test before beginning student teaching. For more detailed information regarding the OPI, please visit the Language Testing International website. 

International Business Students: students must receive an IH (Intermediate High) or above. Once you receive your results via email, you will need to share them with your Seidman Undergraduate Programs professional academic advisor. For more detailed information regarding the OPI, please visit the Language Testing International website.