The learning goals of the department can be divided into three: Those belonging to the language program, the ones set for the upper-level courses taken by the majors, and the graduate program.
I. Language Program: What students graduating from the Spanish Language Programs can do.
Comprehension: The student understands the content of oral or written text on current events and shows the ability to 1) summarize a given text cohesively and coherently without prompting, 2) produce a statement summarizing his/her view of the event, and 3) answer follow up questions showing both ability to comprehend and prior knowledge on general encyclopedic points related to the content of the article.
Grammar: The student shows the ability to both narrate and describe events producing paragraph-length discourse in all major time frames (past, present, and future). S/he may have problems regarding the use of ser/estar, subjunctive, and preterit/imperfect contrasts but they should not interfere with comprehension. The reference point for ‘comprehension’ is the native speaker monolingual not used to exchanges with non-native speakers.
Vocabulary/ Professional Vocabulary: Vocabulary may be generic when dealing with personal topics, but the student shows command of a professional, specialized lexicon when dealing with topics of interest (such as US and international economy, politics, and/or societal issues). Circumlocution and rephrasing are to be expected.
Speech/Written output: Speech is clear and does not lead to confusion. Pronunciation, lexicon, grammar, and paragraph structure are not so faulty as to prevent comprehension by native speakers unaccustomed to interacting with non-native speakers. Discourse may still reflect the oral paragraph structure of the student’s language rather than that of the target language. In preparation for upper-division courses, students have moved from description and narration to develop different styles of writing, especially argumentative texts, with vocabulary and concepts that apply to literature, culture, or linguistics.
Knowledge of Subject Matter: The student shows knowledge of the geography, customs, socioeconomic and sociopolitical structures as well as the history of Latin America and Spain. S/he is aware of and knowledgeable about the past and present status of the relationship between those countries and the United States as well as current issues of importance in the Spanish-speaking world.
Language Programs Assessment
Oral exams (individual, in pairs, debate): graded on content, comprehensibility, and accuracy.
Oral presentations: graded on fluency, content, comprehensibility, and accuracy.
Written exams include the following sections: reading and listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, cultural content, and composition. Multiple choice/bubbling is always avoided: students write short (1 word-1 sentence) or long (500 words) answers.
Compositions (out of class): 2000 words, graded on content, comprehensibility, cohesion, coherence, and accuracy.
In-class participation is primarily based on student preparation and contribution to the class session.
You should contact Dr. Alfonso Morales-Front for students interested in the Linguistics Program and Dr. Tania Gentic for students interested in the Literature & Culture Program.
You should discuss your concerns with your instructor, who will consult the coordinator of your current course. If the concern remains unresolved, you can contact the coordinator directly. Please consult the table below or click here to contact the appropriate assistant language program director.
You can join La Hora del Café during the semester to practice conversing with other students, graduate students, and professors in a relaxed setting with cookies and coffee.
Please contact the Academic Resource Center for information on free tutoring for intro and intermediate levels.
Please see our private tutoring list flyer here. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese keeps a list of PhD Students/tutors, but is not responsible for their performance.
Students who plan to go abroad in one of the two summer programs for which the Spanish & Portuguese Department is responsible will take the exam at the end of the abroad program. The two programs that offer exams are Quito and Barcelona; they offer exams to SFS students the evening before the last day of classes for the program.
Students who spend at least one semester abroad in a direct matriculation program do not need to take the exam.
Students who are currently registered in any of the four sections of SPAN 2161: Transatlantic Visions Capstone (previously called Oral review) will take the exam on the day assigned by the registrar’s office for the final exam. Two faculty members will administer the exam.
SPAN 2161 prepares the students for the Proficiency Exam, which will complete their language requirement for graduation. Students may first attempt to take the Proficiency Exam after completion of (Advanced Spanish: Transatlantic II) or (Intensive Advanced Spanish: Transatlantic) with a grade of B+ or higher in BOTH (Advanced I and Advanced II or Intensive Advanced Spanish). Students in Advanced II need their instructor’s WRITTEN permission confirming that, on average, at the time of exam registration, the student’s grade in Advanced II or Intensive Advanced is at least a B+. Students who fail the exam must pay the $25 fee and complete SPAN 2161 or another advanced course before retaking it. This means that students must plan well ahead and attempt to pass the exam two semesters before graduation at the latest.
Students who take the Department of Spanish and Portuguese’s Spanish Language Placement Exam and are placed into SPAN-3000 or above may take the oral proficiency exam at any point. Students who are placed into SPAN-2161 and who do not meet any of the above-mentioned criteria are advised to matriculate into SPAN-2161 before taking the proficiency exam.
Students are allowed to take the exam only twice. See the School of Foreign Service policies for more details.
Reading Comprehension/Comprehension: The examinee understands the content of a newspaper or magazine article on current events and shows the ability to: 1) summarize a given text cohesively and coherently without prompting, 2) produce a statement summarizing his/her own view of the event, and 3) answer follow up questions, showing both the ability to comprehend and prior knowledge on general encyclopedic points related to the content of the article.
Grammar: The examinee shows the ability to both narrate and describe events, producing paragraph-length discourse in all major time frames (past, present, and future). S/he may have problems regarding the use of ser/estar, subjunctive, and preterit/imperfect contrasts, but they should not interfere with comprehension. The reference point for ‘comprehension’ is the native speaker monolingual not use exchanges with non-native speakers.
Vocabulary/ Professional Vocabulary: Vocabulary may be primarily generic when dealing with personal topics, but the examinee shows command of a professional, specialized lexicon when dealing with topics of interest (such as the US and international economy, politics, and/or societal issues). Circumlocution and rephrasing are to be expected.
Speech: Speech has to be clear and not lead to confusion. Pronunciation, lexicon, grammar, and paragraph structure should not be so faulty as to prevent comprehension by native speakers unaccustomed to interacting with non-native speakers. Discourse may still reflect the oral paragraph structure of the examinee’s language rather than that of the target language.
Knowledge of Subject Matter: The examinee has to show knowledge of the geography, customs, socioeconomic and sociopolitical structures, as well as the history of Latin America and Spain. S/he also has to be aware of and knowledgeable about the past and present status of the relationship between those countries and the United States, as well as current issues of importance in the Spanish-speaking world.
How to prepare for the Exam? To prepare for the expected level of linguistic accuracy and fluency as well as to accumulate the necessary encyclopedic and current knowledge on socio-economic matters related to Latin America and Spain, we strongly encourage enrolling in an SFS language course: SPAN 2001, SPAN 2002, or SPAN 2161, according to your placement and following the guidelines outlined above. For students who meet those guidelines, please click here for more information about the exam.
Spanish Online Placement Test Instructions
To take the language placement exam, you must enroll in the “course” on Canvas.
Click here to go to the Spanish placement exam enrollment website.
Follow the prompts to enroll.
Read carefully all the information on the homepage.
Once you have read the instructions, you will find the link for the test at the bottom of the page.
Make sure that you have a reliable Internet connection. Set aside ample quiet time before you begin the exam so that you can complete it in one sitting; you will not be able to stop and restart once the exam has launched.
Close other programs running on the computer. Avoid distractions; focus only on the exam until it is completed.
To begin the exam, click the link only once. It may take some time for the exam to load; give it at least one full minute. If, after clicking once, nothing happens for over a minute, contact the UIS Service Center as soon as possible. Do not click the link multiple times: if you do, you will see a message stating that you have already taken the exam, and you will not be able to access it again.
Do not use the Back and Forward buttons in your browser to move around within the exam. Use the links and buttons on the exam pages to proceed.
Do not click the final “submit” button until you are completely finished with the exam.
If you encounter a problem or a technical difficulty that prevents you from finishing the exam, contact the UIS Service Center as soon as possible. This test can only be taken once.
The Spanish Validation Exam (also known as the Confirmation Exam, NSO placement exam, or proctored exam) is administered one or two days before each semester begins.
Portuguese Placement Exam
The Portuguese placement test is conducted at the beginning of the Fall semester, usually 2 days before classes start. It consists of 3 parts: grammar, reading comprehension, and a short interview. Questions about the exam can be directed to Dr. Vivaldo Santos, Director of Portuguese Studies.
PORTUGUESE PROFICIENCY EXAM
The Portuguese Proficiency Exam dates are announced every semester, and all current GU students, including Business, SFS, CLAS, and MSFS, can register. Students must sign up in advance to secure a time slot. Please click here to read more about our Portuguese Proficiency Exam dates. Undergraduate students must have taken at least ADVANCED PORTUGUESE II to take the exam, except for students who have lived abroad in a Portuguese-speaking country or are native speakers. Undergraduate and Graduate students must also prove that the proficiency exam is a requirement for their program, not just to add to their Curriculum Vitae.