MDL C or Better Policy and Course Sequencing

• In order to ensure student success, all 101, 102, 112 and 203 classes require a grade of C or better in order to progress to the next course in the sequence. Students not meeting this requirement will be administratively withdrawn. Consult course syllabi for further details.
• Courses taken to fulfill a foreign language requirement must be taken in sequence except by permission of the Chair. Students enrolled without proper course prerequisites will be administratively withdrawn.

Portfolio Requirement (Language Skills Portfolio)

All Graduating Majors (December 2007 or later) are required to complete a Language Skills Portfolio This assessment is based on current ACTFL practices, and is intended to be an assessment of student performance, completed during their normal course work, not additional assignments.  It is the student's responsibility to save all assignments for this assessment! Education Students will complete this portfolio during their Teaching Methodologies class (SPN/FRN407), or in a pre-scheduled session during the Spring Semester. This work will be completed in the language lab during a scheduled time the last month of the semester.

The portfolio will include elements of the 4 proficiencies:

Writing Skills: 3 compositions: from 3 different courses i.e. one from 203/204, one from 305-316, and one paper from a 400 level course.

Listening/Speaking Skills: (WebCT) This work will be compelted in the language lab.

Reading Skills: (WebCT). This work will be completed in the language lab.

Capstone Project:  Capstone Project/Paper/Presentation will also be included in the portfolio. For Education students, a 400 level paper or project should be included.

Further guidance and details, including grading criteria, templates and instructions will be provided. Education students will compile this portfolio in conjunction with SPN407/FRN407 (Methods).  Non-education students should see their advisor for further guidance and further details.

Capstone Policy

Graduating majors in French, German or Spanish will designate one 400-level literature or culture course in their senior year as their capstone experience. In exceptional cases another advanced course may be so designated with the permission of the Chair. In addition to the normal course requirements the student will integrate as much as possible the various competencies developed throughout his or her foreign language program of study. This project will culminate in a research paper which will be delivered in a class presentation toward the end of the term. All elements of the project should be completed in the target language for French and Spanish.  Education Majors must be able to demonstrate at least an advanced low level of proficiency in the target language in order to graduate.

New:  Updated Capstone Form

Departmental Exams

These exams are used as a general measure of student competencies.  The exams are not connected to individual courses, but rather are given periodically in the various course sequences, and following Study Abroad.  Students will be notified and must take the exams to the best of their ability, but the exam scores do not affect course grades. Your instructor will notify you when these exams arise.

Language Waivers

For tudents who are native speakers of foreign languages other than Spanish, French, German, Japanese) and documented learning challenges only:

• identify a faculty member on campus who speaks that language or contact the Department Chairperson;

• notify the Chair of Modern Languages who will then ask that faculty member to help assess the language level of the student;

• when the Department Chair confirms that the student reads, writes, speaks and understands the language, the Chair will send that confirmation to the Dean of the student’s college;

• whether or not the foreign language requirement is waived is at the discretion of the Dean.  A substitute course may be required.

To request a foreign language waiver, contact the Department Chairperson.