Policies

Course Restriction

Due to high demand for beginning level classes in Arabic, Chinese and Japanese, introductory 101 classes in these languages have been restricted to freshmen and sophomore students (U1 and U2 classification). Junior and senior students (U3 and U4 classification) will be allowed to register for these classes only if there is space. Junior and senior students wishing to take these classes will be placed on a waiting list maintained by AALO and will be contacted when space opens up. We hope that this restriction will be lifted once AALO is able to offer more course sections. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Heritage Learners

Incoming students with some knowledge of the language they are trying to learn (i.e., students who had learned the language at home from their parents) are required to take a placement test to determine the course level that best fits their needs. Please contact our office and set up an appointment with an instructor of the language you are trying to take in order to be placed at the appropriate level. Please keep in mind that our beginning level classes (101) are designed for students who had no prior knowledge of the language whatsoever.

International Students

International students are not allowed to register for language classes in their native language at the beginning and intermediate levels (101, 102, 201, 202). Please be aware that if you are an international student whose native language is not English, you are not required to take foreign language classes for graduation purposes.

Placement Tests

Placement tests are normally given to incoming students who have prior knowledge, academic or otherwise, of the language they are trying to take. The purpose of those tests is to put students in the class that is appropriate to their level of proficiency. If you are a student with prior knowledge of the language, you need to contact AALO to discuss your situation with the appropriate instructor. There is administered by MARS (http://www.tamu.edu/marshome/), and there is a $50 charge for each examination.