NCSSM

World Language Placement

The World Language Discipline of the Department of Humanities is delighted to welcome you to NCSSM!

To begin your journey with us, please follow the 3 Steps below:

Step 1: Complete the "All Students: World Language Intake Form"

Step 2: Complete all language forms for all languages you speak or have studied
(see further information below)

Step 3: Read and follow the relevant directions for Additional Language Testing.

DEADLINE:

Submit all intake forms and complete all relevant testing by
MAY 15, 2025.

You will receive an email with login information for the placement test by
APRIL 15, 2025.

Step 1: Complete the All Students: World Language Intake Form.

Note: If you do not have any prior experience with a language offered at NCSSM, this is the only step you need to complete.

Step 2: Complete all language forms for all languages you speak or have studied.

ARABIC intake form (Class of 2027)

CHINESE intake form (Class of 2027)

FRENCH intake form (Class of 2027)

JAPANESE intake form (Class of 2027)

LATIN intake form (Class of 2027)

SPANISH intake form (Class of 2027)

Step 3: Additional Language Testing

Please watch this video for information about the language testing process and the importance of demonstrating YOUR language proficiency.

For Chinese, French, and Spanish, you will take the AAPPL Test. Follow these instructions:

The proctoring of this exam is to be done by a parent or guardian following these guidelines.
Before beginning the test, we recommend that you perform this brief system check and familiarize yourself with the test format via this demo guide.
You will receive an email with login information for the AAPPL exam at your NCSSM email address.
- - NOTE: Your username and password are unique. Do not share them with anyone else. The objective of this Placement Test is to assess what you really know and can do in the language. Getting a valid measure of your proficiency helps us place you in a course that is aligned with your skills and knowledge. Additionally, because not all courses are offered each semester, inaccurate placements can result in significant disruption to your schedule, affecting other courses in which you are already enrolled. Therefore, it is critical that you work on your own on these items, without any outside help from persons, texts, or online resources, including online translators. To do so is a violation of NCSSM's expectations for academic honesty.
Be sure to complete all three sections of the test: Interpretive Reading, Interpretive Listening, and Interpersonal Listening and Speaking
The maximum time allotted to complete each section is 30 minutes. You may complete them all in one sitting or at separate times, but you must complete all of them by May 15, 2025.

For Arabic, Japanese, and Latin, a member of the World Language program may be in touch to determine placement. You do not need to take any further action at this time.

For All other languages, we are now offering the opportunity to test your proficiency to earn CDMs.

There will be four summer testing times available with additional opportunities in the fall.
- Wednesday, June 4 9:00am-4:00pm in MORGANTON
- Thursday, June 5 9:00am-4:00pm in MORGANTON
- Friday, June 6 9:00am-4:00pm in DURHAM
- Monday, June 9 9:00am-4:00pm in DURHAM
If you are interested in testing in a language that NCSSM does not offer, complete this form by May 15.
Note that you will need to request World Language courses when course requests open in June. If the test results in CDMs, we'll promptly make the necessary changes and contact you for additional course requests.

Languages currently taught at NCSSM-Durham

Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish

Languages currently taught at NCSSM-Morganton

Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish

WORLD LANGUAGE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

All students who matriculate at NCSSM will graduate from NCSSM with at least two NCSSM World Language (WL) credits on their NCSSM transcripts.

Those credits will be achieved in one of the following ways:

2 Credits of WL Courses taken at NCSSM
1 Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM) + 1 Credit of a WL Course taken at NCSSM
2 Credits by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM) if student achieves exemption

Details

Students who demonstrate less than “intermediate low” proficiency on NCSSM’s WL placement assessments (confirmed through additional in-person assessments once classes begin) must take two WL courses in the same language at NCSSM.

Students who demonstrate “intermediate low” or higher proficiency on NCSSM’s WL placement assessments (confirmed through additional in-person assessments once classes begin) will earn one Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM) and must take a minimum of one WL course at NCSSM. There will be opportunities for students to earn a CDM in languages not taught at NCSSM.

Students will begin their study of an NCSSM WL in the junior year. Students who are placed into an advanced NCSSM course may take that course during their junior or senior years.

Students may and are encouraged to take additional courses in WL beyond this minimum requirement.

Questions? Please email Javier Pabón, Dean of Humanities and Fiona Gillespie, Facilitator of World Language Placement

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