Advanced Standing Examinations are administered by the Department of Foreign Languages. The cost for each examination is $60.00 to be paid at the Bursar's Office after having obtained the required signatures from the Department of Foreign Languages.
Please contact Dr. William Griffin for more information.
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP), administered by Student Success Services, is a computerized exam for only French, German, and Spanish. Depending on the score achieved, students can gain up to 12 credit hours toward completion of degree requirements (FL 1001, FL 1002, FL 2001, and FL 2002) but do not a course grade. A CLEP registration form and associated fees must be submitted in person to Student Success Services located in Kennesaw Hall, Administration wing, room 2401. Students may come to Student Success Services office Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to submit an application for CLEP exams. There is an administration fee of $20.00 and an exam fee of $65.00.
More information: http://www.kennesaw.edu/studentsuccess/testing/test_clep.htmlThe Department of Foreign Languages (DFL) offers Computerized Adaptive Placement Exam (CAPE) in French, German, and Spanish. The CAPE developed by Brigham Young University is widely used across the country as a language placement instrument. When combined with other information, the results of these examinations assist the Department of Foreign Languages in placing a student in the appropriate level language course.
The Department of Foreign Languages is continually faced with the task of advising and placing freshmen and transfer students in appropriate courses. This decision is often based primarily upon the number of classes the student has previously taken in the language. However, placement on this basis does not take into account several important factors which determine the student's actual facility with the language, such as the effectiveness of the student's past teacher(s), the specific information covered, extracurricular, and/or other out-of-class exposure to the language.
CAPE uses state-of-the-art computer testing techniques to place students accurately and efficiently in the first two years (beginning I to intermediate II) of college language courses. The exam selects each new test item as a result of the answer given to the previous question. When the student answers an item correctly, a more difficult question is presented; if an item is answered incorrectly, an easier question is given. In short, the test "adapts" to the student's level of ability and will accurately determine the student's competency level in about twenty minutes.
Some of the benefits of using CAPE over conventional paper-and-pencil type tests include the reduction of the testing time to about twenty minutes since fewer test items are necessary. Boredom and frustration are diminished by eliminating items that are far too easy or much too difficult for an individual student.
CAPE provides immediate feedback. Upon completion of the exam, students are able to see their score.
After starting CAPE, the student enters his or her name and KSU ID number and responds to questions regarding his/her previous language experiences to initiate a test record file.
Once the record identification information is entered, the computer prepares the student for the test. The first screen briefly explains that the student is to respond to multiple choice questions by typing and confirming the letter of the correct answer.
To ensure that the student has understood the instructions, a sample test item is given. At this point, the actual test begins.
The computerized adaptive placement exams are designed to provide individualized testing, identifying the student's ability level with combinations of grammar, reading, and vocabulary questions. The adaptive testing algorithm has been written so that the first six questions serve as “level checkers.” After the first six items, the test begins to “probe” in order to fine-tune the measurement by increasing or decreasing the difficulty by one level after each response. The test terminates if 1) the student answers incorrectly four questions at the same difficulty level, or 2) the student answers five questions at the highest difficulty level possible.
By requiring at least four misses at a given level, the test makes allowances for lucky guesses or inadvertent errors due to lack of concentration, nervousness, or other distractions. To avoid duplicate questions, the index to the question is flagged. When a question is used during the test, a sequential file is created to show the student's performance during the test.
At the conclusion of the test, the computer displays the performance level of the student. The student then consults the placement chart (as determined by the Department of Foreign Languages) that lists the ranges of performance levels that pertain to the various language courses of the curriculum. Thus, the student is immediately advised of the class that appears most suited to his or her ability level.
Students unsure of what level Spanish, French or German language course in which to register, should contact Patricia Tilbian, Lab Coordinator, Foreign Language Resource Center/Language Lab, Pilcher 134, (678) 797-2197. She will schedule the CAPE exam and upon completion, the student will be placed in the appropriate level language class up to the 2002 level.
Students may also go online and take the exam from home by following these instructions:
Go to: http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=kennesaw
Password: owls1Choose the appropriate language from the drop-down menu. After completing the short survey you can begin the exam.
When the online placement exam is complete, you will receive an overall score (points). Please note the RANGE OF SCORES FOR PLACEMENT PURPOSES area and the course level that corresponds to your points. This is the course in which KSU recommends you enroll.
If the recommendation is for the 2001 or 2002 level, you must complete a pre-requisite override request form.
PLEASE NOTE: You must complete the Online Placement Exam and have the pre-requisite override form approved before you can register for 2001 or 2002 level courses.
Email cape@kennesaw.edu for questions.
Students wishing to test (FL 1001, FL 1002, FL 2001, and FL 2002) in languages - see list - not currently offered in the Department of Foreign Languages can use the Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS) offered by Brigham Young University. The paper and pencil test is taken by correspondence and costs $40.00. The test will be sent to the Department of Foreign Languages where a proctor will be arranged to administer the test for you.
Please note the following "Tips" from the Brigham Young University:
Students Testing through Correspondence: All tests are proctored and testing materials are sent to the proctor. It is the student’s responsibility to make necessary arrangements with the proctor to take a test. Tests must be returned to our office for grading. Results will be sent to the institution and address included on the form. All tests are pass/fail, multiple-choice and require a 21/2 hour time limit. Please allow two to four weeks for completion of the testing process. The testing fee is $40.00 for taking a test by correspondence.
Test Format: Most tests have a listening, reading and grammar ... The tests are multiple-choice format, with answers being marked on a scantron answer sheet, not written in the test booklet. Most tests require at least a 60-70% to pass; this varies based on the difficulty of the language. All tests are on a pass/fail basis and graded credit will not be given. Students are allowed two and a half hours to complete their test.
Important: before signing up for the test by correspondence, students must fill-out the Advanced Standing Examination application form and submit it to Dr. William Griffin - Pilcher Building 150.
Please note: when filling-out the online FLATS Registration Form for Testing through Correspondence, the Proctor Information and Results Sent To should include the following:
Dr. William C. Griffin
Department of Foreign Languages
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Rd., #1804
Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591
(770) 423-6022
wgriffin@kennesaw.edu
The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) or Chinese Proficiency Test is a standardized test designed and developed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University to assess the Chinese language proficiency of nonnative speakers. The test is supervised by the State HSK Commission under the People Republic of China Ministry of Education. The worldwide test can be taken once a year at the HSK Center of Kennesaw State University.
Prior to Registering Online: you must confirm 2-3 availability dates with the proctor (Janice M Carter). These dates must be at least 10 business dates from the first requested date.
Register online at: http://www.languagetesting.com
You must purchase a phone card in order to place and charge the phone call for your scheduled OPI appointment.
Cost of phone interview: $134.00Dr. Anja Bernardy (Spanish) and Dr. Bill Griffin (French) are willing to help students do a "mock" interview prior to taking the OPI.
A recommendation for a teaching certificate in a foreign language requires a rating of Advanced Low (for Type I languages) or Intermediate High (for Type II languages) on the official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Candidates in the Alternative Teacher Preparation Program in Foreign Languages must provide a copy of their OPI certificate with the appropriate rating before being admitted to the internship (FLED 4498). Undergraduate degree candidates (B.A. in Modern Language & Culture: Concentration II) must submit a copy of the official certificate during FLED 4413 in order to complete course requirements.
N.B. For admission to FLED 4480 or FLED 4498 (Fall semester), you must meet the minimum proficiency requirements as stated above. Please submit a copy of the certificate to the appropriate FLED program coordinator (ML&C: Dr. Kristin Hoyt; ATP, Dr. Anja Bernardy).
