Language Placement

If you studied a language offered by the Department of World Languages and Literatures (WLL) in high school, grew up in a household where that language was spoken, or lived in a country where it is commonly used, you must take a placement exam before registering for a course in that language.

For Chinese or Japanese, contact the section coordinator or the department chair directly to discuss placement and next steps. These languages require additional oral and written evaluation to determine the right course level.

The placement exam helps us ensure you're learning at the level that will challenge and support you most. Faculty make the final decision on placement.

How to create your Emmersion account

You'll use Emmersion to take your online language placement exam. To get started:

1. Complete the Emmersion web form.
2. Use your Skidmore email address.
3. Enter your Skidmore Student ID (a 9-digit number from the Registrar).
4. Create a password (at least 8 characters, not commonly used).
5. Agree to the Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.
6. Click Create Account.

You’ll see a confirmation page with a Sign In link. Use your Skidmore email and password to log in and click Take Test to begin.

Already have an Emmersion account? You’ll be prompted to log in instead. If you’ve forgotten your password, click Forgot Password? to reset via email.

Important: Scores take 24 hours to post. Please plan to take your exam at least one day before your registration window.

Access Placement Exam

Fulfilling the language requirement

To graduate from Skidmore, all students must complete at least one designated foreign language course through the Department of World Languages and Literatures or the Department of Classics.

Determining your course level

You’ll place into the appropriate course based on:

• Your placement test score
• Faculty review of your language background
• Oral or written assessments (for some languages)

Faculty members make the final determination.

If you're trying to enroll in a 101 course:

You cannot take a 101-level course in a language you've previously studied. If you have no background in a language and want to enroll in WLF 101 (French) or WLS 101 (Spanish), you must email the instructor to confirm. This will be verified by the Registrar.

Placement by language

Chinese and Japanese

Placement is based on both written and oral skills. Students must:

• Submit writing samples or complete an in-person written exam
• Complete an oral assessment at the start of the semester

Contact Mao Chen at mchen@skidmore.edu to learn more

French

Score:	Placement:
No prior experience	Contact instructor for WLF 101
1-250	WLF 102
251-375	WLF 203
376-460	WLF 206
461-570	WLF 208
571+	Contact Professor Cate Talley at ctalley@skidmore.edu

Contact Cate Talley at ctalley@skidmore.edu to learn more

German and Italian

Score:	Placement:
0-339	German or Italian 102
340-390	German or Italian 203
391+	German or Italian 206+

• To learn more about German, contact Juliane Wuensch at jwuensch@skidmore.edu
• To learn more about Italian, contact Barbara Garbin at bgarbin@skidmore.edu

Spanish

Score:	Placement:
0-100	Scre doesn't provide enough information. Please retake or contact Professor Lander at mlander@skidmore.edu.
101-290	WLS 102
291-390	WLS 203
391-460	WLF 206
461-570	WLF 208
570-1000	Contact Professor María Lander at mlander@skidmore.edu

Contact María Lander at mlander@skidmore.edu for more information

Arabic, Hebrew, or Korean

Please reach out directly to the course instructor for placement guidance.

Academic integrity reminder:

Knowingly taking a language course below your actual skill level — or deliberately underperforming on a placement test — is a violation of Skidmore’s Honor Code. This may result in referral to the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Advising and/or the Integrity Board.

Violations of academic integrity can impact your standing at the College and make you ineligible for honors such as:

• Dean’s List
• Latin graduation honors
• Membership in certain honor societies

If you're unsure about your placement or have questions, talk to your instructor. We’re here to help.