Welcome to the Spanish Placement Test!

The following information will help you select the Spanish course you need to take according to your proficiency level.

Spanish as a Foreign Language Track

A student can take Spanish as a Foreign Language if he/she is a native speaker of English or another foreign language. If a student has never taken Spanish, he/she must be enrolled in SPAN 001-Elementary Spanish I (5 units). If a student has taken 1, 2, or more years of Spanish in high school or other institution, he/she may take the Spanish Placement Test to determine his/her proficiency level. He/she may be placed in SPAN 002- Elementary Spanish II (5 units), SPAN 003- Intermediate Spanish I (4 units), or SPAN 004 – Intermediate Spanish II (4 units).

Spanish for Heritage Speakers Track

A student can be considered as a heritage speaker of Spanish if Spanish and English are spoken at home and/or Spanish is spoken very often. If a student can ask and answer questions orally in Spanish, but he/she wants to learn how to read and write in Spanish with fluency, he/she must be enrolled in SPAN 021-Spanish for Heritage Speakers I (5 units). If a student can ask and answer questions orally in Spanish and has basic knowledge of how to read and write in Spanish with fluency, he/she must be enrolled in SPAN 022-Spanish for Heritage Speakers II (5 units). Both courses are approved for General Education, CSUGE and IGETC, for transfer.

It is important that if you are a bilingual student/heritage speaker, you enroll in SPAN 021 or SPAN 022 to help us meet your language needs and improve our Spanish Program. Please read again the descriptions of both courses and decide what course is appropriate for you. You can register in either course once registration opens.

Recommended sequence:

First, SPAN 021 (to meet foreign language requirement) and then SPAN 022 (to meet Ethnic Studies (CSUGE) or Arts and Humanities (IGETC) requirement. This means that while you improve your Spanish skills, you meet General Education requirements.

If you already took SPAN 001, SPAN 002, or SPAN 003 to meet the foreign language requirement, and you are a bilingual student or heritage speaker of Spanish who understands, speaks, and has basic or more advanced knowledge on how to read and write in Spanish, you may take SPAN 022 to meet the Ethnic Studies (CSUGE) or Arts and Humanities (IGETC) requirement.

Important:

SPAN 021 is a required course for the Bilingual Elementary Teacher Assistant Special Education Certificate.

Spanish Placement Test

If you are not sure about your level of proficiency in Spanish, you may take the Spanish Placement Test or consult with a Spanish faculty advisor.

Available Dates and Times for Spanish Placement Test

Please see the schedule available each semester and select the date and time that are convenient for you.