Columbia University Japanese Language Program

1. Who must take a placement test?

I studied Japanese somewhere other than Columbia. What should I do to prepare for the placement exam?

 

Students taking Japanese who wish to take First Year Japanese I or Elementary Japanese A do not need to take a placement exam. Students wishing to take any other courses who:

• took/learned Japanese somewhere other than Columbia
• took Japanese at Columbia in the spring semester, studied in a summer program and skip one year in the fall (e.g. students who took First Year Japanese and did a summer program and want to be placed into Third Year in the fall.)
• took Japanese at Columbia more than one semester ago (e.g. students who last studied Japanese in Fall 2008 and wish to continue in Fall 2009)
• took Japanese in the previous spring semester, received a C+ or below, and wish to continue (e.g. students who received a C+ in Spring 2009 and wish to continue in Fall 2009)
• took Japanese in the previous fall semester, received a C or below, and wish to continue (e.g. students who received a C in Fall 2009 and wish to continue in Spring 2010)

MUST take a placement exam.

 

Students who wish to test out of the language requirement for Ph.D. or other programs are also required to take a placement exam. (NB: students who pass the exam must claim and pick up their certificates WITHIN ONE MONTH of the date of their exam, or they will be required to take the exam again in the following semester)

 

2. When can I take the test?

 

The placement exam is scheduled for the Friday before the first day of classes from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The Spring 2010 placement test will be on Friday, January 15th from 10:00 a.m.

 

3. How do I sign up for the test?

 

Please visit http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ealac/japanese/plreg.html and follow the instructions. Students taking the test to be placed into a Japanese course at Columbia or to place out of a language requirement at Columbia are not required to pay a fee.

 

4. I took the placement test last semester. Are the results still valid?

 

No. Placement test results are only valid for the semester for which the test is taken.

 

 

5. Can I take the placement test for next semester now?

 

No. You must wait until the scheduled date of the exam for the semester during which you wish to take Japanese.

 

6. I took the AP Japanese Language/Japanese Language Proficiency Exam/other exam and scored X points. Do I still need to take the placement exam?

 

Yes. Other exams test on different content than the Columbia placement exam; thus, their results cannot be used as a replacement.

 

7.I would like to audit a Japanese class. Do I still need to take the placement exam?

Be advised that EALAC language courses may not be audited or taken for R credit. Furthermore, no language courses at Columbia may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. Thus, students registering for Japanese courses must take them for credit and for a letter grade. As auditing is not allowed, you are not required to take the placement exam. However, should you decide to enroll, you will be required to take the placement exam if you fall under any of the categories outlined in part 1 of this FAQ.

 

8. What is the format of the placement test?

 

The test consists of two parts, 1) a written and listening comprehension exam and 2) an oral interview.

 

9. How many kanji should I know?

 

The required number of kanji varies with the desired level. See below for details:

2nd Year 1st Semester -155 kanji
2nd Year 2nd Semester-335 kanji
3rd Year 1st Semester- approximately 500 kanji
3rd Year 2nd Semester- approximately 700 kanji
4 th Year 1 st Semester - approximately 1000 kanji
5 th Year 1 st Semester - approximately 2000 kanji

 

 

To be placed in 2 nd Year 1 st Semester - 155 kanji which includes the following kanji

To be placed in 2 nd Year 2nd Semester -in addtition to the 155 above, 180 kanji which includes the following kanji

To be placed in 3rd Year 1st Semester -in addtition to the 335 above, 210 kanji which includes the following kanji

To be placed in 3rd Year 2nd Semester -in addtition to the 545 above, 168 kanji which includes the following kanji

To be placed in 4th Year 1st Semester -in addtition to the 713 above, 247 kanji which includes the following kanji

To be placed in 4th Year 2nd Semester -in addtition to the 960 above, roughly 500 more kanji which includes the following kanji

To be placed in 5th Year -roughly 2000 kanji; all kanji above and more includes the following kanji

 

10. I studied Japanese somewhere other than Columbia. What should I do to prepare for the placement exam?

 

The best way to prepare is to go over thoroughly the textbook and other materials you used in previous classes.