The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures requires that students with any prior knowledge of the languages taught in our department (e.g. Chinese, Japanese and Korean), and who plan to enroll in our language classes, take a placement test before enrolling in a language course.
Prior Experience in an Asian Language
If you are a student with prior experience in an Asian language (e.g., self-taught, learned in elementary, middle or high school, or learned from family, relatives or friends, etc.), and seek advise about foreign language placement, or continuing with the language of your heritage please fill out this questionnaire in order to receive appropriate advising or guidance.
Chinese
Our department administers a computer based Chinese placement test throughout the year. This test will be given on campus only. Please contact Rachel Weiss (rweiss@wisc.edu) to register. When emailing please provide your UW net ID and ID#.
It is advisable for incoming freshman to try to schedule their placement test before SOAR orientation so that you are able to enroll in language class during registration. However, if the timing does not work, you will still be able to add Chinese after SOAR! Rachel Weiss can assist you in the process!
For further information on the Chinese placement test, please click here.
- Friday, April 3rd, 2:00-4:00 pm (room 274 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, April 8th, 2:00-4:00 pm (room 274 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, June 9th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, June 10th, 9:00-11:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, June 16th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Thursday, June 18th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, June 23rd, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, June 24th, 9:00-1:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, June 30th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Thursday, July 2nd, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, July 7th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, July 8th, 9:00-11:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, July 14th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Thursday, July 16th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, July 21st, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, July 22nd, 9:00-11:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, July 28th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, July 29th, 9:00-11:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, August 4th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, August 5th, 9:00-11:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, August 11th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Thursday, August 13th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Tuesday, August 18th, 1:00-3:00 pm (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, August 19th, 9:00-11:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, August 26th, 2:00-4:00 pm (room 274 Van Hise Hall)
- Friday, August 28th, 2:00-4:00 pm (room 274 Van Hise Hall)
- Monday, August 31st, 2:00-4:00 pm (room 274 Van Hise Hall)
- Wednesday, September 1st, 9:00-11:00 am (room 250 Van Hise Hall)
Hindi-Urdu
Students interested in a placement test to “test out” of a level of language study or foreign language requirement must fill out this Background Questionnaire. Please note specifically the years you formally studied any South Asian language in schooling, even if English was the primary mode of instruction. If you have particular questions for our academic advisor, please note that in the final section in the form.If an enrolling student with some background in Hindi/Urdu would like a placement test but cannot read or write, the student must automatically enroll in the first semester of Hindi/Urdu to learn the script, after which a placement test can be administered upon request by the course instructor for approval to enroll in a higher-level course.
If an enrolling student with some prior ability to read and write in the Hindi/Urdu script is seeking to enroll in a language course for the upcoming semester, placement exams may be granted by request. To arrange for Hindi placement exams, contact Instructor Nikhil Tiwari nmtiwari@wisc.edu and for Urdu placement exams, contact Instructor Farooq Asif mfasif@wisc.edu.
If students with some prior ability to read and write in the Hindi/Urdu script would like a placement test in order to receive a placement result without enrolling in UW-Madison courses, students may request a seat in advance (contact coordinator Sarah Beckham sbeckham@wisc.edu) during schedule placement exams:
Spring 2020 placement test dates and times:
- Thursday, April 30th, 8:00 am
- Friday, May 1st, 8:00 am
Japanese
The Japanese program administers placement test throughout summer and during the fall and spring semesters. The test will be given on campus or online (via Skype). Please contact Rachel Weiss to register. When emailing please provide your campus ID. For further information on the Japanese placement test, please read our FAQs.
Spring 2019 placement test dates and times:
- Thursday, Jan. 16th, 10-11 am
- Tuesday, Jan. 21st, 1-2 pm
- Thursdays 1-2 pm (starting Jan. 30th)
Korean
The placement test will be an oral interview (20-25 minutes) and a short writing in Korean (25-30 minutes). Please contact Rachel Weiss to register. When emailing please provide your campus ID. Your placement test will be conducted in person with Dr. Seunggon Jeong in room 1144 Van Hise Hall.
Spring 2020 placement test dates and times:
- Tuesdays 1-2 pm
- Wednesdays 11 am – 12 pm
- Thursdays 1-2 pm
For questions regarding the placement into other languages offered in the department. Please fill out the Background Questionnaire.