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.
Important: Due to the COVID-19 emergency, all Summer 2020 placement tests will be offered virtually.
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
The Chinese placement test will be administered online through Canvas. Students have 2 hrs to complete the test. Please contact Rachel Weiss (rweiss@wisc.edu) to register along with your UW net ID and ID#.
For further information on the Chinese placement test, please click here.
- Friday, April 3rd, 2:00-4:00 pm (room 274 Van Hise Hall) – cancelled
- Wednesday, April 8th, 2:00-4:00 pm (room 274 Van Hise Hall) – cancelled
- Tuesday, June 9th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Wednesday, June 10th, 9:00-11:00 am
- Tuesday, June 16th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Thursday, June 18th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Tuesday, June 23rd, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Wednesday, June 24th, 9:00-1:00 am
- Tuesday, June 30th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Thursday, July 2nd, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 7th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Wednesday, July 8th, 9:00-11:00 am
- Tuesday, July 14th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Thursday, July 16th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 21st, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Wednesday, July 22nd, 9:00-11:00 am
- Tuesday, July 28th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Wednesday, July 29th, 9:00-11:00 am
- Tuesday, August 4th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Wednesday, August 5th, 9:00-11:00 am
- Tuesday, August 11th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Thursday, August 13th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Tuesday, August 18th, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Wednesday, August 19th, 9:00-11:00 am
- Wednesday, August 26th, 2:00-4:00 pm
- Friday, August 28th, 2:00-4:00 pm (location: TBC)
- Monday, August 31st, 2:00-4:00 pm (location: TBC)
- Wednesday, September 1st, 9:00-11:00 am (location: TBC)
Hindi-Urdu
Students with prior experience in formally studying Hindi or Urdu must fill out this Background Questionnaire. Please note the specific grades (standards) you studied 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 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.
Japanese
The Japanese placement will be given via Skype, and takes about 1 hr. Please contact Rachel Weiss to register along with your student ID#. For further information on the Japanese placement test, please read our FAQs.
Spring 2020 placement test dates and times:
- Thursdays 1-2 pm
Summer 2020 placement test dates and times:
- TBC
Korean
The Korean placement test will be given via Skype and takes about 1 hr. The evaluation consists of an oral interview (20-25 minutes) and a short writing in Korean (25-30 minutes). Please contact Rachel Weiss to register along with your UW ID#.
Spring 2020 placement test dates and times:
- Tuesdays 1-2 pm
- Wednesdays 11 am – 12 pm
- Thursdays 1-2 pm
Summer 2020 placement test dates from 3-4 pm CST:
- May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
- June 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
- July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
- August 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
For questions regarding the placement into other languages offered in the department. Please fill out the Background Questionnaire.