Language Placement Information

Barnard General Education and AMEC Major Requirements for Language: All Barnard students must take two language courses (each course at 3 credits or above) in the same language to graduate, regardless of previous language exposure or credit. AMEC majors must take at least two years of a language relevant to their world area of study.

Barnard Chinese Language Program Placement Test

If you have no prior knowledge of the Chinese language, you do not need to take the placement exam and may directly enroll in first semester First Year Chinese I.  

Students with some knowledge of Chinese (e.g., studied Chinese before or have grown up in a family where Chinese is one of the languages spoken at home) must take the placement test before registering. The placement test, which includes a language background questionnaire and an in-person meeting, evaluates your Chinese language proficiency in order to place you in the appropriate course for your level. Heritage learners who take the test may be placed in Columbia heritage learner First or Second Year courses.

Procedure for all Barnard students with Chinese-language background enrolling in Chinese:

Step one: Complete the language background questionnaire. 

Step two: Contact the Chinese language instructor, Danwei Li, at dli@barnard.edu. 

After completing the placement test at Barnard, you will be advised via email which level of the course would be the best fit for you, or you might be asked to schedule an in-person meeting for the oral proficiency interview and reading test, after which you will be advised about the appropriate level of class.

Barnard Korean Language Placement Test

If you have no prior knowledge of the Korean language, you do not need to take the placement exam and may directly enroll in first semester first year Korean (KORN BC1111).

If you have some knowledge of Korean and would like help determining the appropriate course level, please complete the Korean Language program questionnaire and contact Hwanhee Kim (hwkim@barnard.edu) to schedule a placement test. The placement test consists of three parts: an online multiple-choice test, a writing component, and an interview.

For general questions about language courses, please contact Prof. Laurie Postlewate  lpostlew@barnard.edu