Second language proficiency means the ability to understand and effectively communicate in a non-native language.  There are many levels of proficiency, from beginner to high-advanced level.

At Saint Michael's, we expect students to achieve a low-intermediate level of proficiency to fulfill their requirement, which means that they can use their second language to carry out common everyday tasks. This does not mean becoming bilingual or fluent in a second language.

Students may demonstrate language proficiency in one of the following ways:

• By scoring at the proficient-level on the Saint Michael's College Language Proficiency Assessment.

• By passing an Advanced Placement (AP) test with a score of 3 or higher.*

• By passing an SAT II (Achievement) test with one of the following scores:

Chinese with listening:    590
French/French with listening:    610
German/German with listening:    590
Modern Hebrew:        510
Italian:         600
Japanese with listening:        590
Latin:         600
Spanish/Spanish with listening:    600

• By successfully completing an intermediate-level language course at Saint Michael's.   In American Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, this means completing 10 credits of language.  In Ancient Greek and Latin, it means completing 8  credits of  language.   If the language credits are not taken at Saint Michael's, students must demonstrate proficiency by scoring at the proficient-level on the Saint Michael's Language Proficiency Assessment.  If a student with language credits from another college does not achieve that level score, then additional language courses must be taken.  For more information about specific language offerings, visit the Modern Languages Department Home page: http://academics.smcvt.edu/modernlang/ or the Modern Language Course listings: http://academics.smcvt.edu/modernlang_courses/

* Students who score a 4 or higher on an AP Foreign Language Test receive 3 foreign language credits; students who score a 4 or higher on an AP Foreign Literature Test, receive 3 credits in the literature of the language.