College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Modern Languages > Student Resources > Language Proficiency

Modern Language Proficiency

“Knowing another language enriches your personal life, expands the range of professional opportunities open to you and increases your power to act as a citizen of the world.” Modern Language Association

The Department of Modern Languages is pleased to contribute to student enrichment by offering courses in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Latin, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. All Bachelor of Arts (BA) students are required to show language proficiency in a language other than English, in accordance with the university’s Learning Outcomes and Goal #4: Intercultural & Global Understanding. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to increase their modern language proficiency by continuing their language studies or to begin their studies in a new language. However, should students not have the space in their academic plan to allow for language courses, students may demonstrate language proficiency by taking a test, if necessary, in lieu of language courses.

  1. For instructions on how to register for a BYU or LTI proficiency test, please click here. Please note that students MUST register for the BYU or LTI tests at least 3 weeks in advance.
  2. For instructions on how to register for the DePaul language placement test, please click here.
  • Students interested in demonstrating their level of proficiency in a language not offered through DePaul (to satisfy their Modern Language Requirement), or who are interested in earning a DePaul language certificate, may register to take a non-DePaul language proficiency test. These tests are proctored by a DePaul staff member and administered/scored through Brigham Young University and Language Testing International.  Brigham Young University (BYU) and Language Testing International (LTI) tests are completed/proctored in our Language Research Lab, SAC 304. 

    Students interested in completing a language certificate must register for an LTI Written Proficiency Test (WPT). For more details on WPTs, please visit the LTI website. Writing Proficiency Test sample text by level of proficiency can be found on the ACTFL website.  For more information about BYU tests, please visit the BYU Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services (FLATS) website.

    • Students interested in taking language classes at DePaul should complete the online placement test. For students interested in ASL, Latin or Greek (Ancient) class placement, please contact an ASL instructor or Dr. Shellko for Latin or Greek (Ancient) to set up an individual appointment.
    1. Register/pay for BYU or LTI Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) at least 3 weeks before the test date.
    2. After test registration/payment through BYU or LTI, RSVP for a test proctor date. Click on a date below to RSVP. These dates are only for BYU or LTI's WPT - not for LTI's OPI. OPI's are scheduled 1-1.

    The dates/times of upcoming proctor dates are subject to change. Please confirm with the Department of Modern Languages in advance, by emailing LLC@depaul.edu or by checking this website. All tests are completed in the Language Research Lab, Schmitt Academic Center room 304, 2320 N. Kenmore Ave.  Tests are typically proctored on the 2nd Friday of every quarter, with additional test dates typically available at the end of fall and spring quarters the Friday before finals.

    LTI is the exclusive licensee of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and will provide test takers with a certificate that provides them with an official level of proficiency, in accordance with the ACTFL standards.  Students are encouraged to list their official ACTFL level of proficiency on their resume.

    ACTFL Proficiency Examples

    Resume Suggestions

    • Under "Skills" or related
    • Under "Certificates & Awards" or related

    {Language}: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) {Rating} Certificate

    • Arabic: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Advanced-mid Certificate

    {Language Rating}, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Certificate

    • Arabic Advanced-mid, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Certificate

    For employment that requires a specific level of language proficiency, students may wish to consider hyperlinking the ACTFL rating on their resume.

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