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Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

Most students graduating from Northwestern University must demonstrate that they have proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to the work covered in the third course in the second year sequence in a foreign language. For Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish, you will have to pass 121-3 (the third quarter of second-year) with a grade of C- or better in order to satisfy the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement. If you want to find out whether your school has a Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement, click here. 

Note that Persian may not be offered every year and it should not be taken by students who are seeking to fulfill the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement in a timely manner.

The MENA Languages Proficiency Placement TESTS

If you wish to start Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish and have never studied that language before, you should place yourself into 111-1 (the first quarter of first-year).  

If you learned Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish in school, through private instruction, or at home, you will need to take a foreign language proficiency placement test. Please observe the online Placement Test dates so that you can be placed into the correct class(es).

The MENA Languages Proficiency Placement tests will place you in the appropriate language class from which you will begin work towards either fulfilling the Language Proficiency Requirement in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish or to continue studying to the advanced level. You will find the appropriate tests here:

If you still have questions, would like to discuss results, need to validate your placement results, or have general questions about studying Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish, please contact any of the following instructors below: