If you have taken less than one year of high school language, you can register for 101 in Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL). For Spanish placement beyond 101, you must complete the language placement test before you can register.  

Taking a placement test

Placement is determined by the language placement coordinator who will take into account the score on the placement test, as well as previous seat time, grades, lapse of time between language courses, and experience with native speakers. If you place above the 102S course, you will take the course into which you are placed or the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test.

Testing for ASL placement

ASL placement tests are administered in early October and early March—prior to registration for the following semester.

The placement test must be arranged by appointment with an ASL professor at languages-cultures@bethel.edu. For more information about ASL and placement, check our ASL FAQ.

Testing for Spanish placement

The online Spanish placement test takes about 15 minutes and must be completed at least one week before registration.

Before taking the online placement test:

• Have your Bethel ID# ready.
• Create an account with Emmersion using the link below. You will be asked to create a username and password. This should be different than your Bethel username and password. 
• After you register, you will be asked to log into your new account. Choose the language for the test you will be taking. 
• You must complete the pre-test survey about your language experience before taking the test.
• The test must be completed at least one week prior to registration.

Take the language placement test

Alternatives to language requirements

Option 1: Testing Out

If you want to test out of the general education language requirement at Bethel in Spanish, you must complete the CLEP test. This is taken onsite at area locations listed on the College Board website, and you must request that results be sent to Bethel University.

Credits can be received through CLEP with a minimum score of 50. Final determination of credits will be made by the registrar's office. Testing fees must be paid directly to CLEP upon registration for the exam. CLEP tests are not offered in all languages; if you’ve studied a language other than Spanish, contact the language placement coordinator at language-testing@bethel.edu.

Option 2: Non-Bethel credits

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and transfer credits from another university may meet the general education language requirement. For further questions on what will transfer from AP, IB, CIS (College in the Schools), and transfer credits from another university, contact the transfer evaluation specialist in the registrar's office.

Option 3: Native speakers

You may be eligible for up to eight language credits, reflecting your achievement of National Foreign Language Standards (NFLS), if you are a native or heritage speaker of a language other than English. Contact the language placement coordinator at language-testing@bethel.edu to set up an appointment to determine if you meet NFLS criteria. 

Looking for your results?

If you already took the placement test and do not remember your placement score, you may view your scores by visitng MyBethel.

1. Open the Tools & Resources menu
2. Choose Banner
3. Choose Login to Bethel University's Self-Service Banner System and follow this path: Student > Student Records > View Test Scores

More questions?

Check out our language requirement FAQ page and ASL FAQ.