Entry and exit points (how to start and finish in a language)
If you want to study a language, you begin by enrolling in a first year level unit. All languages offer various first year level units corresponding to various levels of linguistic competence (e.g. FRN1010, SPN1030, JPL1050, KOR1090). The unit in which you enrol is your entry point into the major/minor in a chosen language. You would only begin in a higher year-level unit (e.g. GRN2030, SLA2040) if you had received advanced standing. To ensure that you choose the most appropriate entry point for you, you should carefully read the unit pre-requisites, or speak with the relevant language program before you enrol. Depending on the language, and except for complete beginners, your entry point is likely to be determined by a placement test.
How you continue can be determined by you. You need to decide what outcome (i.e what exit point) you wish to achieve. That is, do you want to gain an introductory competency in your chosen language (basic understanding of written and verbal communication and culture), or do you wish to achieve an advanced level of proficiency (for instance, you may want to teach the language)? From this point of view you must bear in mind that each language program delivers two different majors: the basic major (for student whose exit point is up to level 9) and the advanced major (for students who achieve at least level 10).
You may choose to follow a normal progression. You would then continue from your entry point by moving through sequential proficiency levels (e.g. if you began Chinese as a beginner: CHI1010 Chinese 1, CHI1020 Chinese 2, CHI2030 Chinese 3, CHI2040 Chinese 4, CHI3050 Chinese 5, and CHI3060 Chinese 6 plus one 2nd or 3rd year elective and one 3rd year elective.
You may wish to achieve a more advanced outcome (i.e. reach an exit point beyond the one that the normal, sequential progression would allow). If you wish to do this, you can either do more units of language study than the major requires or you can undertake accelerated progression through the proficiency levels. A number of pathways can be taken to do this. For instance, exceptional language acquisition results may allow you to jump levels, or you may accelerate achievement of a higher level by doing study abroad units. An example of acceleration through the major would be: FRN1030 French Studies 3, FRN1040 French Studies 4, FRN2803 French Studies Abroad (Summer Semester), FRN2070 French Studies 7, FRN2080 French Studies 8, FRN3090 French Studies 9, FRN3100 French Studies 10 plus one 3rd year elective. If you wish to take such an accelerated pathway through the major, you must consult with the language program before enrolling.
To select your units, follow the guidelines listed for that language under the heading "Units that can be counted towards the discipline".
NB: It is important to keep in mind that while you can accelerate through your chosen language you cannot go backwards. That is, you are not allowed take units at a lower level of proficiency than the units you have previously studied (i.e. GRN1050 German Studies 5, GRN1060 German Studies 6, GRN2030 German Studies 3, GRN2040 German Studies 4). If you find yourself in difficulties you should speak with the language program about your future enrolments.