Students must pass the exam within one year of beginning the secondary sequence. The exam is usually offered in April and August with prior registration required. Contact an adviser at EAS for information on this year's test dates and registration procedures. Participation in an intensive immersion experience is one of the most meaningful ways of developing competency in a foreign language. In preparation for the proficiency exam, students seeking Spanish certification must participate in an approved immersion experience which emphasizes prolonged and intensive interaction with the target language and culture.
Most students choose to participate in a structured educational or exchange immersion program.
The Office of International Studies and Programs in 252 Bascom Hall offers information on many of these programs. Simply traveling or touring in a Spanish-speaking country will not satisfy the immersion requirement. Students must have completed and documented the immersion experience before the first semester of the secondary sequence. This experience should be completed as close to the first student teaching semester as possible. Contact a program adviser for approval of the proposed immersion experience.