A colleague of mine, Joe Dale, from the Isle of Wight,posted this to his blog , and it has been making its rounds throughout the language-learning related blogosphere. As we begin another semester of language instruction here in Oberlin, we thought you might enjoy this video…

Welcome to the CILC. We are the only lab on campus with intel iMacs running both Windows XP and OSX, but without Parallels. (click on images to enlarge)

Isn't it purty?

and we have peace lillies too!

We are indeed a noisy lab. Just like our logo says (see above) People come here to practice speaking, singing, communicating in a second (or third) language.

In the lab, we have birds that chirp and squawk and a fishtank that gurgles. We believe that background noise makes out patrons less anxious about making their own sounds. This is called “the cocktail party effect.” So yes, there is a method to this madness.

We also believe that studying and computing should be comfortable. So we installed a hammock. So there.

We hope you will come and use our space. Welcome!

..are now closed. We will open them up again for EVERYBODY during add/drop…Stay tuned!

Results for the tests taken today will be posted after 9 a.m. outside the language department offices.

Spanish and French: Peters 301
Japanese: Peters 316
Russian and German: Peters 222

Frequently Asked Questions:

1) If I took an AP language exam, and scored a 4 or a 5, do I have to take a placement test?

No, but you need to consult the Oberlin College Course Catalogue and read the policy of the corresponding OC language department. In most cases, as long as the Registrar has proof from ETS of your scores, you will be given college credit and be elgible for taking an upper level course.

2) Can I take multiple placement tests?

If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the exam.

3) How long does the test take? I am sooooo busy this week.

Plan on an hour. You can start it whenever you like. Just be sure you are done by 5 so we can get the results processed.

You can also take it during add/drop (the first 10 days or so of classes) but if you realllly want to take a language class, you should get this over with now.

4) Once I place into a course, am I guaranteed a spot in a course?

Would that we could guarantee places on class rosters. Alas, many language classes are oversubscribed in the fall.

However, if you REALLLLLY want to get into a class, get yourself on a waiting list with the departmental administrative assistant and go to the classes. Wait lists and rosters do a lot of shifting in the first few days of the term. You might be pleasantly surprised.

BUT! If you have studied the language before, you will still need to take the placement test to be consented into the class by the teacher.

5) What about Chinese and Arabic and Italian? Do they have placement tests?

Nope, not yet.

Please speak with the East Asian Studies Dept in order to be placed in a course for Chinese after speaking with a Chinese profssor.

Please email Marie Claude Thomas for Arabic information:
Marie [hyphen] Claude [period] Thomas [at] oberlin [dot] edu

Please email Ivana Di Siena about Italian placements:
Ivana[dot]Di[dot]Siena[at]oberlin[dot]edu

Placement tests for Spanish, French, Japanese, German and Russian will be available to incoming first year students (ONLY) on Wednesday August 27 from 1-5 p.m. Students can take the test in the CILC located at 324 Peters Hall (where we have 24 stations raring to go) or they can take it online anywhere on campus. The instructions will be posted here on this site as of 1 p.m.

The test will be unavailable from August 27 at 5 p.m. til the first day of classes (Tuesday Sept 2 at 9 a.m.)

Returning students (and first years) can take the test during add-drop.

Questions? Email us at language [at] oberlin [dot] edu

See you soon!