Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the department give credit for AP Exams?
- I took the AP Exam in Spanish Language and received a score of 4. What class should I enroll in?
- I took two years of high school Spanish but did not do very well. May I start with Spanish 1 again?
- I am a native Spanish speaker. What class should I take?
- I am a native Spanish speaker and took two years of high school Spanish. What class should I take?
- I enrolled in French 1 and found it to be too fast for me. What can I do?
- I enrolled in Spanish 1 and found it to be too fast for me. What can I do?
- I am not interested in grammar and would like to sign up for a conversation class.
- I got a C in my Spanish 1 (French 1) class but don't feel confident enough to go into the next level. What can I do?
- I am weak in English grammar and I am afraid I will not do well in a world language. What should I do?
- I would like to sign up for both Spanish 4 and Spanish 5 the same semester, but I notice that these are offered as a combined class. May I do extra work and sign up for both at the same hour?
- I am from Latin America and studied Spanish in my country. I would like to sign up for Spanish 48, Spanish for Translation but I don't have the Spanish 3 requirement.
- Are Spanish 35, 36, and 37 accepted at all branches of the University of California and of the California State University system?
- Is Spanish 1 accepted at all branches of the University of California and of the California State University system?
- Can I audit a World Language class?
2. Does the department give credit for AP Exams?
Yes. Students who have taken the AP Exam in Language receive 5 units credit if they have obtained a score of 3 or higher. If both the language and literature exams were taken, students may receive an additional 5 units of elective credit. These credits count toward the AA degree at Valley College. AP scores may also be used to certify the IGETC Foreign Language Proficiency. However, if you are planning to transfer to a university, please see a Valley College counselor. You will need to consider the AP credit policies of the university to which you plan to transfer in addition to the World Language Department's AP policies. Each CSU campus, each UC campus, and each private university has its own policies concerning the transferability of units and how it will use the AP exams for major requirements.
3. I took the AP Exam in Spanish Language and received a score of 4. What class should I enroll in?
You may enroll in Spanish 5. If you received a score of three you should consider enrolling in Spanish 4.
4. I took two years of high school Spanish but did not do very well. May I start with Spanish 1 again?
Yes, you may begin with Spanish 1 (unless you are a native Spanish speaker)
5. I am a native Spanish speaker. What class should I take?
If you are a native Spanish speaker and have never studied Spanish you should enroll in Spanish 35. Spanish 35 is the equivalent of Spanish 1, with emphasis on reading and writing rather than speaking.
6. I am a native Spanish speaker and took two years of high school Spanish. What class should I take?
You may enroll in Spanish 36, which is the equivalent of Spanish 2, but with an emphasis on reading and writing. If you did very well in your high school courses, you may enroll in Spanish 3, which is a review of grammar and an introduction to reading.
Native speakers of any language, please note the following if you are planning to transfer to UC: If you were educated in another country at least through the 9th grade in a language other than English, you may not receive UC credit for any lower division world language or literature courses in your native language. You may receive UC credit for upper-division courses only. You will have to produce a transcript to document your education in another country if you wish to use your native language proficiency on IGETC, Area 6.. If you do not have a transcript, you will have to take a DIFFERENT LANGUAGE (not your native language) to satisfy IGETC. Please seea counselor or talk to a world language instructor.
7. I enrolled in French 1 and found it to be too fast for me. What can I do?
Enroll in French 21. Then follow with French 22 the following semester. French 21 is a 3-unit class that covers half the material covered in French 1. Together with French 22, they are the equivalent of French 1. Please note that UC gives credit for French 1 only when both are taken.
8. I enrolled in Spanish 1 and found it to be too fast for me. What can I do?
See answer in #7 above.
9. I am not interested in grammar and would like to sign up for a conversation class.
Conversation classes have a prerequisite: you must complete the equivalent of two semesters before you can enroll in conversation. Please note that conversation classes are not open to native speakers of the language. Recommendation: students who are not interested in transfer credit and wish conversation classes that have no prerequisite may wish to consider classes offered through Community Services.
10. I got a C in my Spanish 1 (French 1) class but don't feel confident enough to go into the next level. What can I do?
You may sign up in the Admissions Office to audit the course, provided the instructor approves your audit. Auditing is a way in which you may sit through the class and learn the material without official enrollment. There is no grade involved, no units given, and no record of the course on your college transcript. We also recommend that you sign up for Spanish 22 (French 22) which is the second half of the level 1 courses. This will prepare you for the level 2 class. Please note that credit is not given for both Spanish 1 and Spanish 22. This is recommended only to help you master the subject matter.
11. I am weak in English grammar and I am afraid I will not do well in a world language. What should I do.
You may enroll in Spanish 50, English Grammar for Students of Spanish. This is a 2-unit course recommended for students who need to review the fundamentals of English grammar in order to succeed in a Spanish class. This course may be taken prior to signing up for a world language class or concurrently with another Spanish class. Although a contrastive Spanish/English approach is used, students enrolled in French, German, Italian or ESL may also find it useful. Please note that this class does not carry transfer credit. It is not offered every semester.
Many students have been successful in their world language classes in spite of what they perceive to be a weakness in grammar. Learning a world language has in fact reinforced their English grammar.
12. I would like to sign up for both Spanish 4 and Spanish 5 the same semester, but I notice that these are offered as a combined class. May I do extra work and sign up for both at the same hour?
No. Even though the class is combined each has its own course requirements.
13. I am from Latin America and studied Spanish in my country. I would like to sign up for Spanish 48, Spanish for Translation but I don't have the Spanish 3 requirement.
The pre-requisite is Spanish 3 or equivalent skill level. You may challenge the pre-requisite. Talk to the department chair to obtain the necessary forms.
14. Are Spanish 35, 36, and 37 accepted at all branches of the University of California and of the California State University system?
Yes.
15. Is Spanish 1 accepted at all branches of the University of California and of the California State University system?
Yes.
16. Can I audit a World Language class?
Yes. California Education Code 76370 permits community colleges to allow individuals to audit courses, that is, to sit in without participating in class activities or being required to take exams. The intent is to provide individuals with opportunities to explore areas of interest without being subject to the demands of class activities or evaluation and grading. An additional intent is that faculty will not have additional work required because of the presence of individuals auditing courses.
Please note that priority in class enrollment will be given to students wanting to take the course for credit. Permission to enroll in a class on an audit basis is at the instructor's discretion. Students must be added as an auditor by the last day to add classes in the term.
Finally, as the word “audit” indicates, an audit student only observes the lessons and therefore will not take part in questions, class activities, exams, office hours, etc. At the discretion of the instructor, an auditing student may be given a revocable permission to participate in the activities the instructor deems appropriate for their status. If you would like to guarantee your full participation in a class, we ask you to fully register with the Registrar by paying the corresponding fees.