Foreign Languages

Whitman College offers courses in Chinese, French, German, Classical Greek, Japanese, Latin and Spanish. If you wish to take courses in any of these languages, you should take the placement test to determine the best course level that suits your individual needs.

You can take language placement tests over the summer before advising and registration. While the suggested deadline is by Aug. 15, you'll also have the opportunity to take any test after you arrive on campus and meet with your advisor. 

Why Study a Language at Whitman?

Language study at Whitman opens doors across your entire academic experience. Language courses count toward the Global Cultures and Languages distribution requirement in General Studies, and fluency is a core component of the Global Studies concentration, which requires six credits of language study. Languages can also be a path to the honor of Phi Beta Kappa as a senior. Whitman's chapter requires native English speakers to complete a foreign language through the intermediate level as a condition of election.

Dreaming of studying abroad? With Whitman’s over 80 partner programs to choose from, the world is genuinely available to you—and language study can be a ticket in. Growing your language skills means you'll arrive with real confidence, the ability to connect with locals, and you’ll have the option to choose from more programs.

Do You Need to Take the Placement Test?

If you have no prior experience with the language, either through prior formal study or cultural immersion at home or abroad, and want to begin, you do not need to take the placement test. You can simply register for the introductory course. 

If you have previously studied French, German, Japanese or Spanish and wish to continue studying in any of these languages, you will need to take the placement test to determine which course to register for. 

If you have previously studied Chinese, Greek or Latin and wish to continue studying in any of these languages, you will need to review the placement guidelines below and contact the faculty chair in that department.

If you are a native speaker of the language you wish to study, you should contact the department chair, as well as take the placement test to identify which course level best suits you.

Taking the Placement Test

Before accessing the online placement test for French, German or Spanish, you must activate your Whitman email and use it to create an account in the Foreign Language Tests platform. If you plan to take the Japanese placement test, you should contact the department chair for instructions.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES TEST

After completing the test, you will receive your placement results. The Registrar’s Office will also receive your results and will need to upload them to your student record before you register for classes.

Placement Guidelines

If you are interested in studying Chinese, Greek, or Latin at Whitman, you should review the language requirements and contact the faculty chair in that department (see below) before registering for classes.

• Chinese guidelines
• Classics guidelines (Greek or Latin)

If you are interested in taking intermediate or advanced Japanese courses, you must review the Japanese placement guidelines and contact Associate Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Wakako Suzuki to schedule a placement test.

Questions?

If you have questions about your placement or need assistance registering for the appropriate language course level, please contact:

• Chinese: Associate Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures (Chinese) Donghui He, hed@whitman.edu, 509-527-5891
• Japanese: Associate Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Wakako Suzuki, suzukiw@whitman.edu, 509-527-5998
• Greek or Latin: Associate Professor of Environmental Humanities and Classics Kate Shea, sheakj@whitman.edu, 509-527-5894
• French: Professor of French and Francophone Studies Jack Iverson, iversojr@whitman.edu, 509-526-4750
• German: Associate Professor of German Studies and Philosophy Julia Ireland, irelanja@whitman.edu, 509-522-4388 
• Spanish: Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Aarón Aguilar-Ramírez, aguilaa2@whitman.edu, 509-527-4998