Lead Teachers: Cory Henrickson and Denise Fullerton
The World Language Department strongly recommends that every student who intends to continue language studies beyond high school finish a minimum of three years of a foreign language while at BHS. Students who don’t receive a “C” or better in a course at the end of the year repeat the entire year. They may only repeat a language course once. Students may explore options outside of Berkeley High School if they need to repeat a course more than once.
Students with little or no previous language experience are placed in a level 1 class. Students with previous experience are placed into the appropriate level based on their transcript and grades in a previous language course or on their score on Berkeley High’s placement test. Students can take the placement test at BHS. Students who believe they have been incorrectly placed should talk to their teacher and contact the World Languages teacher leaders within the first two weeks of classes.
If you are a transfer student from a high school outside of Berkeley Unified School District and want to be in a language class above level 1, you will need a copy of your transcript when you register.
Middle school students who took two years of the same language, will be placed in Level 2 (formerly 3/4). If you want to SKIP level 2, you must take the placement test to be placed in Level 3.
It is not necessary to take the placement exam if you are enrolling in level one of any language.
This exam will be offered on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 10AM-noon. The exam will be given on the second floor of the M building – located off Milvia above Channing. You do not need to sign up or register ahead of time, just come on time. Some students finish the exam in 45 minutes and others need 90 minutes, so it is difficult to say how long the exam will last.
Please email coryhenrickson@berkeley.net or denisefullerton@berkeley.net with further questions.