Spanish Language Advanced-Level Proficiency Certificate
Download as PDF
Pass the Spanish Language Proficiency Exam (LPE). This exam is typically taken after 4 semesters of college-level study, or the equivalent. For more information, please visit http://langtest.umn.edu/lpe.
Take a minimum of 6 credits of Composition, Communication and Content-Based courses. At least 3 credits must come from Pre-approved content-based courses.
- 8005501
- 8120961
- 0103821
OR 8089391 - 8182091
- 7996001
A content-based course is defined as a course of at least 3 credits that is focused on academic discipline, and taught almost exclusively in Spanish, or for which the discussion section is delivered in Spanish. A minimum of 10 pages of written work in Spanish must be completed, including a single assignment of at least 5 pages. Contact the Spanish and Portuguese Studies advisors about counting a course towards this requirement that is not listed below.
- 0078601
OR 8154221
OR 8081271
OR 7915021 - 0088301
OR 8171571
OR 7915191 - 0078771
OR 7928451
Other pre-approved content-based course
Participate in an intensive university level Spanish-language immersion experience.
Participate in an academic study abroad experience in a Spanish speaking country or territory that is at least 6 weeks in length and has at least one course (at least 3 credits) taught in Spanish with coursework in Spanish.
Completion of a pre-approved semester-long immersion experience. Non-semester-long versions of these courses do not count towards the Spanish Language Immersion requirement. Students who have prior immersion experience of at least 6 months in a Spanish-speaking community can petition for an exemption.
- 0081931
- 7977771
or Participation in the Community Engagement Scholars Program, with a focus on opportunities to engage with native Spanish speakers (requires 400 service hours)
or Other option approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies
Take the self-assessment and use this information to gauge your own proficiency level. It is strongly recommended that you do not attempt the ACTFL exam until the self-assessment results indicate that you may have achieved advanced-level proficiency.
Upon completing all requirements, submit and pass a short essay (of 450-600 words) written in English, Portuguese or Spanish that is both a self-assessment of your Spanish-language skills and also explains how you have used your language and cultural understanding skills at the university and beyond. Show that you have engaged in critical reflection on the learning process and developed the tools for continued language acquisition. Cite specific experiences to illustrate your linguistic growth.
Pass the ACTFL advanced-level exam in Spanish by achieving a rating of Advanced-Low or higher in all four sections:
Speaking
Writing
Listening
Reading
Study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for at least 1 semester
Service learning in a Spanish-speaking community for at least 1 semester
Participate in the Community Engagement Scholars Program and work with native Spanish speakers
Participate in TandemPlus
Take extra upper-division courses taught in Spanish
Take the self-assessment test periodically
Spend approximately 15-20 hours per week outside of class actively using Spanish (reading, writing, speaking, listening)