Swahili, Tagalog and other language courses do not fulfill AES requirements.
However, these classes can be used to satisfy the University’s foreign language requirement, or may be applied to the electives category if you have previously satisfied the foreign language requirement and want to learn an additional language.
Current and upcoming Swahili and Tagalog language courses can be found on our main courses page or the UW Time Scheduler.
SWA 101, 102, 103 - Basic Swahili
SWA 201, 202, 203 - Intermediate Swahili
SWA 134 - Intensive Basic Swahili
TAGLG 101, 102, 103 - Basic Tagalog
TAGLG 201, 202, 203 - Intermediate Tagalog
TAGLG 134 - Intensive Basic Tagalog
These language sequences are very successful related offerings of Afro-American Studies and Asian American Studies. Undergraduate and graduate students use these courses to satisfy language requirements.
Tagalog Placement Interviews determine which Tagalog course level is appropriate for your existing language competencies. Placement interviews in Tagalog cannot be used to waive language requirements. No credits are given for taking these exams. Please contact instructor to schedule your placement interview.
Tagalog Proficiency Exams are used to satisfy or waive foreign language requirements. This is also to test what an applicant should know after one year of Tagalog instruction, or the equivalent of Intermediate-Mid emerging High level according to ACTFL standards. To waive 2-year foreign language requirements, an assessment of Advanced-Mid is required. Please contact the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) for more information such as schedules and pricing for Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).
Swahili Placement Interviews are administered for UW students who would like to continue studying Swahili language at the UW but do not know which level to begin. The placement exam determines which Swahili course level is appropriate for your existing language competencies.
Placement interviews in Swahili cannot be used to waive language requirements. No credits are given for taking these exams. Please contact the instructor to schedule your placement interview.
* Native Swahili speakers - have formally studied Swahili language through High school. Please contact the instructor to take the placement test.
Swahili Proficiency Exams
Proficiency exams are for students who would like to satisfy/fulfill the UW Foreign Language Requirement for graduation, or those who are seeking to remove a deficiency for the UW Foreign Language Admissions Requirement.
Exit Testing - UW Language Learning Center (washington.edu)
Once you've completed your test, all assessments will be evaluated based on ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
Credit will be granted if you meet the following levels of proficiency:
- Novice Mid - 1 credit
- Novice High - 2 credits
- Intermediate Low - 3 credits
- Intermediate Mid - 4 credits
To waive the 2-year foreign language requirements, an assessment of Advanced-Mid is required. If your test results qualify you for the equivalent of 3 or more high school credits (overall proficiency level of at least Intermediate Low on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale in BOTH oral and writing assessments), then an official copy of your test results will be sent to Dean Kevin Mihata in the Dean's Office in the College of Arts & Sciences. The Dean's office will review the results, and if they are satisfactory, they will be sent to the Registrar's office where they will be added to your transcript (as satisfying the language exit requirement). Credit will appear on the transcript with a ''P'' for pass as the grade mark. Contact: langtest@uw.edu for more information.
- Follow the link Recommended Certification (languagetesting.com)
- Select a test language (place cursor in box and type “Talalog” or "Swahili" <enter>
- Choose Test and Schedule
- Identify the school. Type “University of Washington” select the prompted word, “University of Washington”, press “Continue” box
- Press “continue” box to continue
- Select a language. Type “Tagalog” or "Swahili" in the text box. Press “Continue”
- You’ll see the ACTFL OPI $145.00 (1/23/2024 rate) and press the “Select Test” box to continue