Tibetan Language Program Placement Test

Tibetan Language Program Placement Test

General
  1. The placement exam will be used to place students in appropriate levels.
  2. Students who want to take a course other than Introductory A or First Year I level should take a placement exam.
  3. Students who had taken a language course at EALAC more than six months ago and wish to continue to study at EALAC, should take a placement exam to be placed at the appropriate level.
  4. Students who studied Tibetan elsewhere and wish to continue at EALAC, should take a placement exam.
  5. Results will be available after 4 p.m. on the day of the exam.
Date

Fall semester 2020:

  1. Placement test – Tuesday, August 31, 2021
    • Classical Tibetan
      Time: Aug 31, 2021, 11 AM Eastern Time (11:00 am – 12:30 am)
    • Modern Tibetan (Written)
      Time: Aug 31, 2021, 11 AM Eastern Time (11:00 am – 12:30 am)
    • Modern Tibetan (Oral)
      Time: Aug 31, 2021, 11 AM Eastern Time (11:00 am – 12:30 am)
  2. Make-up placement test: Friday, September 3, 2021 

All tests will be conducted via Zoom. Please contact Prof. Sonam Tsering for the Zoom meeting information and registration.

Spring semester 2021:

  1. Friday prior to the first day of the spring semester
  2. Make-up test: on the Friday of the first week of classes
Format

Classical Tibetan: grammar, vocabulary, reading 70 minutes

Modern Tibetan

  • Written test: listening, grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing 70 minutes
  • Oral test (used as a reference only): 10-15 minutes
Reporting of Results

Only the language program directors will report students’ results to the appropriate school via email:

  • to deans for Columbia College, the language placement results for students taking the exam to test out of the CC requirement should be sent to CC in a timely fashion (approximately two weeks from the date of the first examination).
  • to advisors for Columbia Engineering
  • to registrar for Barnard
  • to advisors for General Studies
  • to coordinator for School of International Public Affairs
  • to associate director for Teachers College

All language placement results must be sent to the EALAC DGS (Director of Graduate Studies), DUS (Director of Undergraduate Studies), M.A. Co-directors and department chair.

For all the placement/proficiency test fees, please visit our Language Testing Fee Policies page.

Placement Test: For any other questions related to the Tibetan language placement tests, please contact Sonam Tsering (st2931@columbia.edu).

Proficiency Exam: For those who wish to get a certificate for language proficiency, please contact the EALAC Administrative Assistant, Nicole Roldan (nr2746@columbia.edu).

(Updated April 2020)