Freshman Focus
Welcome, new students! Classes in the Program of African and Asian Languages (PAAL) are open to all undergraduates at Northwestern. The information below will answer many of the questions you will have as incoming freshmen. If you have more questions, please get in touch with the language-specific coordinators.
Placement tests will be held on Friday, September 21st from 3-5pm.
Language |
Coordinator |
Placement Test Location |
Arabic |
Kresge 4-319 | |
Chinese |
Kresge 4-425 | |
Hebrew |
Kresge 4-416 | |
Hindi |
Kresge 4-335 | |
Japanese |
Kresge 1-315 | |
Korean |
Kresge 4-435 | |
Persian |
Tests scheduled by appointment | |
Swahili |
Kresge 4-404 | |
Turkish |
Tests scheduled by appointment |
Why study an African or Asian language?
Knowledge of an African or Asian language offers entry into rich and complex cultures that are both fascinating and useful to understand. Proficiency in these languages provides outstanding job qualifications in virtually any field, and if you decide to study abroad or work abroad, facility with a language other than English will increase your options. More generally, familiarity with an African or Asian language provides an informed perspective on parts of the world that are economically and politically important to life in the United States.
African and Asian languages offered by PAAL also satisfy the WCAS foreign language requirements, the language requirements for most tracks of the School of Communications Bachelor of Arts degree track, and for Medill School of Journalism. Students in McCormick School of Engineering may use our languages to fulfill the theme requirement.
Can AP credit place me out of a language requirement?
While you can receive up to two elective language credits for qualifying AP scores, all students wishing to place out of language requirements in an African or Asian language must take the applicable language-placement test.
What is the language-placement process?
Online placement tests are available for the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Swahili. All online placement tests will be available staring June 1st to be completed by July 15th. Please see http://placement-test.mmlc.northwestern.edu/ for more information.
Placement tests for Hebrew, Hindi, Persian (Farsi), and Turkish are offered during new-student week.
See table above for placement test locations during Wildcat Welcome week.
Does the Program of African and Asian Languages offer Majors and Minors?
At this time, there are no majors housed within PAAL. However PAAL offers two minor tracks, one in Chinese Language and Culture and one in Japanese Language and Culture. Additionally, Hebrew language study is an integral component of the Major and Minor in Jewish Studies and Hebrew Studies offered by the Crown Family Center for Jewish Studies. All of languages offered by PAAL, except Swahili, may be used to satisfy the requirements for the majors and minors offered by the Asian and Middle East Studies Program.
How can I use the languages I learn at Northwestern?
Many students who study languages offered by PAAL use and further develop their language skills through study abroad, research abroad, and work abroad experiences. Northwestern students also apply their language skills to international relations and governmental jobs in the United States.
What are PAAL-Affiliated Programs?
African Studies
Asian and Middle East Studies
Comparative Literary Studies
The Council on Language Instruction
The Crown Family Center for Jewish Studies
International Studies Adjunct
