Online Placement Exam Instructions

The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures employs an online placement exam to assess the language skills of those with prior knowledge or study of Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. To take this exam, please follow the steps below:

Step 1) Go to Blackboard (learn.rochester.edu) in your web browser, click the Login button for Active Directory, then login with your Active Directory account and Password. (Note: If you do not have an account or have not yet initialized your account password, please visit https://tech.rochester.edu/myidentity.) Please make sure that you have Duo set up. It is required for login from off-campus locations.

Screenshot of step 1.

You will need to choose the UR Active Directory domain.

Screenshot for step 1b.

Step 2) On the Institution page in Blackboard, scroll down to Language Placement information. Use the link here to access placement tests for the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, or Spanish. For other languages, contact the individual noted on the page in Blackboard.

Screenshot for step 2.

Step 3) Login to Emmersion.

Screenshot for step 3.

Step 4) Select the desired option from the "Language" menu and click the "Begin" button. Before the actual test, you will be asked to enter some personal data (name, URID, email) and information about your language background. Please be as thorough as possible, as this information is critical to our ability to accurately determine your placement.

Screenshot for step 4.


Note: Any semester placement you may receive with your online numerical test score is not based on UR's official placement rubrics and, therefore, should not be taken as an indication of your actual placement.

If you do not hear back within a week or so of taking the placement test, please consult the appropriate program representative listed below:

Chinese
Ping Pian
Associate Professor of Instruction in Chinese, Chinese Program Advisor
Phone: (585) 275-4251
Email: ping.pian@rochester.edu 

French
Carole Nasra
Associate Professor of Instruction in French, Language Placement Coordinator
Phone: (585) 275-4251
Email: cnasra@ur.rochester.edu 

German
Lisa Cerami
Assistant Professor of German
Phone: (585) 275-4251
lisa.cerami@rochester.edu

Italian 
Teresa Murano 
Associate Professor of Instruction in Italian
Phone: (585) 275-4251
Email: teresamurano@gmail.com

Russian
Laura Givens
Professor of Instruction in Russian
Phone: (585) 275-4251
Email: laura.givens@rochester.edu 

Spanish
Kirt Komocki
Associate Professor of Instruction in Spanish
Phone: (585) 275-4251
Email: kkomocki@ur.rochester.edu