Language Proficiency for Graduate Students
Coursework and Examination Information and Registration
Language Proficiency Completion Options
While specific departmental expectations vary, students can typically satisfy their language requirement in the following three ways:
1. Complete a translation examination offered through CLS. Consult the Translation Exam Calendar to find out when your specific language exam is offered, and then register for an exam by filling out and submitting an Exam Registration Form.
​2. Coursework: Successfully complete a reading course in the relevant language (French and German currently offered), or courses offered in the relevant language. Consult the CLS website for languages offered at Brown.
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3. If translation exams or coursework in the language in which you are seeking proficiency are not offered at Brown, ask your department about the possibility of completing a Brown Language Department Placement Exam, or consult the list of External Testing Options, links provided on this website.
Translation Exam Information
Exam Description
Translation exams are administered in person through the Center for Language Studies. You have up to three hours to complete your exam, and depending on your department's requirements, you are allowed the use of a hard-copy or an online version of a translation dictionary. A translation deemed passing reflects grammatical accuracy from source to target language (English), and a thorough, critical understanding of the source text. Your exam proctor will make an effort to choose a text that is related to your area of research interest.
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Consult the translation exam calendar to determine the date(s) your language exam is offered through the Center for Language Studies.
Registration deadline for end of fall semester exams is September 25th.
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Registration deadline for end of spring semester exams is March 31st.
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To schedule an exam, please complete the online exam registration form. CLS staff will review your registration and an exam proctor will confirm your exam details.
Sample Exams
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Spanish: Exam 1 (Article), Exam 2 (Article), Exam 3 (Excerpt from a novel)
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German: Exam 1 (Essay), Exam 2 (Essay), Exam 3 (Essay / Theory)
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French: Exam 1 (Articles), Exam 2
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Latin
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Chinese
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Japanese
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Italian
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Russian
CLS Translation Exam Guidelines
(In-person and Virtual Test options)
Language for Reading and Research Courses
New courses forthcoming!
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Polish for Reading
Persian for Reading
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This online course prepares students to read and understand German texts from a variety of disciplines and genres. This intensive study of German grammar and syntax is for students without prior knowledge of German and for students with some background in German who want to review and gain better mastery of grammar. Students who successfully complete this course have the necessary foundation for reading and translating texts from German into English.
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French for Reading in the Arts and Sciences
Designed to develop the reading competence in French for graduate students (or advanced undergraduates with permission of the instructor). Fundamentals of grammar and syntax are emphasized as well as reading skills in the fields of individual students. Successful completion should satisfy the foreign language requirement for graduate students in other departments. (Consult the relevant department.) Not for graduate-level credit.
Other Language Courses
Center for Language Studies
For information on other language courses available at Brown, visit the Center for Language Studies website.
Departmental Requirements
For a basic summary of your department's specific expectations for translation exams and language proficiency, consult the CLS compilation of departmental requirements here.