Chinese School Placement Testing Overview
As a student in the Middlebury College Chinese School, you will take part in classes for your language skill level, and participate in activities with students of all levels. Courses are organized into five skill sections, from Beginner to Advanced.
To place you at your appropriate language skill level, you are required to complete a set of placement exams. Admission to the Chinese School does not assume or guarantee placement in a particular level of instruction. Our main goal is to help you increase your ability to use Chinese as much as possible, within the eight-week session.
Your placement level will be determined by Chinese School teachers based on the results of assessments in reading, writing, and speaking. As your skills may be stronger in one area, i.e. writing or speaking, your placement will consider the level where each of your skills will be challenged and brought to balance.
PLACEMENT TEST – GET READY
To confirm the course level most appropriate for you, please now proceed with your placement test as instructed below.
Please complete all placement tests by June 9.
Please read all instructions carefully before beginning the test.
Required for this online test:
- An up-to-date web browser.
- A reliable internet connection.
Please see tech requirements to access our online placement test and classroom system, Canvas. - Your Middlebury student account and email (Item 2.2)\
- Headphones or speakers so that you may hear the audio recordings.
- A microphone so that you may record your responses.
- A quiet environment in which you can record yourself speaking.
The exam has three components: speaking, grammar, reading.
Each will take between 30 minutes and about two hours.
You may log in and out of the system in between components.
For the most accurate assessment of your skill, it is very important that you do not use any reference materials, such as dictionary and translation apps, information found online, textbooks, and any other outside assistance.
Please complete all placement tests by June 9.
PLACEMENT TEST – INSTRUCTIONS & ACCESS
A Middlebury email account is required to access the Chinese School placement tests online.
1)) With your Middlebury username and password, go to:
https://middlebury.instructure.com/enroll/EDBBE3
2)) Log in using your Middlebury email username and password.
Tip: if you find yourself on the Canvas homepage, look for a link to the [language] testing site under Courses -> All Courses.
3)) Click “Join this course.”
Tests are available in both simplified and traditional characters; choose one.
4) Select “Chinese School Language Assessments 2024″
From the side menu: Courses>Chinese School Language Assessments.
5) Click “Instructions: Required” to begin.
IMPORTANT NOTES
These tests are used solely to determine placement in the level that is most appropriate for you. Your performance on the placement tests does not affect your grades in any way.
For the most accurate assessment of your skill, it is very important that you do not use any reference materials, such as dictionary and translation apps, information found online, textbooks, and any other outside assistance.You may only access each exam once, and should remain online the entire time.
Your level assignment will be sent to your Middlebury email after you have completed all required placement testing. If all required testing is complete by the deadlines, you will receive your level placement in early June. You will not receive actual exam scores or results.
Beginner students: The placement test is optional. You are welcome to complete the assessment if you would like to try for a higher placement level.
PLACEMENT TEST – RESULTS
After all assessments have been completed and reviewed, you will receive an email to your Middlebury email address during the week prior to campus move-in with your assigned placement level best suited for your current skills.
You will not receive placement test results or grades.
If you have questions or concerns about your level assignment, please meet with Director Cecilia Chang on Saturday, June 22, or speak with your Level Teacher during orientation.
You will have time during the First Weekend to purchase required textbooks.
Campus Bookstore Hours
Friday, June 21 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Saturday, June 22 closed
Sunday, June 23 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Monday, June 24 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Please complete all placement tests by June 9.
ASSISTANCE
If you cannot find the email to set up your Middlebury account:
Look in your Spam or Junk folder. If you still cannot find this email, please contact the Middlebury Technology Helpdesk – call 802-443-2200 or email helpdesk@middlebury.edu.
If you cannot remember your Middlebury username or password:
Follow instructions at the Middlebury Technology Helpdesk for assistance.
If you encounter any sort of technical difficulty in accessing or taking the assessment:
Please click on the Help button in the left menu (in the online test system) to access online support services. If you remain unable to complete and submit the assessment, please contact:
Middlebury Technology HelpDesk
helpdesk@middlebury.edu
802-443-2200
If after contacting Helpdesk and/or Canvas Support you remain unable to complete and submit the assessment, please contact us at chineseschool@middlebury.edu
