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Placement Process

Placement in French language papers is on a case-by-case basis. Below are the guidelines we use, but we appreciate that each student's situation is different. The combination of a proficiency test and a personal consultation gives the best chance of enrolment in the appropriate language paper.

Online French Test

As a first step, please complete our recommended online French proficiency test on the Institut Linguistique Adenet (ILA) website. It takes 8 minutes to complete and includes 32 questions of increasing difficulty. The test evaluates your reading and listening comprehension as well as your grammatical knowledge, providing immediate results based on the CEFR scale (A1-C2).

Visit the ILA website to take the French proficiency test

Consultation

Once you have completed the online test, you will need to contact Dr Barbara Stone to discuss your placement. This is essential to ensure that you are placed in the most suitable paper for your needs and abilities.

Email barbara.stone@otago.ac.nz

Guidelines for Placement in French Language Papers

The following language papers are available, subject to placement confirmation:

FREN131 Introductory French 1 (A0-A1)

  • No prior French study required
  • Suitable for complete beginners or those with minimal exposure to French
  • Appropriate after one year of high school French

FREN132 Introductory French 2 (A2)

  • Completion of FREN131 or equivalent
  • 2-3 years of recent high school French
  • NCEA Level 1 or equivalent in French

FREN232 Intermediate French (B1)

  • Completion of FREN132 or equivalent
  • 4-5 years of high school French
  • NCEA Level 2 or 3 or equivalent in French

FREN233 French for Professional Purposes (B1-B2)

  • Completion of FREN232 or equivalent
  • Recent French immersion experience in a French-speaking country

FREN333 Advanced French 1 (B2)

  • Completion of FREN232, FREN233 or equivalent
  • Recent French immersion experience in a French-speaking country
  • Advanced level French from recent high school completion in a French-speaking country

FREN334 Advanced French 2 (B2-C1)

  • Completion of FREN333 or equivalent
  • Extensive French immersion experience in a French-speaking country

Enrolment Process Summary

  1. Complete the online French proficiency test.
  2. Contact Dr Barbara Stone to discuss your results and arrange a consultation.
  3. After your consultation, submit any required "special permission" requests through eVision.
    • Note: eVision requires "special permission" for direct entry into FREN132 or any more advanced French language paper.
    • Include details of your French language background and consultation with Dr Stone in your special permission request.

Find out more about the BA in French and DipLang in French programme requirements

Note: Final placement decisions are made by Dr Stone and the French Programme, based on both your test results and consultation.

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