Modern Languages

The Modern Languages Department is an integral part of the Liberal Arts Curriculum. Its principal objectives are to develop fluency in written and spoken language and to familiarize students with modern languages, literatures, and cultures. All courses are given in the target languages and offered in a variety of deliveries: in-person, online flex, hybrid and video conferencing. Languages currently offered:

• American Sign Language
• Arabic
• Cape Verdean Creole
• French
• Portuguese
• Spanish

View our Course Search for current semester offerings.

Placement and Prerequisites

If you are entering Massasoit and have previously studied any of the above languages, you may be eligible for a prerequisite waiver to enter into a second or third semester course. Generally, if you have mastered basic vocabulary (expressions of courtesy, numbers from 0-100, food, talking about home/school, hobbies, family), present tense verbs, and interrogative words, you would be eligible for a second semester course. On average, two years of high school study—unless at the AP level—equate one semester of a beginning language course at Massasoit. To obtain a waiver or request more information, please email rpeery@massasoit.edu

If you have significant knowledge of French, German, or Spanish from previous informal study (e.g., not documented on a college or high school transcript) or first language acquisition (heritage speaker), you may be eligible to forgo Modern Language study at Massasoit by taking a College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is a standardized, college credit-granting exam program maintained by The College Board..

• Program Information (PDF)
• CLEP Exams Accepted at Massasoit Community College
• Explanation of CLEP Scores (PDF)
  

French, German and Spanish CLEP tests are administered at Massasoit Community College.

• French Language: At a Glance (PDF)
• German Language: At a Glance (PDF)
• Spanish Language: At a Glance (PDF)

Academic ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) is an advanced college-level program that has been specifically designed for students whose first language is not English and who need to develop their English proficiency to a level appropriate for college courses in an American college curriculum.

• If you are interested in taking an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) placement test (and have not yet taken a placement test), please register online through the Testing and Assessment Office Academic ESOL Testing page or call 508-588-9100 x1991 or 1992.
• Please mention that you are interested in taking the LOEP (Levels of English Placement) test.
• After you have taken the LOEP, you will receive your results with instructions for how to register for an online new student orientation and how to schedule an advising session.  You will learn how to register for the course through these sessions.

We look forward to working with you as part of the Academic ESOL program.