All UNM students who choose Spanish to fulfill their language requirement(s) must take a Spanish Placement Evaluation for placement at the appropriate level. This evaluation is free of charge and is administered in the Language Learning Center located in room 124 of Ortega Hall.

Students enrolling in a Spanish course should know:

1. A placement evaluation should be taken BEFORE enrolling in a Spanish class – especially if you are taking a Spanish course for the first time or enrolling in a beginning Spanish course (101 or 111).
2. If you do not have an orange placement Verification Card when the semester begins you will be dropped from the course. (Verification cards are issued once a placement evaluation has been taken.)
3. Placement evaluation scores are valid for one year only. If you have not taken the course you placed into within a year's time, you will have to retake the placement evaluation.
4. If you are fulfilling an Arts and Sciences language requirements it is recommended that classes be taken in successive semesters. If one year or more has passed between Spanish courses, you will be required to take the placement evaluation again.

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese has two Spanish language programs that address the needs of diverse language learners:

Spanish as a Heritage Language (SHL) Program
Spanish classes 111, 112, 211, and 212 are designated for students who grew up in a Spanish-speaking environment (Spanish was spoken in the home and community by parents or grandparents, family friends, or neighbors.) The objective of these classes is to build upon the Spanish you may already know, even if you feel you are not fluent.

Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) Program
This program is designed for students of Spanish whose native or home language is not Spanish. These classes are numbered 101,102, 201, and 202.

Spanish Placement Evaluation Schedule:
From June 1, 2009, the exam will start at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and 2 pm Monday through Friday at the Language Lab in Ortega Hall.

For more information visit the Language Learning Center or call 505-277-2975 or 277-7364.