Learn how to get placed into your first Somali course at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.
What is your most recent level of foreign language study?
Students with no prior background in Standard Somali
No placement test is needed if you have never taken a Somali language course and do not use Somali at home. Students with no prior background in Standard Somali may register for SMLI 1221 without taking a placement test.
Students who have studied Somali abroad or use Somali at home
For placement into your first Somali language course, you must take the Somali Entrance Placement Test (EPT).
Students who earn a high score on the Somali EPT are invited to review information about the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE) and consider whether they may be ready for the LPE. More information about the Somali LPE can be found on the Test Content page.
If you want to start your Somali language study in SMLI 1221, you do not need a placement test. See the course descriptions below for information on first-year courses.
College-Level Somali Instruction
Students with previous college-level instruction in Standard Somali should consult their transcripts and speak with their adviser to determine which course(s) they completed.
Standard 4-Semester Somali Course Sequence
First semester: starts beginning-level language instruction; does not require prior language study.
Second semester: continues beginning-level language instruction from 1221; continues comprehension, reading, writing and speaking skills.
Third semester: continues language instruction from 1222; begins the intermediate-level language instruction.
Fourth semester: continues language instruction from 3227; completes the intermediate-level language instruction; passing this course fulfills the CLA Second Language Requirement.
Accelerated 2-Semester Somali Course Sequence
Beginning Accelerated I: must pass the Entrance Placement Test (EPT) to register for 1225; requires basic literacy skills in reading and writing; course includes grammar review, practice in reading and writing, introduction to Somali literature and formal writing, topics in Somali culture.
SMLI 1225 + 1226 fulfills the CLA Second Language Requirement and is equivalent to SMLI 1221-1222-3227-3228, the standard 4-semester Somali course sequence.
Beginning Accelerated II: continues language instruction from 1225; passing this course fulfills the CLA Second Language Requirement.