Inquiries about French and Francophone Studies

For inquiries about our French and Francophone Studies program, please feel free to email Prof. Joëlle Vitiello at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

Which French Class should I enroll in?
If you have never taken a French class, you should enroll in French 101.  If you have taken French classes in High School or elsewhere you need to take the online placement (WebCape) exam.

How do I take the online (WebCape) placement exam?
Call Brenda Piatz in Academic Programs at 651-696-6036, or .  She can get you set up to take the exam.

What do I do with the online (WebCape) score?
See table below for course placement.

Placement test scores are as follows:

WebCape Score Course #
Over 550 305, 306, 394
460-550 204
370-459 203
301-369 102
0-300 101 or 111

Can my previous course work fulfill the language requirement?
Yes, if you completed the AP exam in French with a score of 4 or 5.  Students with IB credit or diploma from a lycée français should contact the department chair.

I am interested in taking the French Proficiency Exam to test out of the language requirement.  What should I do?
In order to test out of Macalester’s foreign language requirement you must take the AP French exam and score a 4 or 5.  You cannot “test out” of the school’s language requirement with the online (WebCape) placement exam.  The online (WebCape) exam is only to help you figure out which class would best suit your ability.

I am interested in study abroad programs to immerse myself in the culture(s) of the French and Francophone speaking world.  What programs does Macalester offer?  Which ones does the Department of French and Francophone Studies recommend?
Please see our study abroad programs.