FAQs
For general Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQs) about SEP, please click here.
For general FAQs on the Course Registration System (CourseReg), please click here.
General FAQs
Yes, if you have previously acquired knowledge of the language, you are required to sit for a placement test. For placement test, please refer to announcement on CLS Home Page or contact the CLS General Office for further information. Students who pass the placement tests may register online for the higher-level courses through the Course Registration System (CourseReg) on EduRec.
We refer not only to those who have studied the language in a formal context and have sat for O- and/or A-Level exams and/or its equivalent, but also to those who have learned the language through any other means and for any duration of time.
You can submit an appeal online through the Course Registration System (CourseReg) on EduRec.
Yes, you may but subject to penalty. Please refer to the List of Important Events on the FASS website for the dates.
Check if you fulfill the pre-requisite(s) for the desired course. If you do and are unable to register, please approach CLS office with evidence of possession of pre-requisite(s). For students whom returned from an exchange programme, please provide proof of mapping and result.
Yes, you may drop the lecture group and add another online during the registration exercise at your own risk. You may approach CLS General Office after the registration exercise but the change of groups is subject to valid reasons (i.e. timetable clashes), vacancies and approval by the respective course coordinator. Please provide evidence of timetable clashes (Self-prepared timetable is not acceptable).
Yes, you may swap groups during the add/drop/swap exercise at your own risk. After the add/drop/swap exercise, you may approach CLS General Office but the change of groups is subject to valid reasons (i.e. timetable clashes), vacancy and approval by the respective course coordinator. Please provide evidence of timetable clashes (Self-prepared timetable is not acceptable).
If you are reading the courses as breath and have not exceeded the maximum number of S/U courses, you may select the S/U option.
You may visit LumiNUS once you are registered under the course.
If you are an Arts student from cohort 2001 onwards, you may read language courses outside your major to fulfil your 'Unrestricted Elective requirements' under the Faculty requirement.
Yes, for most courses. Please refer to the course outline for your course (available in CANVAS or in the relevant section of respective language's website).
Yes, you can, provided that the course is relevant to the programme. For example, if you have decided to major in Southeast Asian Studies, and you have taken LAV1201 Vietnamese 1 as an unrestricted elective outside major before you declared your major, the course can be counted as one of the three Vietnamese language courses you are required to take to fulfill the degree requirement.
You may appeal online through the Course Registration System (CourseReg) on EduRec or through your home faculty after the registration ends. Acceptance will be based on supporting reasons and vacancies of the course.
Placement tests are usually held at the end of the previous semester immediately after examination and before the registration period for the next semester. You may look out for the notice of placement tests posted on our Homepage and notice board or contact the general office directly.
Yes, as long as the student is able to cope with the lesson hours and the work involved.
Yes, there is no restriction on this. However, students are strongly encouraged to continue with the same language in order to master it.
Language courses are only offered to NUS students and overseas students on exchange programmes. Non-NUS students can take language courses offered by NUS Extension, such as by the CLS External Programme.
No, we do not allow auditing of courses. Student must attend classes and sit for all tests, quizzes and the final examination.
Bahasa Indonesia
You need to take a placement test to determine which Bahasa Indonesia course suits your level best. Please contact the CLS General Office for further information on the placement test.
You must take a placement test regardless of your extent of exposure in the language.
Southeast Asian Studies major students are required to read 3 to 4 courses. Typically, they will be LAB1201/LAT1201/LAV1201, LAB2201/LAT2201/LAV2201, LAB3201/LAT3201/LAV3201 and LAB3202/LAT3201/LAV3201.
You are strongly advised to start your language study from the first semester in Year 1. This will allow you to assess if you have the aptitude to learn a language (most people do!). It will also give you the option of doing more than the 3 or 4 required courses. You can do a 5th and/or a 6th module as part of your Unrestricted Electives outside major (Shared Major students).
Southeast Asian Studies Honours students can read only 1 language course, either LAB3202/LAT3202/LAV3202 or LAB4201/LAT4201/LAV4201, in Semester 1 of the Honours year.
Language learning takes time. Therefore, you are encouraged to continue on with the language of your choice in order to achieve a more solid proficiency in the language.
There are no lectures and as for tutorials, they will start in the third week.
French
Yes. You can apply to take the French 1 course which is designed for students who have never learnt French before.
Yes but you have to sit for a placement test which usually takes place:
- at the end of the semester, just after the exams and
- 2 or 3 weeks before the lectures start. This test will assess your proficiency in the language and we will then place you in a class that is suitable for you.
European Studies students have to study either French or German language starting from their second year. Allocation of the chosen language course will depend on the number of places available in each academic year. For more information on European Studies Programme, please contact the Programme Coordinator - Dr. Srilita RAVI at 6874-6031.
SEP students get to spend 1 semester in a foreign university, usually, in their third year. SEP students who choose to go to French universities will have to attain a certain level of proficiency in the French language before their semester abroad. They will, thus, have to sign up for an appropriate number of French language courses.
Classes are divided into 2 parts : lectures and tutorials. Attendance is compulsory for both lectures and tutorials. There will be a total of 5 hours of instruction per week. Students will attend 2 lectures (medium-sized classes) per week x 13 weeks and 1 tutorial (small group teaching) per week x 11 weeks. Each lecture / tutorial lasts 1hour and 40 minutes.
Details on individual courses can be found on the IVLE (Integrated Virtual Learning Environment) website. Details include course outlines, times and location of the lectures, lecturers' profiles, recommended textbooks and information on the weightage of CA and exams etc.
We offer a total of 6 courses on French Language, French for Academic Purposes and another 2 courses on French Studies.
You can go to the French page on our website here.
Yes, you can, if you are an Arts student from the 2008 cohort onwards taking language courses outside your major. However, if you are taking the language courses as part of the major, you will not be allowed to opt for S/U on these courses. No, if you are an Arts student from previous cohorts (i.e. before 2008). If you are a cross-faculty student, you are allowed to opt for S/U on the language courses. Do note that the S/U option is available only for a maximum of 12 units for the whole degree course for all students. Please check with your Home Faculty for more details.
German
European Studies major students are required to read 4 courses. Typically, they will be LAG1201, LAG2201, LAG3201 and LAG3202. Students who are reading EU as a single major may read up to 2 more language courses to fulfill the graduation criteria for a B.A. degree without Honours.
European Studies Honours students are required to read 1 course, LAG4201, in Semester 1 of the Honours year. They have the option of doing a second course, LAG4202, in Semester 2.
You are strongly advised to start learning German from the first semester in Year I. This will allow you to assess if you have the aptitude to learn a language (most people do!). It will also give you the option of doing more than the 4 required courses. You can do a fifth and/or a sixth course as part of your major requirements (Single Major students) or Unrestricted Electives outside the major (Shared Major students).
For Arts students, each German course will carry 4 units. For cross-faculty students, please check with your faculty's Deanery to confirm the number of units as there may be some variations.
The lectures start in week 1 (or the first lecture week) of each semester. Tutorials start each semester in the third week.
Yes, for most courses. Refer to the course outline for your course (available in IVLE or in the relevant section of e-daf, the Virtual Self-Access Centre for the German courses).
You can only change groups by dropping the group you have registered for and adding the new group during the online add/drop period. However, you risk losing your originally allotted place if you are unable to add your desired group.
Yes, you can, if you are an Arts student from the 2008 cohort onwards taking language courses outside your major. However, if you are taking the language courses as part of the major, you will not be allowed to opt for S/U on these courses.
No, if you are an Arts student from previous cohorts (i.e. before 2008).
If you are a cross-faculty student, you are allowed to opt for S/U on the language courses.
Do note that the S/U option is available only for a maximum of 12 units for the whole degree course for all students. Please check with your Home Faculty for more details.
Japanese
You are not required to have any knowledge of the language if you are enrolling in LAJ1201 Japanese 1. This course is meant for students with no prior knowledge of Japanese.
You are not required to take both at the same time. Japanese studies is offered as a GEM and Japanese Language as an Unrestricted Elective outside major. For more information please refer to your handbook.
You may bid any one group if there is a vacancy.
Japanese Language courses require 6 hours per week. There are 2 hours of lecture and 4 hours of tutorials.
Japanese Language learning takes 6hrs a week. You are strongly encouraged to continue with the same language to achieve substantial proficiency in the language, at least until you complete the elementary level, before taking a different language course.
Korean
Yes, you can, if you are an Arts student from the 2008 cohort onwards taking language courses outside your major. However, if you are taking the language courses as part of the major, you will not be allowed to opt for S/U on these courses.
No, if you are an Arts student from previous cohorts (i.e. before 2008). If you are a cross-faculty student, you are allowed to opt for S/U on the language courses.
Do note that the S/U option is available only for a maximum of 12 units for the whole degree course for all students. Please check with your Home Faculty for more details.
Tamil
You are not required to have prior knowledge of the language if you are enrolling in LAL1201 Tamil 1. This module is meant for students without prior knowledge of Tamil.
You may take the language provided you have not studied it before. Students with prior knowledge of the language must contact the Centre for a placement test.
Thai
After the first month of the semester, when you are already familiar with the sound and basic structure of the language, the writing system will be introduced to you step by step.
However, all the basic rules of the writing system will not be covered until you finish the second semester.
Vietnamese
Soon after the exams in November. The in-country study will go from approximately the end of November until the period before Christmas. The course lasts four weeks, students would be back home for Christmas.
Yes. As long as they are aware that they will be entirely responsible for themselves.
In this case, it is advisable to buy the airfare ticket from Singapore to Hanoi and exit from Ho Chi Minh City. For the distance between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, students will make their own arrangements once in Hanoi.
Yes. Xeroxing of the textbook infringes intellectual property rights.
Tone marks define the meaning of each Vietnamese word. The incorrect tone marks on a word convey a different meaning, many times leading to misunderstanding or hilarious situations. Having said that, once the students learn to put the correct tone marks, they can write and pronounce the words correctly.
Learn the whole word - its tone marks and/or the various symbols above the vowels -with its meaning. In contextual situations, students will be able to recognize the particular word and thus how to write it.
You will have to come for a placement test before course registration to determine your level of proficiency. The Centre reserves the right to determine if you can be placed in any of the courses.
Language learning takes time. Therefore, students are encouraged to choose one of the Languages and continue on with the language of your choice in order to achieve a more solid proficiency in the language.