Language Requirement All M.A. students at SAIS must take and pass examination in one of foreign languages taught here, except non-English speaking foreign students. Portuguese is the language of choice for students interested in Brazil within the Western Hemisphere Program. Although the Portuguese spoken in Brazil is different from the Continental Portuguese spoken in Africa, students from this program can also take Portuguese at SAIS, since the basic language is the same for both Brazil and for the Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. Students specializing in the following areas may also take the Portuguese Proficiency Examinations to fulfill their language requirement: - American Foreign Policy
- Conflict Management
- Energy, Environment, Science & Technology
- International Economics
- International Law
- International Relations
- Social Change & Development
- Strategic Studies
The SAIS language program uses a series of tests based on the proficiency criteria determined by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), specifically tuned to our students needs and areas of interest. Four exams test each one of the language skills: Speaking (Oral Proficiency Exam), Reading, Writing, and Listening. Students need to achieve the following minimum levels in order to satisfy the language requirement: - Speaking: Intermediate High
- Listening: Intermediate High
- Reading: Intermediate High
- Writing: Intermediate Mid
A description of the ACTFL proficiency levels per skill may be found in the ACTFL’s web page: www.actfl.org
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