Native and Heritage Speakers Policy
For departmental purposes, the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics defines a native speaker of a language as any individual who has been raised in a family and a society where this language is habitually used for everyday communication and is the language of instruction in the student's school system.
To satisfy the General Education language requirement, native speakers must obtain a waiver of language requirement form from the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics and take an appropriate test.
A native speaker may not enroll in any undergraduate skills course in his or her native language, with the single exception of the course in Advanced Composition 3423, but may earn credit by advanced standing exams. Undergraduate skills courses include all courses in which the primary goal is language usage, i.e., all elementary and intermediate courses, and all composition, conversation and phonetics courses. However, this does not preclude native speakers from earning credit by advanced standing exams.
If a student seeks a teaching certificate with a major in his or her native language, the student must complete the advanced composition course, as well as all literature and civilization courses or equivalent required for the major. If additional hours are needed in order to meet the 35 hour certification requirement for a language major, the student may apply for retroactive credit for as many hours of skills courses as are needed to meet that requirement, provided that a grade of B or higher was earned in Advanced Composition. Such hours are entered on the student's transcript, but under no circumstances may they count toward any MLLL degree program at the University of Oklahoma.
The language assessment (FLRA) waives the general language requirement for students who are already competent in oral, reading, and written skills in another language at or above the intermediate level.
It does NOT provide academic credit.
PLEASE NOTE: For languages NOT offered in the Modern Languages Department, there is NO guarantee of an approved examiner to administer the exam.
Who should pursue an FLRA interview/form?
Students who are competent speakers of a foreign language whose level is likely to be higher than the intermediate level in speaking, reading, and writing and are seeking to satisfy their general education language requirement.
How do I take the FLRA exam?
For students who wish to waive the language requirement, go to the registration page: (link). Note that the exam now costs $100, which can be paid at register blast. If you have any questions, email them to testing@ou.edu.
For frequently asked questions about the FLRA assessments, please see the FAQ link: https://pacs.ou.edu/testing-center/foreign-languages-requirement-assessment/.
