Students of commonly taught languages (Spanish, French, German, and English) are expected to reach a level of oral proficiency just above Novice High after four years of high school language classes.¹

Native English speaking learners of languages very different from English, such as Arabic, usually progress more slowly. So, you can expect Arabic students to attain a proficiency level somewhere in the Novice range after four years of high school Arabic classes.

1 ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K-12 Learners, 2008

College programs offer various levels of Arabic study. A major in Arabic may have an exit requirement of a certain proficiency level, sometimes measured by a test. These programs typically expect students to move into the Advanced level by the end of four years of university-level Arabic language study.

Intensive programs, like university Flagships, expect students to reach the Superior level of proficiency. These programs often promote study abroad opportunities for oral proficiency development.