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  • Missionary
  • Mission President
  • Language Coordination
Missionary

Common Missionary Questions

Who is eligible to participate in EnglishConnect for Missionaries?
“If you do not speak English, you should study it as a missionary. This will bless you during your mission and throughout your life.” Preach My Gospel, Chapter 7, Learn English

Currently EnglishConnect for Missionaries materials are provided for any missionary who does not speak English, serving outside the United States and Canada. If you do not have the materials, and would like to participate, please reach out to your mission leaders.
How does EnglishConnect for Missionaries relate to EnglishConnect conversation groups with members and friends of the Church?
Stakes and wards may choose to have weekly EnglishConnect conversation groups using EnglishConnect resources. Under the direction of your mission leaders, you can support member-led efforts by inviting friends of the Church to participate in member-led groups, joining the groups as a learner, or assisting in leading groups or provide supplemental practice opportunities for the participants. Counsel with your mission leader and local Church leaders to use EnglishConnect as part of your fellowshipping and finding efforts. Visit Other Ways to Use EnglishConnect for more information.
What can missionaries do to get the most from EnglishConnect for Missionaries?
Set weekly English learning goals and pray for the gift of tongues.
  • Practice speaking English at every appropriate opportunity:
    • In the apartment
    • In meetings and conferences, as appropriate
    • Between appointments
    • In interviews and weekly emails to your mission president, as appropriate
  • Diligently work through the lessons in EnglishConnect workbooks or online.
  • Be accountable to someone for progress (such as a companion, a district leader, or a language coordinator assigned by the mission president).
When should English language study happen each day?
Missionaries are encouraged and approved to study English 30-60 minutes a day as part of the missionary daily schedule. Any additional time should fall within regularly scheduled mission meetings. In cases where one companion is learning the mission language, language study time can be divided to accommodate the needs of both missionaries.
What if my companion is at a different EnglishConnect level?
If you are at a different EnglishConnect level than your companion, use companion language study to do the weekly lesson conversation activities. Use the lesson plan of the companion in the lower level.

With mission president approval, you may also practice with other missionaries at your level. This may be done in pairs or small groups using video conferencing tools like Zoom or in coordination with regularly scheduled meetings, like prior to district meetings. Follow the direction of your mission leaders to determine additional practice opportunities and tools.
How do my companion and I choose which activities to do together or separately?

Companionship Study


In the EnglishConnect 1 & 2 workbooks, the best activities to do together are the Conversations, the Practice Partner section, and the Expansion Activity section. You can learn and practice the vocabulary in the back of the Workbook together.

In the EnglishConnect 3 workbook, the best activities to do together are located in the Practice Partner Language Study section.

You can also practice talking about the needs of those you are teaching and the gospel principles you are learning. Use the suggestions listed under “Learn with Your Companions” in Preach My Gospel, Chapter 7.

Personal Study


You can do the Practice Activities in the workbooks and online on your own. They will help you practice reading, writing, listening and speaking. There are also assessments online that will help you track your progress.

Learn more about which activities to complete with your companion or on your own be reviewing the sample study plan in the Missionary Steps for Success.
How do I share a phone effectively?
Missionaries who share a phone can alternate using the device for those activities that require listening to audio.

If you are at the same level as your companion, you can complete the EnglishConnect listening activities together.
How do I access the materials?
You should have received all EnglishConnect 1 & 2 workbooks and the grammar book at the Missionary Training Center or in the mission field from your mission language coordinator. Additional practice activities and assessments are also available online. With approval from your mission president, you can also access the EnglishConnect 3 web app by signing in with your Church account username and password.
How do I know if I am ready for the next EnglishConnect level?
  • EnglishConnect for Beginners: Complete all six lessons in the EnglishConnect for Beginners Guide through the Tall Embark mobile app.
  • EnglishConnect 1: Complete all of the lesson activities, pass the unit tests, pass the post–test with a score of 80% or higher, and complete the EnglishConnect 2 pre-test.
  • EnglishConnect 2: Complete all of the lesson activities, pass the unit tests, and pass the EnglishConnect 2 post–test with a score of 80% or higher.
  • EnglishConnect 3: Missionaries in the EnglishConnect 3 level should continue studying EnglishConnect 3 through the end of their mission in order to best prepare to take the Final Language Assessment in their last transfer.
What can I do with an EI certificate?
The EI certificate can be used to expand your:
  • Educational opportunities:
  • Job opportunities
    • Include English proficiency on your CV or resume
    • Take certificates to job interviews
Does the EI test meet the BYU English requirement to apply to the university?
No. Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah requires that all incoming students take and perform proficiently on the TOEFL or IELTS exams. However, an EI score of 6.5 or higher does fulfill the English requirement for BYU–Pathway Worldwide.

Please see the admission requirements for each university.

Visit Missionary Steps for Success to learn more about options after your mission.
What is the EI?
The Elicited Imitation assessment (EI) is a speaking test that will help you assess your language abilities and progress.

During this computerized test, you will hear a variety of sentences in English that you will then repeat back.

As you move through the test, the sentences will get longer and more complex.

At the end of the test, you will receive a report that provides suggestions and audio examples to help you improve your language study.

You can also download and print (if desired) the certificate provided at the end of the test for use after your mission.
What is on the EI certificate?
This certificate will include your name, the assessment score, a comparison to the CEFR scale, an interpretation of the score, the date the test was taken, and a date indicating how long the certificate is valid.

The certificate is valid for four months after taking the EI assessment, but BYU-Pathway Worldwide will accept the EI score up to one year after the testing date.
How often should I take the EI?
You should take the EI approximately every three transfers (approximately every four months) during your mission in alignment with your mission schedule.

You can access the EI through the Missionary Portal under Language Assessments.

You should also take an EI during your final transfer and download and print (if desired) the certificate even if it has been less than four months since your last test.
What score do I need to achieve on the EI to apply for BYU-Pathway Worldwide?
If you score of 6.5 or higher on your final EI test you do not need to take the English language assessment required for BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

You can work with your language coordinator to enroll in BYU-Pathway Worldwide during the last transfer of your mission.

Returned missionaries who are admitted to BYU-Pathway Worldwide are eligible to receive a 25% tuition discount through BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s preferred degree path program called PathwayConnect.

(This includes missionaries who did not complete their entire mission.)

What if I do not score high enough?

If you do not score a 6.5 or higher on the EI, you can still apply to BYU-Pathway Worldwide and will be required to take the English language assessment as part of the enrollment process.

If you do not pass the English assessment test for BYU-Pathway Worldwide, you can continue to study English using the EnglishConnect materials.

For EnglishConnect 3, you will no longer be able to use the free missionary version, but you can join an EnglishConnect 3 group in your area for a small tuition fee to continue to improve your English skills.

When a missionary completes EnglishConnect 3 or feels ready to apply to BYU-Pathway Worldwide, you can take the English Language Assessment for admittance.
Mission President

Common Mission President Questions

Who is eligible to participate in EnglishConnect for Missionaries?
“If you do not speak English, you should study it as a missionary. This will bless you during your mission and throughout your life.” - Preach My Gospel, Chapter 7, Learn English

Currently EnglishConnect for Missionaries materials are provided for any missionary outside the United States and Canada, who does not speak English, and is assigned to teach in their native language. As the mission leader you can choose to provide these materials for additional missionaries at your discretion.
What responsibilities does a mission president have with EnglishConnect for Missionaries?
The mission president establishes the vision and ensures that missionaries have adequate time each day for language study. He encourages the missionaries to participate in the program, and he assigns someone to be the language coordinator. The language coordinator can be a senior missionary couple, a mission secretary or counselor, the mission president’s companion, or a local or remote Church-service missionary.
What responsibilities does a mission president’s companion have with EnglishConnect for Missionaries?
The mission president’s companion should not feel obligated to administer the program, and in counseling with the mission president, she can decide how she would like to participate. She can be a powerful influence for motivating missionaries to be diligent in their English studies.
What responsibilities does a language coordinator have?
The language coordinator’s primary responsibility is to oversee the EnglishConnect for Missionaries program in their mission. This includes ensuring the distribution of all EnglishConnect materials for the mission, monitoring the progress of the missionaries, and encouraging and helping missionaries with their English learning goals.

The language coordinator should have sufficient English to navigate online assessments and should be able to encourage and support companionships and/or individual missionaries as they learn English.

For more information, visit Language Coordination Responsibilities.
How does EnglishConnect for Missionaries relate to stake- and ward-led EnglishConnect conversation groups?
The stake- and ward-led weekly EnglishConnect conversation groups are run by local wards and stakes as a self-reliance and fellowshipping resource for local members and friends of the Church.

Missionaries who are using EnglishConnect to learn English on their mission may participate in these groups as an extension of their personal and companion practice.

The mission president may also choose to use EnglishConnect as a finding tool. Under the direction of the mission president, missionaries may invite friends of the Church to participate in these member-led groups, participate themselves, or assist in leading groups as part of fellowshipping and finding efforts.

Visit Other Ways to Use EnglishConnect for more information.
What if two non-English-speaking missionaries are companions?
If neither missionary speaks English, the downloadable audio files will be an important study resource in learning correct English pronunciation. Additionally, district meetings and zone conferences offer missionaries a chance to practice speaking with and asking questions of native English speakers.
Language Coordination

Common Language Coordinator Questions

Who is eligible to participate in EnglishConnect for Missionaries?
“If you do not speak English, you should study it as a missionary. This will bless you during your mission and throughout your life.” - Preach My Gospel, Chapter 7, Learn English

Currently EnglishConnect for Missionaries materials are provided for any missionary outside the United States and Canada, who does not speak English, and is assigned to teach in their native language. Your mission leaders may choose to provide these materials for additional missionaries at their discretion.
What are the language coordinator's responsibilities?
The mission president may choose to assign someone to help oversee the program, manage materials, and encourage missionaries in achieving their goals. On this website, the individual with this assignment will be referred to as a language coordinator.

The language coordinator’s responsibility is to help missionaries succeed in learning English by supporting the mission president in establishing a culture of language learning. This includes helping missionaries accomplish their language learning goals as mentioned on the Missionary Steps for Success page.

Returned missionaries who score a 6.5 or higher on the final EI can immediately take advantage of BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s returned-missionary pre-approval for admission and receive the Returned Missionary Scholarship — a 25% tuition discount.

For more information, visit Language Coordination Responsibilities.
How do I order additional EnglishConnect materials?
EnglishConnect workbooks and grammar books may be ordered by searching for “EnglishConnect” on the Church’s Online Store or using the Global Service Center.
When should missionaries advance levels in EnglishConnect?
Missionaries may advance to the next EnglishConnect level once they meet the following completion requirements for their current level:

EnglishConnect for Beginners: Complete all six lessons in the EnglishConnect for Beginners Guide through the Tall Embark mobile app.

EnglishConnect 1: Complete all of the lesson activities. Many missionaries use the optional EnglishConnect 1 unit and post-tests to help them measure their preparedness. A score of 80% or higher on the EnglishConnect 1 post-test is a helpful indicator that they’re ready for EnglishConnect 2. (Missionaries receive a score at the end and must self-report.)

EnglishConnect 2: Complete all of the lesson activities. Many missionaries use the optional EnglishConnect 1 unit and post-tests to help them measure their preparedness. A score of 80% or higher on the EnglishConnect 2 post-test is a helpful indicator that they’re ready for EnglishConnect 3. (Missionaries receive a score at the end and must self-report.)
How do missionaries share a phone effectively?
Missionaries who share a phone can alternate using the device for learning English while their companion completes personal study time. If missionaries are at the same level, they can complete the lesson activities together.
How do missionaries find audio files on their phone?
Missionaries can access and download audio files directly to their phone. Accessing downloaded audio files will vary by the mobile devices missionaries use.
How should the downloadable audio files be used?
The downloadable audio files are used for the listening activities in each EnglishConnect level. They are labeled according to the activity number in each lesson. They help with listening comprehension, pronunciation, and as a model for speaking.
What tools may missionaries use to measure their own progress? 
Missionaries may use these course-specific assessments to measure their own progress. Missionaries are encouraged to record their scores if they would like to track their progress.

Level Tests (EnglishConnect 1 & 2)
EnglishConnect level pre- and post-tests are found on the Missionary Resources page for EnglishConnect 1 and 2. Missionaries can use the level pre-tests to see how much of the content a missionary already knows before beginning a level. The level post-test may be taken as a missionary prepares to move to their next level. A score of 80 percent or higher on the post-test is a helpful indicator that a missionary is ready to progress to the next level.

Unit Tests (EnglishConnect 1 & 2)
Unit tests are found on the Missionary Resources page at the end of each unit. These assessments may be taken at then end of each unit. Missionaries can see how well they understand the concepts covered in the 4–5 lessons for a given unit.

Lesson Self-Check (EnglishConnect 1 & 2)
These assessments are included at the end of the list of resources for each lesson on the Missionary Resources page. Missionaries can use the self-check to assess how well they understand the concepts in a lesson.
What language assessments are available and which one can be tracked by mission leaders?
Elicited Imitation Test (EI)
In this test, missionaries listen to sentences in English and repeat them back. It is designed to show a missionary’s proficiency in the language. A proficiency score and feedback are provided for the missionary. The trajectory of a missionary's scores on the EI can be seen on the Language Dashboard. Missionaries can take the EI every three transfers approximately every four months on their mission. For the Final EI, they can print the scores and use the certificate to show their proficiency. If they score a 6.5 or higher on the Final EI they can qualify for increased employment and educational opportunities — specifically BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
What is the EI?
The Elicited Imitation assessment (EI) is a speaking test that helps missionaries assess their language abilities and progress. During this computerized test, missionaries will hear a variety of sentences in English that they will then repeat back. As they move through the test, the sentences will get longer and more complex. At the end of the test, missionaries will receive a report that provides suggestions and audio examples to help them improve their language study. They can also download and print (if desired) the certificate provided at the end of the test for use after their missions.
How often should a missionary take the EI?
A missionary should take the EI every three transfers (approximately every four months) during their mission in alignment with their mission schedule. Missionaries can access the EI through the Missionary Portal under Language Assessments.

Missionaries should also take an EI during their final transfer and download and print (if desired) the certificate even if it has been less than four months since their last test.
What score do ECM missionaries need to achieve on the EI to apply for BYU-Pathway Worldwide?
Missionaries who score a 6.5 or higher on their final EI test do not need to take the English language assessment that’s required to enroll at BYU-Pathway Worldwide. Missionaries can enroll in BYU-Pathway Worldwide during the last transfer of their mission (see Handbook for Mission Leaders, 2.7.2. “Help applying to BYU-Pathway Worldwide”.)

Returned missionaries who are admitted to BYU-Pathway Worldwide are eligible to receive a 25% tuition discount through BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s preferred degree path program called PathwayConnect. (This includes missionaries who did not complete their entire mission.)

What if they do not score high enough?
If a missionary does not score a 6.5 or higher on the EI, he or she can continue to study English using the EnglishConnect materials. For EnglishConnect 3, returned missionaries will no longer be able to use the free missionary version, but they can join an EnglishConnect 3 group in their area for a small tuition fee to continue with the program. When a missionary completes EnglishConnect 3 or feels ready to apply to BYU-Pathway Worldwide, he or she can take the English Language Assessment for admittance.
How do I access a missionary's final EI certificate? 
At the end of the Final EI, a missionary should download and print (if desired) their certificate for future use. If a missionary was unable to download the certificate at that time, the mission leaders can email support@emmersion.ai and request a certificate for the missionary.
How long is a missionary’s EI score and certificate valid for BYU Pathway Worldwide?
A missionary’s EI certificate and score is valid for up to one year after completing the test.
Should a mission leader set up a “speaking partner” program beyond encouraging missionaries to practice with each other?
EnglishConnect is a mission-run program and is designed to function within the current missionary daily schedule and regularly scheduled meetings. Organizing a native-English “speaking partner” program with resources from outside the mission should not be necessary. Missionaries have audio tracks available online and can find natural opportunities to practice throughout the day.
Can districts and zones be used to help missionaries learn English?
Under the direction of the mission president, language coordinators can support additional practice opportunities within districts and zones. These activities should coincide with regularly scheduled meetings and not create undue burden to missionary leaders. For example, districts could spend 5 to 10 minutes in a district meeting to practice an English-speaking scenario from the “Practice Partner” lesson sections of the workbooks. If implemented, these activities should simply be used for encouragement and to create a culture supporting English-language learning.
What is on the EI certificate?
This certificate includes the missionary’s name, the assessment score, a comparison to the CEFR scale, an interpretation of the score, the date the test was taken, and a date indicating how long the certificate is valid.

The certificate is valid for four months after taking the EI assessment, but BYU-Pathway Worldwide will accept the EI score up to one year after the testing date.

Contact Us

If you have a question that is not answered above, please contact us at languagesupport@churchofjesuschrist.org Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mountain time (UTC-7).