Language Assessments

Missionary language assessments are helpful tools for missionaries learning a new language. There are two language assessments missionaries can take: the elicited imitation assessment (EI) and the language speaking assessment (LSA). Both will help missionaries review their progress and improve their language study.

Elicited Imitation (EI)
For missionaries learning English through EnglishConnect for Missionaries. This assessment is also available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Tagalog for missionaries assigned to learn a mission language.

The elicited imitation assessment (EI) helps missionaries assess their language abilities and progress. During this test (accessible on a computer or phone), missionaries will hear and recite a variety of sentences in the language they are learning. The sentences become longer and more complex as the test continues.

At the end of the test, missionaries will receive a report with suggestions and audio examples to help them improve their language study. They can also download the certificate provided at the end of the test for use after their missions. Missionaries should take the EI language assessment every 105 days (every three transfers).

Language Speaking Assessment (LSA)
For all missionaries learning a language.

The language speaking assessment (LSA) provides an opportunity for missionaries to self-evaluate their language progress and improve their language study. In this test, they will answer questions about their language abilities and respond to speaking prompts in the language they are learning. Missionaries will then receive a report based on their self-assessment. This self-assessment can be taken as often as desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should missionaries take these assessments? Why should they follow the assessment schedule?

Missionaries should take the EI assessment every 105 days (three transfers). It will not be available to them between assessment windows. They can take the LSA, which is available for all languages, as often as desired. Missionaries should take the EI assessment during their last transfer (regardless of when they last took an EI).

Missionaries will receive an email when it is time for them to take an assessment. This assessment may be taken within two weeks after receiving the email. These email reminders are sent out according to an area’s

Language Assessment Schedule

.

Following this schedule will help missionaries and those supporting them ensure the assessment scores for all missionaries in the area are coming in around the same time. This will help leaders to better gauge how missionaries are progressing in their language abilities.

How do missionaries take a language assessment?

Missionaries can access both the EI and the LSA with the link provided in their reminder email or the link on the Language Learning Resources page in their Missionary Portal.

How do I check missionaries’ language assessment scores?

Mission leaders (mission presidents, mission president companions, and mission presidency counselors) have access to the Language Development Report on their Missionary Portal. View this

Language Development Report

to know how missionaries are performing on their language assessments. This report includes statistics for missionaries who are learning a mission language and missionaries who are learning English through EnglishConnect for Missionaries. It also includes detailed progress reports for individual missionaries.

Mission leaders can share the report with those who support language learning in the mission by downloading the data from the “Download” tab on the report.

How can missionaries study between EI assessments?

Between EI assessments, missionaries can:

Use the EnglishConnect for Missionaries workbooks and audio (or web app) and the Embark app.
Use the EI report or LSA report as a guide for ideas on what to study.
Share their audio recordings from the EI report or LSA report with more proficient speakers to receive feedback.
Create a weekly language study plan with specific goals (see Preach My Gospel chapter 7 for more information).

Where can missionaries find their results?

Missionaries can view their assessment results by going to the language assessment page on their Missionary Portal. From there, they can click on the “View Results” tab to see their previous assessment results.

What do missionaries do with their results?

The results page (see “Where can missionaries find their results”) shows an estimate of a missionary’s current language ability. Missionaries can use the ideas, activities, and resources on this page to help them improve their language study.

In their final transfer, missionaries can download the certificate at the end of the EI assessment for use after their mission. This certificate may improve their post-mission employment opportunities and the opportunity to participate in BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide provides access to Church-sponsored, reduced-cost, online degrees in association with BYU-Idaho and Ensign College.

What score do ECM missionaries need to achieve to apply for BYU-Pathway Worldwide?

Missionaries who score a 6.5 or higher on their final EI test will waive the English admissions requirement for 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.

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.

Can missionaries take their final EI assessment after their mission?

No. Missionaries should take their final EI assessment while on their mission. Only in-field missionaries have access to the EI.

Can mission leaders or office staff take an EI assessment to see what it’s like?

Mission leaders and those supporting language learning in the mission can take one EI assessment to see what the test is like. To do so, email

languagesupport@churchofjesuschrist.org

, explain who you are, the mission you belong to, why you are requesting a test, and your email address. You will receive an email with a single-use link to the test that needs to be taken within seven days.

What if missionaries have difficulty accessing the LSA or EI assessment?

Make sure that missionaries are in a place with adequate internet access. If missionaries don’t have a mobile device or if they have poor internet access, please give them access to a computer with a microphone and headphones. If they are having other issues accessing the EI assessment or LSA, please email

languagesupport@churchofjesuschrist.org