Publications
Publication details [#56184]
Dewey, Dan P. and Ray T. Clifford. 2012. The development of speaking proficiency of LDS missionaries. In Hansen, Lynne, ed. Second Language Acquisition Abroad. The LDS Missionary Experience. (Studies in bilingualism 45). John Benjamins. pp. 29–50.
Publication type
Article in book
Publication language
English
Keywords
Place, Publisher
John Benjamins
Annotation
This study explores the levels of speaking proficiency attained by returned missionaries after spending sixteen to twenty-two months abroad, where they had daily opportunities to speak the languages of the countries to which they were assigned. The missionaries tested for this report speak a total of seven different languages learned primarily during their missionary service. The study first seeks to describe the level of proficiency achieved by these missionaries as measured by standardized Oral Proficiency Interviews, and then to describe in broader terms what kinds of real-world communication tasks these returned missionaries are prepared to accomplish. It also compares the abilities of these returned missionaries with the abilities of non-returned-missionary undergraduate language majors.