Language Ability Self-Evaluation Resource (LASER)
FOR STUDENTS
The Language Self-Evaluation Resource (LASER) is an indicator of general language proficiency. It can be completed at any time using a computer with a stable internet connection, and it takes about an hour to complete. It is designed to help BYU students:
- select the appropriate language course for their ability*
- verify that they are in the correct class
- provide information to the instructor to inform curricular decisions
- help them become life-long language learners as they improve their ability to self-assess and self-reflect on their language proficiency
*If you are taking the LASER to choose the correct language course, the course recommendation provided is just that: a recommendation. Students should consult with their language department concerning any questions about their results.
FOR INSTRUCTORS
Information concerning the LASER’s purpose, format, and administration—including a link for students to complete the LASER—can be found on the student tab. If you would like to preview the LASER, please contact CLS-LASER@byu.edu. For detailed information about the design, development, and evidence for validity of the LASER, please see the documents below:
-Technical report (coming soon)
-Summary (coming soon)
QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK, OR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Please email CLS-LASER@byu.edu with any questions about the LASER, feedback, accessing your student results, reports, or help with technical difficulties.
You will need to access student submissions via an automatic email, which will contain the student’s written submissions, as well as hyperlinks to the audio recordings of their speaking submissions. The following videos demonstrate how to use official BYU email accounts, set up designated folders and rules in Outlook, and download audio files.
SETTING UP DESIGNATED FOLDERS IN OUTLOOK (OPTIONAL)
If you don’t want your main inbox overloaded with emails from the LASER results of your students, you can set up a designated folder with rules that will automatically direct new emails to your designated folder. The following video shows how to set up this feature in Outlook.
USING MOZILLA FIREFOX TO LISTEN TO STUDENTS’ SPEECH SAMPLES (OPTIONAL)
Some instructors, especially those using a PC, have found it cumbersome to listen to student audio. The following videos show how to set up Mozilla Firefox for easier access.
Description & Details
(~1 HOUR TOTAL)
SELF-EVALUATION (~20 MINUTES)
This section will gather information about your background and exposure to the language you are studying.
- Language Learning Background (5 minutes)
Language Use
- GRIT (5 minutes)
- Willingness to Communicate (5 minutes)
- Language Proficiency Self-Assessments (5 minutes)
PRODUCTIVE LANGUAGE SAMPLES MODULE (~40 MINUTES)
For this section, you will be asked to respond to some speaking and writing questions. Some should be easy for you, and some should stretch your ability.
After you respond to the questions, you will have the chance to self-assess your performance in terms of how successful you felt you were, the type of language you used, and your accuracy. You will then be provided with a class recommendation along with information about your self-assessed proficiency.
Who will see your language samples?
Your language samples will be forwarded to the language department. The department and your instructor will use the data to design better language class instruction for all students in the language program. If you have already registered for a class, please look up your instructor's last name and email address. You will need to provide that information so the instructor can receive the language samples in a timely manner. If you have NOT registered for a class or you do not have your instructor's contact information, we will send the language samples to you directly and you will need to forward them to your instructor (if it's required).
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
To get the most accurate results from Part 2 of the LASER, please use the following hardware and software:
- Laptop or desktop computer
- Chrome Web Browser
When recording your spoken responses, be sure to find a quiet location. An external microphone can also help to ensure the best quality audio.
INFORMATION NEEDED:
Before starting, you will need
- Your NetID and BYU ID (found on your ID card or the BYU App)
- Your official BYU email address (which should be your NetID@student.byu.edu)
Be sure to set aside enough time to complete the test in one sitting. Any incomplete responses will be removed from the system after 24 hours.
QUESTIONS OR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Please email CLS-LASER@byu.edu with your name, NetID, the language you are studying, and a description of your question/difficulty.
Upon completion of the test, an email will be sent to the test taker, their professor, and the Center for Language Studies (CLS).
You will be able to see specific responses to test questions.
EXAMPLES
Here are the answers you're provided in summary format:
Advanced Writing: Narrate about a Surprise in the Past and Speculate How it Will Be Viewed in the Future
| Self Rating: | Somewhat difficult |
| Text Type: | Paragraph(s) with internal cohesion |
| Grammatical Accuracy(1-Many to 5-None): | 3 |
| Typed vs Handwritten: | About the same |
Writing Response:
El año pasado, tuve una sorpresa que nunca voy a olvidar. Mis amigos organizaron una fiesta para mi cumpleaños sin decirme nada. Yo pensaba que iba a pasar el día normal, tranquilo en casa, pero cuando llegué a un restaurante, todos estaban allí esperándome con globos y música. Al principio no entendía lo que pasaba y me sentía un poco confundido, pero después me dio mucha alegría ver a todos juntos. Pasamos la noche hablando, comiendo y recordando momentos del pasado.
Ahora pienso en cómo voy a ver esa sorpresa en el futuro. Tal vez, cuando sea mayor, recordaré esa noche como un momento especial de mi juventud. Creo que voy a valorar más el esfuerzo que mis amigos hicieron para estar conmigo. También puede ser que en el futuro, cuando la vida sea más ocupada, recordaré esa sorpresa como un símbolo de nuestra amistad y de lo importante que es compartir el tiempo con las personas que queremos.
Advanced Speaking: Describing a Place from the Past
| Self Rating: | Neither difficult nor easy |
| Text Type: | Paragraph(s) with internal cohesion |
| Grammatical Accuracy(1-Many to 5-None): | 3 |
| Pronunciation Accuracy(1-Many to 5-None): | 4 |
Speaking Response
[an external link to speaking response]
Superior Writing: Supporting a Position Vis-à-Vis Nuanced Language
| Self Rating: | Difficult |
| Text Type: | Paragraph(s) with internal cohesion |
| Grammatical Accuracy(1-Many to 5-None): | 2 |
| Typed vs Handwritten: | About the same |
Writing Response
En mi opinión, la tecnología moderna trae más beneficios que problemas, aunque no todos piensan igual. Por un lado, es verdad que los teléfonos y las redes sociales causan distracciones, y muchas personas pierden tiempo o hasta relaciones por pasar demasiado en línea. También hay riesgos de privacidad que no podemos ignorar. Sin embargo, yo creo que los beneficios son más grandes porque la tecnología conecta a las personas en diferentes partes del mundo y hace la vida más rápida y eficiente.
Si pensamos bien, la sociedad siempre cambia con nuevas invenciones. Antes la gente criticaba la televisión o el radio, y ahora son cosas normales. Tal vez en el futuro vamos a ver el internet de la misma manera, como una herramienta natural de la vida diaria. Claro que hay que poner límites y educar a los jóvenes, pero en general pienso que la tecnología ayuda más que daña.