Within the College of Humanities, we are inspired to become acquainted with all good books, languages, tongues, and people (D&C 90:15-16). The influence of the College spreads much farther than the walls of the JFSB and farther than the minds of our Humanities students: the reach of the College spreads throughout the world as students “go forth to serve.” And as a College, we firmly believe in President Spencer W. Kimball’s oft-quoted call that “BYU should become the acknowledged language capital of the world” (1975). In the nearly 50 years since this address, BYU can now claim the following:

• Courses offered in 94 languages (52 at the advanced level)
• More than 60% of BYU students speak a second language
• 121 languages spoken on campus

Each of these facts individually might be enough to dub BYU the “language capital” (and drop my jaw), but are we becoming acknowledged? If you take a look at another Humanities program, the answer is YES! 

This program is FLATS (Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services), which has serviced nearly 3,000 students across the United States this year.

A nationally recognized exam, the FLATS Testing Program allows examinees across the United States to earn transferable college credit for their language abilities. The FLATS test is a 12-credit pass/fail exam that assesses listening, reading, and grammar proficiency. Students can take the test for $50 at a college or university in their area (or online with Proctor360 if their school allows it). 

What began 50 years ago as a handwritten exam offered in a few languages is now offered online in 59 languages and recognized across the country. For heritage speakers, the FLATS test is an especially meaningful opportunity to legitimize language skills and receive college credit at their institution, where such credit might not otherwise be offered (especially for the price). Demand for the service doesn’t seem to be slowing, as shown by the State of Texas, which has officially endorsed the FLATS test as satisfying the “language other than English” requirement in the Texas First Early High School Completion Program. 

In fall of 2023, ODH director Jeremy Browne began working on important changes in the program, allowing for a higher volume of test takers and streamlining the work of FLATS employees. Chief Administrative Officer Bonnie Bingham and FLATS Secretary Maren Selle both agree that the changes to the system provide an easier registration process for test-takers, greater security in the system, a more usable administration interface, and quicker processing of results. 

As FLATS continues to grow and adapt to the needs of students nationwide, Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services not only provides valuable opportunities for students to earn college credit but also enhances BYU’s reputation as a leader in language education. With ongoing improvements to FLATS and a top-notch FLATS team, the future of language testing at BYU looks brighter than ever.