The Language Sciences Laboratory aids students and faculty in advanced language- learning research.
BYU is known as a university that loves languages, and truly understanding the process of learning a foreign language means looking beyond what is being said and into the mind of the learner. The Language Sciences Laboratory allows students and faculty to gain that perspective as they take an in-depth look at the world of language study through the use of cutting-edge equipment and data analysis tools.
About the Lab
The initial plans for the Language Sciences Laboratory were drawn up by Associate Professor Grant Eckstein (TESOL, Second Language Writing) using a copy of the JFSB’s building plans and two magic markers. “We already had several different kinds of unconnected components of a lab,” Eckstein says. “All of the equipment was distributed in different parts of the building, so the idea was to put it all together in a place where folks could cross-pollinate, learn from one another, use machines, and make use of a central hub.” After two years of construction, the lab opened in the basement of the JFSB during the winter 2024 semester.
Students and faculty use the lab to gain insight into the language-learning process by analyzing data such as a subject’s reading speed, the way they read sentences, and what they do when they come across a word they don’t know. Once students and faculty are trained on the intricate equipment, they can use it to dive deep into language research, observing and recording oxygen levels and electrical activity in the brain, eye movements, gaze patterns, and other cognitive functions.
The lab has evolved beyond research since its opening to offer resources like OPI (Oral Proficiency Interviews) and challenge exams for upper-level language classes. Even though the lab is still fairly new, there are already plans in the works for growth according to Jocelyn Hall, Language Sciences Laboratory manager. Updates like installing more testing booths and hiring extra lab attendants are already underway, in addition to updating the existing equipment as new software is released. “I think the goal is always to improve the equipment and grow the space,” Hall says. “That way, you can just get more and better-quality research done.”
Beyond the Basement
The lab is one of many resources that reflects BYU’s dedication to language learning. “Language and language study is a huge aspect of what BYU cares about, especially with the mission and aims of BYU to go out and serve and bring a lot of goodness and light to the world,” Hall says. “Having many people that speak different languages is a huge aspect of that.”
The lab offers students an opportunity to both study and develop language skills that can be used during and after their time on campus. “What you know translates to what you are able to do and contribute to the world, so giving everyone an opportunity to develop those skills and their learning only leads to good things,” Hall shares.
Andrew Skoy (Linguistics ’23) worked with Eckstein in the lab while in the capstone class for his undergraduate degree. His experience researching in the lab inspired him to pursue a master’s degree in linguistics. Skoy says the skills he gained from his time in the lab—such as designing a study, running an experiment, and analyzing data—have benefitted him during his graduate schooling. “Something that BYU really values in their students is their ability to contribute to real-world problems and modern research,” Skoy says. He believes the resources provided for student research exemplify the aims of a BYU education, and he encourages other students to participate in research opportunities. “It’s immensely valuable,” Skoy says. “It’s a really unique opportunity.”
Eckstein agrees, noting that even though not every student who uses the lab will end up pursuing research as a career, their time in the lab can teach them lessons, both academic and spiritual, that will prepare them for whatever comes next.
“It’s challenging to get the experiment right or to understand the findings effectively without the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” Eckstein says. While working in the lab, students are invited to pray over their data and findings. “That’s what BYU is all about,” he says, helping students “use their scholarship to inform their testimonies.” And scholarship truly is testimony-building, because, Eckstein says, “it requires effort to get at truth, and I think that’s a spiritual skill that transcends research science. It goes into every aspect of a person’s life.”
Learn more about the equipment in the lab and current research opportunities here.