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When Judith Kajidi and Alain Mwamba came to the United States in 2019, they knew almost no English.
The natives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrated to Texas to find better education for their children. But without knowing the language, school, work and simple daily interactions were difficult.
“I’m telling you, I was frustrated,” Judith said.
“I [could] not understand anything,” added Alain.
The couple and their five children are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One day while at worship services, they heard about EnglishConnect, a global program the Church provides in more than 50 languages to help anyone build English skills in an environment of faith, fellowship, and growth. They joined.
“What helped me a lot in the program was the gatherings, talking and speaking to each other in the program,” Judith said.
“My English grew every time, every day,” Alain said. “We can go to church and listen to the message and understand something and feel our spirits grow up. EnglishConnect helped us to improve everything in our life.”
EnglishConnect was an on-ramp to help Judith complete a certificate through BYU–Pathway Worldwide to help her build academic confidence and essential skills. BYU–Pathway provides access to affordable online bachelor’s degrees that can be completed in as little as three years. When Judith finished her last exam, she ran down the hallway of their home and said, “Alain, I passed my exam!”
“That was a miracle,” she said. “Since then, I said, ‘I can do hard things, and I will go until the end and finish my bachelor’s degree.’”
Judith and Alain’s story is only one of tens of thousands of others blessed by EnglishConnect. The program features multiple levels: EnglishConnect 1 and 2 are free and designed for beginners. EnglishConnect 3 is a low-cost intermediate course that prepares learners for BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
The program is for anyone, even those not of the faith.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The program’s expansive and welcoming scope has been on display recently in Calgary, Canada. Many Ukrainian refugees fleeing conflict have been blessed by the opportunity to learn English. Local Latter-day Saints welcomed the opportunity to help their new neighbors.
“How challenging it is to go to another country and not speak the language,” said Collin Steele, a Church leader in Calgary. “We felt a desire and a need to support them, that we had a responsibility to the community.”
“I read the EnglishConnect resources, and the Church produces fantastic material,” added Dustin Thompson, a local Latter-day Saint in Calgary. “We started a [group], and it doesn’t take many people to get it organized as long as [the volunteers] love what they’re doing. We didn't know how many people were going to come. Then it grew. Now we get 45 to 70 people that come, and that’s only a year later of having people come in.”
Oleksandr Gurinov, a Ukrainian immigrant in Calgary, praised the program for helping him find a job and friends in a foreign country.
“It really changed my life because I’m always dreaming my kids will be taught in English as a native language,” he said. “I really recommend... these EnglishConnect classes, not just in Canada, but around the world. It was a great experience.”
People from more than 180 countries are using EnglishConnect to improve their opportunities.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
“At the beginning, I thought I could never learn,” said Pamela Sepulveda, a mother from Valparaiso, Chile. “But with effort and trying and the help of Heavenly Father, I am able to speak in English and communicate. It’s not just that you can learn and improve a new language, you are gaining confidence in yourself and what you can achieve.”
Some, like Akane Orito of Chiba, Japan, used EnglishConnect to learn the language while they served as missionaries.
“I was really scared to learn English,” Orito said. “But I gradually realized that if I want to get good English skills, I have to speak a lot. Gradually, [God] gave me so much help. It helped me for my future. I got a job speaking English. That was a blessing for me.”
Livia Zanini of Rio de Janeiro also used the program on her mission.
“It was so hard,” Zanini said. “Now I can look back and really feel so proud of me, proud of my progress. I know that God loves effort. Through EnglishConnect and BYU–Pathway, I was able to achieve more knowledge because now I can understand English and I can achieve my personal goals. I can increase my career, and I’m studying at Ensign College [in Salt Lake City].”
The Church’s diverse cadre of senior leadership around the world knows both the struggles and the power of learning English.
For example, Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, a General Authority Seventy and French speaker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, started learning English at his mission president’s invitation when he served as a young man in the Ivory Coast Abidjan Mission.
Missionaries at that time didn’t have the benefit of EnglishConnect, but he said the vision of his mission president and the help of his English-speaking mission companions changed his life. Important professional opportunities came because he learned English.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
“For me, [my mission companions] were angels sent from on high to help me to develop skills and talents that I did not have,” said Elder Mutombo, who serves as president of the Church’s Africa Central Area. “If we had EnglishConnect for missionaries [back then], I would have jumped on it. It’s a great tool. The Lord wants missionaries to learn English because it will open doors even for their own education.”
Elder Carlos A. Godoy, a native Portuguese speaker from Brazil, also benefited as a young man from his mission president urging him to learn English. Knowing English allowed him to work for several global companies.
“[My mission president] opened my mind,” said Elder Godoy, who leads the Church’s Africa South Area. “He gave me the chance and the vision of how that would impact my life in the future.”
Elders Mutombo and Godoy encourage others like them to take seriously every opportunity to learn English.
“Don’t see it as just a hobby,” Elder Mutombo said. “Make it a priority because it will help you grow and will open doors of opportunity in your personal life.”
“If we want to succeed in our life, in different job opportunities, in different careers, English will always be a necessary skill to have,” added Elder Godoy. “If the Church is offering this for everybody, why not take it? It doesn’t matter your faith. I think each one of us wants to progress.”
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a similar message at a devotional with BYU–Pathway Worldwide students in December 2024. After taking a question in English from Newton Bissombolo from the Republic of the Congo, Elder Rasband underlined the importance of knowing English in the business world.
“In business, English is the language of the world,” the Apostle said. “If you want to have an opportunity to progress, especially in a business career, especially with remote jobs, you’re going to have to learn English.”
Elder Rasband promised students that “if they listen and take this challenge and learn English,” then “the Lord will bless them and will help them find opportunities.”
Visit EnglishConnect.org to join a group, invite a friend, or learn how to start a group.