J. Michael Moeller

Michael’s path to Spanish proficiency began unexpectedly when he was called to serve a Spanish-speaking mission in Ohio, despite having almost no prior experience. What made the challenge greater was the setting itself: only a small fraction of the population spoke Spanish. This meant his mission became the primary crucible of his learning.

Michael committed himself to an hour of daily study and spent more than half his mission in Spanish-speaking areas. He read, studied grammar, and spoke only Spanish with his companions—even though none of them were more fluent than he was. That “sink-or-swim” environment pushed him to figure things out on his own, and serving as a Spanish training leader motivated him even further.

After his mission, a six-week study abroad in Mexico proved transformative. Living with a host family gave him natural, everyday opportunities to speak and listen in Spanish, which strengthened his fluency more than classroom learning ever had. He later took Spanish courses at BYU, though he found they emphasized culture and history rather than grammar or vocabulary, so he relied on his own study habits to continue progressing.

Michael’s motivation was deeply tied to his missionary purpose—he saw Spanish as essential to being effective and successful. That strong sense of responsibility, combined with discipline, allowed him to progress quickly. His approach to mistakes also set him apart: he describes himself as a “baptism by fire” learner who didn’t mind making errors if it meant moving forward.

To maintain his skills, Michael focused on grammar study, journaling in Spanish, and reading the scriptures. At one point, he worked through the entire Book of Mormon in Spanish and created a list of 700 new words to reinforce. Outside of his mission and study abroad, his conversational practice was limited, but even brief weekly interactions with a colleague proved valuable.

For the OPI, Michael recommends preparing to speak comfortably about familiar topics such as hobbies, travel, and school, while avoiding overly technical or specialized areas. From his own OPI, he recalls struggling when asked about engineering, where he lacked the vocabulary to explain clearly. He emphasizes that success comes from steering the conversation toward areas you know well and focusing on communication rather than perfection.

Looking back, Michael credits his success to consistent daily effort and strong motivation. Even without full immersion, his determination to be effective in his mission and disciplined approach to study helped him achieve real fluency and OPI success.