Integrating Language Education and Training into Military Career Development

1
Integrating Language Education and Training into
Military Career Development

• Scope and Sequence

2
English Training for Treaty / Interoperability
Requirements

• Todays Lingua Franca
• What?
• International English
• EFL speaker to EFL speaker
• ESP
• Where?
• Country and service specific
• When?
• All throughout career
• E-learning

3
Language Training to Meet National Social /
Political Requirements

• How much and when
• General and overall policy approach (concerning
  at least one or more languages) of the nations
• Incentive programs for the less common languages
• Constraints
• Age (earlier the better and more efficient)
• Design of the national school system
• Time
• Teacher quality availability for certain
  languages
• Sustainment of the language acquired
• Attitudes
• Social, national and international trends
  (internet, generation differences)
• Personal and national benefits after retirement /
  resignation

4
Foreign Language Training for Specific
Appointments

• Definition of Specific Appointments
• e.g. Defence Attache, Defence Diplomacy posts
• Two Approaches
• Just in Time
• Long Term Investment

5
Foreign Language Training for Specific
Appointments

• Just in Time Approach
• 1. Selected for Appointment (with language
  requirement)
• 2. Provided Training in Language
• 3. Carry out Appointment
• 4. Return and Forget

6
Foreign Language Training for Specific
Appointments

• Advantages
• Only train those who will use language
• No skill fade
• Disadvantages
• Selectee may not have aptitude/motivation
• Lack of training time appointed
• sustainability

7
Foreign Language Training for Specific
Appointments

• Long Term Investment
• 1. Language training to all from beginning of
  training
• 2. Candidates with good language ability
  eligible to apply for specific language related
  post
• 3. Carry out Appointment
• 4. Return usually into another language specific
  role

8
Foreign Language Training for Specific
Appointments

• Advantages
• - language is the driver
• - linguist career path language as a core
  competency
• - sustainability
• - specialists produced
• Disadvantages
• - initial and maintain cost involved
• - initially training all in a language
• - complexity of career planning

9
Foreign Language Training for Operational
Requirements
Determine the Requirement
10
Foreign Language Training for Operational
Requirements

• Low Numbers / Low Proficiency
• Just-in-Time (JIT) training
• High Numbers / Low Proficiency
• JIT training or even On-the-Job training
• Low Numbers / High Proficiency
• Language drives the assignment
• Specific assignments e.g. DAtt, SF
• Targeted training for targeted individuals
• Career requirement / option
• Proactive approach for possible / probable
  eventualities- seed corn training

11
Foreign Language Training for Operational
Requirements

• High Numbers / High Proficiency
• Operational requirement drives the language
• Requires strategic guidance to allow proactive
  training
• Uncertainty inherent
• Keys for High Numbers / High Proficiency
• Start early in the career of the individual
• Require language for service entry / career
  progression
• Not a cost but an investment in the future
• Use indigenous capability
• Maintain core teacher capability

12
Foreign Language Training for Continuous
Professional Development

• Reference point
• EU recommendation states that all European
  secondary school graduates should have a good
  command of one foreign (European) language and
  survival skills in another foreign (European)
  language.

13
Foreign Language Training for Continuous
Professional Development

• This recommendation is applicable for the
  military environment as well. For the
  military/NATO English would be the first choice
  in most cases. However, this EU recommendation is
  not yet fully met by all nations.

14
Foreign Language Training for Continuous
Professional Development

• The entry (joining the army) language proficiency
  level varies from nation to nation - e. g.
  Austria has level 2 as the kick-off level,
  whereas Italy does not have any initial English
  language requirement.
• Certified proficiency levels for personnel before
  graduation are required.

15
Foreign Language Training for Continuous
Professional Development

• Support and development of language skills
• Continuous training should be built on existing
  skills
• Refresher courses
• Individual training (different resources
  learning packages by topics, the Internet, books,
  SAC / virtual helpdesk / distance learning etc.)
• Specific operational language courses built up to
  a career-long system
• Periodical testing (depending on how long the
  certificate is valid)
• Full immersion in a foreign country
• Financial incentives
• Individual language portfolio
• Integrated language training (military exercises,
  courses, classes, etc)

16
Conclusion

• Any Questions or Answers

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