Bureau for International Language Co-ordination (BILC)

1
Bureau for International Language
Co-ordination(BILC)

• Welcome to
• the BILC 2003 Conference
• in Harrogate
• Ray Clifford, Chair

2
Briefing Overview

• Introduction
• BILCs Current Role in NATO
• Proposed NATO Transformation
• BILCs Future Role in NATO

3
Briefing Overview

• Introduction
• BILCs Current Role in NATO
• Proposed NATO Transformation
• BILCs Future Role in NATO

4
What do the following items have in common?

• Diamonds
• Oil
• Water
• Language skills

5
All are very valuable!

• And their value increases whenever
• Demand increases.
• There is a supply shortage.

6
Language is

• The most complex of human behaviors.
• Like the air we breath essential, but unnoticed
  unless it is flawed.
• Despite its complexity, inadequate for
  context-free communication.

7
A Short Language Test

• This test will look simple, because of its
• Sentence level context.
• Lack of complex grammatical constructions.
• However, it will be difficult, because language
  is always ambiguous.

8
(1.) He was committed.

• This is the correct response to which question
• Why did he succeed when others had failed?
• What happened after he saw the psychologist?
• Either a. or b. depending on the context.

9
(2.) Its the present.

• This is the correct response to which question
• What is the tense of the verb in the phrase she
  goes?
• Whats in the box on the table?
• Either a. or b. depending on the context.

10
(3.) Get the phone.

• This is the correct response in which situation
  
• You are giving a friend advice on which gift to
  buy his daughter.
• The phone keeps ringing, and you want someone
  else to answer it.
• Either a. or b. depending on the context.

11
(4.) They were arrested for smuggling illegal
arms.

• This statement refers to the smuggling of
• Automatic rifles.
• Artificial limbs.
• Either a. or b. depending on the context.

12
Briefing Overview

• Introduction
• BILCs Current Role in NATO
• Proposed NATO Transformation
• BILCs Future Role in NATO

13
BILCs Role

• In 1966, BILC was formed by NATO nations to
  disseminate information on language training and
  to hold annual conferences to promote the
  improvement of language teaching and testing.
• In 1978, BILC was recognized by the NTG/JSSG as
  the consultative and advisory body for language
  training matters in NATO.

14
BILC Within NATO
15
Major BILC Activities

• Language Training Studies.
• Language Testing Seminars.
• Conferences and seminars with study/work groups
  to collect and disseminate information on
  language teaching and testing.
• BILC Conference for NATO nations
• BILC Seminar for PfP nations

16
Language Training Studies

• Reviews have been conducted in
• Slovakia in 2001.
• Latvia in 2002.
• Slovenia in 2003
• Multinational team.
• UK, SWE and BILC secretariat.
• Reports submitted to NTGSE and host nation.
• Not circulated to other nations.

17
Language Testing Seminars

• Six testing seminars have been conducted since
  Nov 2000.
• All were well attended.
• 63 language teaching professionals from 19 PfP
  nations.
• 10 participants from the Czech Republic, Hungary,
  and Poland.
• The first NATO only seminar will be held from 23
  June to 4 July 2003.

18
2003 BILC Conference

• 2 - 5 June in Harrogate
• Theme
• Evaluation and Validation
• Measuring the Effectiveness of
• Language Learning
• This theme builds on past accomplishments.

19
From STANAG 6001, Approved 1976

• Participating nations agree to adopt the
  STANAG 6001 table of language proficiency
  levels for the purpose of
• a. Meeting language requirements for
  international staff appointments.
• b. Comparing national standards through a
  standardized table.
• c. Recording and reporting, in international
  correspondence, measures of language proficiency
  (if necessary by conversion from national
  standards).

20
Recent BILC Activities

• In 1999
• The BILC Steering Committee created the
  multinational Working Group on Testing and
  Assessment to interpret and elaborate STANAG
  6001.
• 11 BILC nations participated in drafting an
  Interpretation Document to elaborate on the task,
  conditions, and accuracy statements in STANAG
  6001.

21
Recent BILC Activities

• In 2000
• The BILC Steering Committee approved a trial of
  the draft Interpretation Document in the Language
  Testing Seminar for PfP nations.
• SACLANT provided funding.
• 5 BILC countries participated in the development
  of the Seminar manual and in teaching the first
  PfP Language Testing Seminar.

22
Recent BILC Activities

• In 2001
• BILC developed procedures for conducting Language
  Needs Assessments for NATO assignments.
• BILC designated by the NATO Standardization
  Agency as the custodian of the STANAG 6001
  Language Proficiency Levels.

23
Recent BILC Activities

• In 2002
• The BILC Steering Committee agreed that the BILC
  Interpretation Document should become an
  amendment to Annex A of the STANAG 6001.
• The Interpretation Document was forwarded to
  NTGSE for review.
• NTGSE approved and forwarded to NATO
  Standardisation Agency for promulgation.

24
Recent BILC Activities

• In 2003
• Col J. Kazper, Chairman of the NTG, JSSG reported
  that only clerical tasks were delaying the formal
  acceptance of the BILC Interpretation by the NATO
  Standardisation Agency.
• The original STANAG 6001 must be produced in
  electronic format.
• The NTGSE staff will complete that work this
  summer.

25
This Years ConferenceTheme is Timely

• Striving for STANAG 6001 Level 3 proficiency is a
  challenge for both NATO and PfP nations.
• Evaluation / Validation procedures are needed for
• Syllabus design.
• Instructional practices.
• Testing approaches.
• Achievement mastery of the textbook materials.
• Performance application in specific scenarios.
• Proficiency ability across a wide range of
  topical and situational domains.

26
2003 BILC Conference

• Study Group Topics
• How does one measure the effectiveness of
  classroom instruction?
• Central principles of curriculum design and
  development.
• Teaching according to the STANAG 6001 scale.
• Fairness and validation in language assessment.

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Briefing Overview

• Introduction
• BILCs Current Role in NATO
• Proposed NATO Transformation
• BILCs Future Role in NATO

28
Transformation ExplainedUsing 15 Slides
SelectedFrom JSSG Presentations

• 3 from Col J. Kaszpar
• NTGSE and JSSG Chairman
• 3 from LtCol Eirik Davidsen
• HQ Defence Command Norway
• 9 from Cdr Johannes Rathgens
• HQ SACLANT Staff Officer Training

29
Col J. Kaszper NTGSE JSSG Chair
30
Organisation of The NTG
Annex B to MC238/2
NAC/DPC
IS
MC
NSA Other NATO Agencies
IMS
Chairman NTG
OPS Div
AD
ExTrg Br
NTGSE
JSSG
NSG
AFSG
FSG
ASG
WGs
WGs
WGs
WGs
WGs
HQ NATO ORGANISATION
NTG
NTG Administration
31
The NATO Training Group WGs
NTG
AFSG
NSG
ASG
FSG
JSSG
WG ITEDNBCDefWGWG TEPSO BILC
ENTEC FIBAU/MOUTISTC TSWG ETWG
TRWG
AHFWG
FWG
32
How does an ever and faster changing NATO affect
Education Training?

• By LtCol Eirik Davidsen.

33
Transformation, Education TrainingAfter the
Prague Declaration,2002

• The Prague summit decided that NATO should
  transform from a Cold War, static force, to one
  capable of addressing the Global War on
  Terrorism. (Prague Capabilities Comittment -
  PCC).

• Todays decisions will provide for balanced and
  effective capabilities within the alliance so
  that NATO can better carry out the full range of
  its mission and respond collectively to those
  challenges, including the threat posed by
  terrorism and by the proliferation of weapons of
  mass destruction and their means of delivery.

34
Transformation, Education Training.

• In addition to the new NATO members, the Prague
  Declaration indicates NATOs intent to upgrade
  cooperation with the PfP countries stating that
  We welcome the resolve of Partners to undertake
  all efforts to combat terrorism, including to
  further enhance interoperability and
  defence-related activities, which constitute the
  core of our partnership.

• Allies, in consultation with Partners, will, to
  the maximum extent possible, increase involvement
  of Partners, as appropriate, in the planning,
  conduct and oversight of those activities and
  projects in which they participate and to which
  they contribute. And so on

35
Transformation/Implementation
CDR Johannes Rathgens HQ SACLANT Staff Officer
Training
36
SC Functional Realignment
SACLANT
SC
ACT
ACO
Joint
SACEUR
SC
Realignment
37
Five Domains of Transformation
38
Current Situation
TEED
TEED
TEEP
TEED
Bi-SC Activities
39
Anticipated Statusas of 01 JAN 04 ??
NATIONS
NATO TRAINING GROUP
COLLECTIVE TRAINING
IND./COL. TRAINING
TEED
TEED
TEED
Bi-SC Activities
40
SC-Responsibilities

• SACT leads on NATO PfP individual JET and
  associated policy
• SACT co-ordinates with SACO and nations for
  conducting training, exercises and experiments in
  support of Transformation.
• SACO leads on NATO PfP collective training
  including exercises evaluation
• SACO is supported by SACT for exercise design,
  planning evaluation
• MC-324/1-(7th draft) -SACT/TOR

41
Changes occurring to SACLANT

• Focus on longer term transformation
• HQ SACLANT fully joint
• Relinquish command of 3 Regional HQs, 2
  combatant commanders, and SNFL
• Assume control of NATO education centers
• Coordinate/liaison w/JFCOM, NATO bodies and HQs
  of other nations

42
ACT - NTG Relationship

• Handover of Chair from IMS to ACT
• Agreement from Nations
• NTG as Vehicle for Implementation of JET Policy
• NTG is the Link between ACT and Nations
• Exchange of information and expertise
• Support of new JET activities and projects
• Coordination and Support for Nations
• Individual and Collective Training?

43
One Vision of the Future

• One integrated battlefield
• Combined Joint operations led by commanders with
  a combined joint responsibility throughout the
  chain of command
• Employment integration of long range, precise
  lethal weapons
• Integrated logistics
• Decision cycle down to minutes / hours
• A global deployment, expeditionary in nature
• Use of large networks w/ distributed info
• Secure networks

44
Summary of the Selected SlidesFrom JSSG
Presentations

• NATOs vision of the future will require
  instantaneous, accurate communications.
• Communication requires understanding.
• Understanding requires language skills.
• No matter how NATO (re)organizes, successful
  communication will depend on the language skills
  of individuals.

45
Briefing Overview

• Introduction
• BILCs Current Role in NATO
• Proposed NATO Transformation
• BILCs Future Role in NATO

46
BILC Within Transformed NATO
47
Major BILC Activities

• Language Training Studies.
• Language Testing Seminars.
• Conferences and seminars with study/work groups
  to collect and disseminate information on
  language teaching and testing.
• BILC Conference for NATO nations
• BILC Seminar for PfP nations

48
Conclusion

• With NATO transformation,
• The need for BILC will be even more apparent.
• Requests for its services will increase.
• The results of this conference will be important!
• Lets begin.