Designing language training for military purposes - Some basic challenges from a civilian teacher’s perspective

The Norwegian model Established courses, permanent: Russian, Arabic Project language courses, now: Pashto, Dari (earlier: Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Albanian) No (substantial) outsourcing of language training – responsible: FSES (NORDISS)

Norwegian Defence Intelligence and Security School Established courses: Russian, Arabic STANAG level 3-3-3-3/3-3-3-2 60 weeks language training, …. weeks officer’s training 2 years of service Project language courses: Pashto, Dari STANAG level 2-2-2-1 60 weeks language training 2 x 6 months deployment

Defining learning (proficiency) goals What do they need to know? What functions are they supposed to fulfil? The need for dialogue Is it possible to achieve the proficiency level asked for? Time Students’ language learning ability Course quality

Language training – cultural components Series of lectures with separate exams (according to university courses) Arabic: Islam The history of the Middle East Russian: Russian and Soviet history Russian politics, culture and society (History of ideas) Literature