Developing Intercultural Awareness and Communication Enhancement Training within NATO: - the NAEW&CF E-3A Component experience.

Russell C. Kent MA, Applied Linguistics & ELT Faculty of International Communication University Zuyd Maastricht, & Maastricht University The Netherlands

Disclaimer I wish to state that I do not officially represent the E-3A Component in Geilenkirchen Germany. However, the Component leadership do not have any objection to my giving this presentation to you.

Background  NAEW&CF E-3A Component, Geilenkirchen  Established 1982, only multinational NATO operational flying unit.  3100 multinational military/civilian personnel  17 E-3A, 3 TCA

Background  FOB Aktion, Trapani, Konya  FOL Oerland  30 multinational aircrews  15 nations  Squadrons: 3 Operational, 1 Training  Principal role: Air Surveillance

Why establish a CAW/CEP  MA Dissertation research project  Perception of use of English  2 NATO HQs: E-3A Component – US/Canadian NS HQ ARRC – UK NS  Approx 30% respondents felt mission effectiveness compromised  Overwhelming majority wanted training

Why establish a CAW/CEP  Component leadership wanted training  Cost to NATO, Component and individual  Asked to design, develop, deliver programme  Component personnel training  Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis  Culture and Language influence each other

Cultural Awareness Workshops - Aims  Make Component members aware of impact of culture on communication  Knowledge to identify cultural differences  Skills to apply knowledge  Make NS aware of their use of English

Communication Enhancement - Aims  Provide assistance to NNS who require or request support  Allow any NNS to voluntarily participate

Cultural Theory and Practitioners  Cultural Theory Hall Hofstede Trompenaars Mole  Practitioners Kohls, Storti, Peterson, Thomas, Inkson  Trainers Course Bath – Pilbeam and Lynch  Sivasailam Thiagarajam (Thiagi)

Workshop Content  Agreement to most effective approach  Generic – own culture, ethnocentricism, move beyond confines  Perception - the ‘other’, stereotyping  Cultural concepts  Experiential – cultural encounters  Quiz – fun, participant generated

Workshop Content  NS understand how their use of English affects communication  Discuss typical problems with NNS  Explore international English  NS experiential activity Handle sensitively

Workshop Content  Important to Debrief each activity – allow time  Typical debrief questions: What happened? How do you feel? What did you learn? How does this relate to the real world? What next?

Workshop Content  Keep lectures to a minimum  Most feedback indicated low tolerance of lectures.  Consistent with knowledge of adult learning preferences  Promote discussions, experiential  Avoid ‘Death by PowerPoint’

Typical Workshop Programme Day 1 Day One Introduction minsIntroductory map activity Working rules for the workshop Review workshop objectives Cultural Concepts09:30 60 minsWhat is culture? What is culture for you? 10:30 15 minsBreak Exploring Culture10:45 75 minsCultural Icons Perceptions of own/other cultures Stereotyping 12:00 60 minsLunch Cultural Concepts1300: 60 minsCultural Frameworks /Concepts 14:00 45 minsTips for working with another culture Review14:45 15 minsReview day, further reading

Typical Workshop Programme Day 2 Day Two Cultural Encounter09:00 30 minsThe Visitor Game International English09:30 45 minsUsing English Internationally 10:15 15 minsBreak Meetings10:30 30 minsLanguage of Meetings 11:00 60 minsPractice Meeting 12:00 60 minsLunch Quiz13:00 60 minsCulture Quiz Working with other people14:00 45 minsWhat advice would you give? 14:45 15 minsReview and Personal Action Plan

Documentation  Workshop Manual Background information on cultures present Intercultural guidelines /tips Theory – cultural frameworks/contexts  Certificates Attendance Quiz

Participants  All workshops bar one mixed nationalities  One US personnel only – more difficult  Numbers Lowest 8 Maximum 32 Approx 20 ideal  Feedback Positive, particularly for discussions

Personnel Training  5 day Intercultural trainers course LTS Bath  3 Component personnel  Led 4 activities in total

Equipment  Room big enough for 20 – 30 people  Tables chairs  Laptop/PC with speakers  Projector/screen

Follow up workshops  3 – 6 months after initial workshop  Ascertain usefulness of initial workshop  Input from participants  Fine tune further workshops

Communication Enhancement  Support/assistance for NNS  Also voluntary participation  Syllabus development considerations Impossible to determine in advance personnel requiring training Impossible to determine exact communication problem in advance

Communication Enhancement  3 month rolling syllabus  Participants can join as required  Different levels of ability allowed  Shorter time frame possible  Problem areas Listening in the aircraft Pronunciation Fluency Vocabulary development

Communication Enhancement  No grammar  Considered extremely important to assist in language areas where problems are difficult or impossible to foresee in a classroom setting before arriving at the Component

Communication Enhancement  Only 2 students recommended for CEP  Student 1 Listening to US NS in aircraft Adapted activities from a different context  2 nd Student Component testing personnel felt no instruction necessary

Future Developments  CAWs relevant in multinational military community  Component experience as a framework  Personnel can meet in a relaxed atmosphere before training commences

Working with other people  You have been selected as one of a two experts to be sent to coordinate a location as a Deployed Operating Base. You are likely to be away for at least a week.  Your commander has told you that you can choose between two subordinates who have both volunteered.  Both people are well qualified, competent and have a good track record on similar deployments.  So you know, no matter who you choose, the mission will be accomplished successfully.  All things being equal, what will be the deciding factor when making your choice?

Working with other people When asked this question, most people answer: The person they trust or the person they like Someone they just ‘click’ with. CAWs offer opportunities to get to know each and form a basis of trust which can only improve working relationships

Resources Should you require it, please me for a complete list of resources used during the development of both programmes.

Thank you for your attention Questions?