18 October 2011 Netherlands Defence Staff Dr. C.J. Helsloot Language Coordinator BILC Seminar Monterey, October 2011 An Integral Approach to English in the Dutch Military: the results of a Quickscan

Ministry of Defence 2 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 The scenario framework: English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 3 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 The scenario framework: English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 4 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Policy document 2007: - English is a basic military skill for (almost) all personnel - A STANAG 6001 test for English must be developed -Technological innovations concerning language learning must be adopted. Lessons Identified ISAF 2010: English proficiency is too often insufficient - at all ranks. Summit on English at the Defence Staff in January 2011: Highly ranked representatives of the Defence Staff and the Operational Commands as well as the Dean of the Military Faculty agreed on the need to improve the knowledge of the English language in the Dutch armed forces. English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 5 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 The Vice Chief of Defence requested for a Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English Which was drawn up with the Working Group English and subsequently approved by the Defence Languages Platform. English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 6 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Personnel 70,000 Employees  50,000 Soldiers and 20,000 Civilians Staff 2,000 Support Command 10,000 Defence Materiel Organisation 7,000 Army 26,000 Air Force 8,000 Navy 10,000 Marechaussee (MP) 7,000 English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 7 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Personnel English Language Teachers Army5 Air3 Navy3 Military Academy6 Total 17 FTE English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 8 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Initial education Officers  Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA): 80 hours NCOs  Royal Military School (Army): 22 hours Navy School : 40 hours Air Force School: 40 hours Post-initial education Pre-deployment refresher courses: 30 or 60 hours Medical personnel course Writing skills Air Force school: air traffic controller course, F16 technician course English in the Dutch Military English Training in the Dutch Armed Forces BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 9 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 The Plan is the result of analyses of written sources and of interviews and meetings focusing on the English language requirement and the English language proficiency level of Defence personnel The Plan outlines an integral approach to increasing and/or maintaining the English language proficiency of Defence personnel to or at the required level throughout their career. English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 10 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Required language proficiency Education, training and testing Language Centre of Expertise Adequate command of English

Ministry of Defence 11 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October Make an inventory and conduct a systematic and professional analysis of the kind of language skills required to be able to adequately perform military tasks and positions 2. Define minimum English language proficiency requirements for all military and civilian positions, and include these in the conditions for appointment pertaining to job clusters and/or specific jobs. English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 12 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Education, Training and Testing English language education: Instruction in grammar, productive speaking and writing skills, receptive listening and reading skills, and instruction in military and job-specific terminology. English as instruction language: Adopting English as the instruction language in selected job-specific, trades and career training. Using English in exercises: The controlled use of English in operational exercises and training. BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 13 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October Develop continuous learning curves for English. 4a. Create a pool of language experts and employ them across the board (pooling and sharing), 4b. And increase the number of English-language experts over the next few years. English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 14 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October Make targeted investments in the provision and support of digital English-language training and testing programmes using the electronic learning environment of the Defence organisation. English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 15 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English 6. Introduce the English-language testing policy across the Defence organisation. 7. Analyse the need for and implement the use and production of English-language documents. BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 16 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October Bring in external expertise for train-the-trainer programmes for providing English-language instruction. 9. Drawing on the available language talents, select and appoint language coordinators and English- language assistants at the required organisational hierarchical level. English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 17 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 The recommendation in the Policy Letter from the Minister of Defence to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 8 April 2011: invest in Language Training (9 FTE extra) English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 18 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 NEW Intermediate Vocational Education Community College English is compulsory, from 2010 onwards Catching up English Training outside the Dutch Armed Forces BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 19 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Secondary and Vocational Education MoD Ministry of Defence / MoE Ministry of Education / VMBO Pre-vocational Secondary Education / MBO Vocational Secondary Education / HAVO Senior General Secondary Education / VWO Pre-university Education / OCIO Training Centre Initial Training (Pvts)/ KMS Royal Military School (NCOs) / KMA Royal Military Academy (Offr Cadets) OCIO Basisschool (Primary School) 4-12 years VMBO 4 levels / years HAVO yrs VWO yrs MBO 4 30m 3 30m 2 1 KMS KMA MoD MoE BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 20 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Intermediate Vocational Education Pupil’s Objectives: 1. General Subjects: e.g. Dutch /English etc. 2. Conducts Basic Military Skills 3. Leads and Executes Coordinating Tasks 4. Gives Instruction and Training 5. Executes Basic Military Security Tasks 6. Conducts Basic Technical and Logistic Skills Structure: 3 Wks Indoor at REC / 1 Wk Outdoor Under Command of Soldiers SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 3 Pre-education for NCOs (650 Students/Year) English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 21 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Intermediate Vocational Education Pupil’s Objectives: 1. General Subjects: e.g. Dutch /English etc. 2. Conducts Basic Military Skills 3. Leads and Executes Coordinating Tasks 4. Gives Instruction and Training 5. Executes Basic Military Security Tasks 6. Conducts Basic Technical and Logistic Skills Structure: 3 Wks Indoor at REC / 1 Wk Outdoor Under Command of Soldiers SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 2 Pre-education for Privates (2,500 Students/Year) English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 22 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Intermediate Vocational Education Military English Programme 150 Contact Hours of English in 30 Months Military English Programme by RMS Weert: Campaign Student’s Book Level 2  +70 Hours SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 3 English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 23 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 Intermediate Vocational Education Military English Programme 90 Contact Hours of English in 18 Months Military English Programme by RMS Weert: Campaign Student’s Book Level 1  +35 Hours Italian Army: Line of Communication; Loud & Clear SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 2 English in the Dutch Military BILC Seminar, Monterey

Ministry of Defence 24 BILC Seminar, Varna18 October 2011 The recommendation of the Minister of Defence to the House of Representatives: invest in Language Training 9 FTE or ? English in the Dutch Military Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English BILC Seminar, Monterey