Bureau for International Language Co-ordination BILC Update Julie J. Dubeau Secretary Bucharest Oct 08

Who we are… NATO’s consultative and advisory body for language training and testing issues BILC was established in The founding members are France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Subsequently, the following countries joined: 1967: Belgium, Canada, Netherlands 1975: SHAPE and IMS/NATO (non-voting members) 1978: Portugal 1983: Turkey 1984: Denmark and Greece 1985: Spain 1993: Norway 1999: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland 2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia

Who we are… Partnership for Peace (PfP): Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, FYROM, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Mediterranean Dialogue (MD): Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunesia. Other longstanding Non-MEMBER NATIONS Austria, Australia, Finland, NTG, NTG/JSSG, NATO PCC, SHAPE, & Sweden.

Secretariat The voting members of the Steering Committee are the heads of each full member delegation. The non-voting members are the heads of any associate or observer delegations. The BILC Chairman chairs the Steering Committee. Secretariat staffed by: The UK ( ) Germany ( ) The US ( ) CAN (2008- )

Senior Advisor Dr. Ray Clifford Secretary Julie J. Dubeau Language Training Assessments Keith Wert Language Testing Programmes Peggy Garza BILC Steering Committee Chair Dr. R. D. Monaghan Associate Secretaries BILC Secretariat Deputy Sect’y Jana Vasilj-Begovic

Where do we fit in?

What do we do? Annual Conference in Spring Annual Professional Seminar in Fall Responsible for STANAG 6001 Report back to JSSG on progress twice yearly Taskings from NTG Special requests from International Military Staff and International Staff Language Testing Seminars Language Training Assessments Benchmark Advisory Test New Assistance to National Testing Programmes

STANAG 6001 Ed 3 Background: NTG/JSSG asked BILC to update STANAG 6001 BILC Study Group reviewed STANAG 6001 and recommended more accurate labels for each level NEW 0 No Proficiency 1 Survival 2 Functional 3 Professional 4 Expert 5 Highly-articulate native

STANAG 6001 Ed 3 Significant range between levels BILC Testing WG developed descriptors for use of optional plus levels Outcome: STANAG 6001 Edition 3 approved by BILC SC at the June 2008 Conference ( 2 admin. abstentions ). STATUS: Submitted to NSA for staffing July 08

STANAG 6001 Ed 3 NEW: French STANAG Ed. 3 (coming soon) Translated and revised. Draft distributed for info. If there are comments, Heads of national delegations should BILC Secretary no later than 15 Nov

Coming in 2009 Website to be hosted in Canada: Annual Conference in Rome, Italy 7 – 11 June, 2009 Theme: Bridging the gap: Language requirements vs. Language reality. Professional Seminar October Copenhagen, Denmark, dates TBD

Update BILC Activities in 2008… Jan 08 – Language Training Assessment to GEO Apr 08 –Language Testing Workshop to BIH (part 1) Apr 08 - Language Training Assessment to ROU Jul 08 – Assistance to National Testing Programme to GEO Sep 08 - Language Testing Workshop for BIH (in Garmisch) (part 2) 3 LTS conducted in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (#4 in Nov) BAT WG continued project via /meeting Athens, & NATO Secure website Conference Conference held in Athens June 08 Theme: General Proficiency and Specialized Needs: the Philosophical Implications of Education vs. Training

Ahead Language Testing Seminars Language Training Assessments Assistance to National Testing Programmes The BAT Administration New in ’09: Advanced Language Testing Seminar

NTG Task New Task: 5000 TI-3220R/NTG Dated 18 Sept 2008 BILC should complete a survey of the most cost effective, 6001 Compliant, High Stakes, commercial and government test available in Nations Report on known elements

Coming to BILC Joining Instructions (JI): For May/June Conference, JI sent Jan/Feb For Oct Seminar JI sent May/June Contact the Secretariat if you don’t receive the Joining Instructions

Merci! Questions?