Defence Force School of Languages Maintaining Language Skills: The Australian approach to supporting Defence language capability BILC Conference Czech Republic, May 2012 LTCOL Giles Gorman Defence Force School of Languages

Scope Policy responses –Requalification Requirements –Language Proficiency Allowance –Refresher Training Computer Mediated Learning Service Enhancement Programs –Language Study Tours –Advanced Language Study Tours –Long Term Schooling

Defence Force School of Languages Policy Responses Language is an adjunct Skill –‘Just in time’ training –‘Just in case’ training –Skills maintenance: an individual responsibility Incentive –Language Proficiency Allowance Quality Assurance –2 year time limit on qualification

Defence Force School of Languages Requalification Testing Purpose: Defence linguists are required to requalify every two years to retain formal recognition of skills in LOTE Method: Biennial testing of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Translating Endstate: ‘On-call’ linguists are job ready

Defence Force School of Languages Language Proficiency Allowance Purpose: to encourage and assist members to maintain proficiency in an approved foreign language Method: Annual cash payment Endstate: Maximise number of ‘on-call’ linguists Level of Language Proficiency Degree of Language Difficulty LowerIntermediateHigherAdvanced $$$$ Group 19951,9932,9893,988 Group 21,4962,9894,9826,968 Group 31,9933,9886,9689,956

Defence Force School of Languages Refresher Training Purpose: to refresh and requalify language-qualified personnel at Intermediate level (2+) Method: 2 week residential course including biennial testing serials Endstate: maximum number of trained linguists available 26 Courses in languages

Defence Force School of Languages Service Enhancement Programs Independent of DFSL –Service designed and administered Substantial investment –Both time and money

Defence Force School of Languages Language Study Tours Purpose: to enhance, maintain, and strengthen existing language skills of qualified linguists Method: 21 day country visit incorporating 7 days one-on-one language tuition and 14 day in-country cultural travel component. Endstate: Linguists with colloquial language skills and enhanced knowledge and appreciation of the target country language and culture. 55 Serials in 2012

Defence Force School of Languages Advanced Language Study Tours Purpose: to substantially strengthen existing language skills of qualified linguists Method: 20 weeks in-country intensive language training and 2 week travel component. Endstate: Linguists with formal and colloquial language skills and enhanced knowledge of the culture, society, geography, political and military environment. 13 Serials in 2012 : Farsi (Dubai), Pashtu (Dubai), Chinese (Beijing), Arabic (Amman), Thai (Khon Kaen) and Indonesian (Bandung)

Defence Force School of Languages Long Term Schooling Purpose: to prepare senior linguists for professional employment Method: 12 months in-country language tuition at university. Endstate: Linguists with very high formal and colloquial language skills able to attempt national certification for professional interpreting and translating. 4 serials in 2012 : Arabic (Amman), Chinese (Beijing), Indonesian (Bandung), Vietnamese (Hanoi)

Defence Force School of Languages Computer Mediated Learning (CML) New area of interest –CML is limited by student learning network capability Blending DFSL Course Materials –Make available to Alumni for skills maintenance Advanced Level –Monitoring developments at Australian Education Institutions Integration of virtual environments such as ‘Second Life’ into curriculum Basic level –Interactive speaking / listening 3D game

Defence Force School of Languages Interactive speaking / listening 3D game The TI Simulator is designed to supplement DFSL’s task-based LOTE Tactical Interaction courses. It incorporates cutting edge learning technologies including: virtual training environments, speech understanding, artificial intelligence, dialog modeling, and game- based learning. Within the DFSL program, the TI Simulator will prepare students for live role-plays, provide valuable training between deployments, and sustain their skills while overseas. DFSL and the Army Simulation Wing have partnered with US-based Alelo Inc. to develop a Tactical Interaction Simulator.

Defence Force School of Languages Conclusion DFSL response to Life Long Learning 1.Policy responses Requalification Requirements Language Proficiency Allowance Refresher Training 2. Computer Mediated Learning 3. Service Enhancement Programs Language Study Tours Advanced Language Study Tours Long Term Schooling

Defence Force School of Languages Questions?