1 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. BILC 2009 STRIVING FOR LEVEL 3 ITAF’S LINGUISTIC PERESTROJKA Part i: - Col. Mauro Sabbione - Commandant

ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. LOCATION: Loreto (Italy) Loreto Cathedral The Madonna of Loreto The Patron saint of aviators

ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. S.L.E.’s HISTORY 1956 – 2006 located in Ciampino (Rome) 2006 – transfered to Loreto (Ancona) The History of Loreto Airbase 1930 – 1983 O.N.F.A. aviators’ orphanage; 1988 – 2006 S.P.S.A.M. (IT.A.F. Warrant officers School); 2006 – 2009 S.P.S.A.M. + S.L.E – S.L.E.

ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. LOGISTICS OVER 34,000 SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE SPACE OVER 180 ROOMS WITH IN-ROOM FACILITIES + 35 ROOMS AND BARRACKS AT PORTO POTENZA (TESTING CENTER) ; N° 35 CLASSROOMS AND N° 12 VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS N°3 MULTIMEDIA LABS N°2 LABS FOR E-TUTORS

5 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. MISSION –Conduct intensive and specialized language courses. –Advise and monitor language courses to personnel by private schools around Italy. –Certify language proficiency for Air Force IAW NATO STANAG 6001 – Joint Forces Language Test (JFLT)

6 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. BILC 2009 STRIVING FOR LEVEL 3 ITAF’S LINGUISTIC PERESTROJKA Part II - Joe Maddock – Senior program Coordinator

7 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Overview Once upon a time… SLE’s Results Mission 2009 “Pathway to Professional Proficiency.” Perestrojka (Restructuring of Courses & Facilities) What the future holds Conclusions Q & A

ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Once upon a time… AF Personnel Dept. (DIPMA) Intensive course Refresher course HEAVEN HELL Duration: 3 months – 10 months

9 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Results Proficiency Testing JFLT Level 0 / N.Q.27.33%29.56%17.37% 1° Level 3.73% 9.56%19.70% 2° Level55.90%43.11%47.54% 3° Level13.04% (42) 17.77% (223) 15.39% (243) 4° Level 0.00% Tot. tested 322 1,384 1,580

10 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Mission % increase in level 3s 15.39% - 25%

ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. DIPMA Online Test Refresher course HEAVEN HELL Duration: months eLearning Course Intensive course The Pathway to Professional Proficiency

ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Perestrojka: Step by step Strolling from the Web to the Ground

13 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Step 1 Online Test Initial screening assessment Intensive courses – “best return” - SLP 2/3 eLearning courses – “slow bloomers” More space for higher levels

14 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Started Jan 2008 For beginners/false Beginners Lays groundwork for future training Objective: SLP 1 Step 2 eLearning Program 3 months

15 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Steps 3-5 On base courses General conditions  Class sizes (8 -10 students)  Content (ILR & STANAG-based)  Teaching – intensive (7 hrs/day)  Facilities (Labs, Internet, SAT TV, etc.)

16 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Step 3 Intensive Courses 3 months UPGRADES – New programs with weekly diagnostic tests. – More interaction between teachers-supervisors. – 2 observations per course for new teachers – 2 observations per year for “senior” teachers – coordination on diagnostic testing

17 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Step 4 Refresher Courses 1 month UPGRADES – Latest version of English for Staff Officer’s book – Use of ICT (Information & Communication Technology )- recorders for Speak. exercises.” – Specialist Trainers (ITAF personnel with 3/+ SLP).”

18 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Step 5 Proposed upgrades to facilities – LANGUAGE LABS –Software for remedial work – Ideally manned by teacher – LIBRARY – For quiet study/research – Equipped with 3-5 internet points - INTERNAL LAN FOR SCHOOL – eLearning content (TEACHERS’ ZONE) – Internal communication

19 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. What does the future hold? LIFELONG LEARNING How? eLearning Refresher Modules which focus on individual language skills (L/R/S/W); eLearning courses on L3 acquisition, e.g. Spanish, German, French (level )

20 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. Conclusions We’ve come a long way, but there’s always room for improvement. The changes; Improve quality of lessons; Many cost little to nothing.

21 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL – S.L.E. QUESTIONS?