1. security-related terminology Best practices and challenges
Study Group 2
Teaching military and
security-related terminology
Best practices and challenges
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

2. Guidance Questions
Military content integrated into general language courses?
“General” Military English should be integrated, (branch-specific) specialized military English rather in dedicated seminars/courses
AUT: integration is paramount (milE as USP of AAF LNG INST!)
Natural part of general English
Percentage depends on level and topics (master programme vs. basic training)
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

3. Guidance Questions
Language teachers with military background, and how much of a background?
Academic training as prerequisite
Is definitely an advantage (officer training, basic training, training for English teachers, …)
In some cases a credibility issue
Operational experience
“Talk the talk, walk the walk”
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

4. Guidance Questions Military English integrated into language testing?
IAW 6001
Level 1: courtesy, accommodation needs, identification requirements, workplace, …
Level 2: workplace situations, describe people, places, things, instructions, directions, job procedures, …
Level 3: professional topics, meetings, briefings, monologues, abstract concepts in professional fields
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

5. Guidance Questions Military English as a career requirement?
Testing means focussing, weighing!
Goal: communication in mil environment
Depends on jobs and careers
Should also be obligatory for national postings!
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

6. Guidance Questions
(How) Do you deal with military content in your domestic language training programmes?
Integrated or stand-alone (or absent, or predominant)
Problem: lack of adequate material (POL, USA, …)
Needs analysis (prescriptive and descriptive)
Authentic and realistic material!
SMEs in language training; language trainer system (AUT), …
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

7. Guidance Questions
What does/did work, what doesn‘t/didn‘t? Why? Lessons learned? Approaches
One suits all
No military background at all
ESP without L1SP
ESP without general E
Native speaker without teaching background
Military hierarchy in class
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

8. + authentic, relevant ESP + authentic teachers
+ combination with related courses
+ mentoring, guiding, giving feedback
+ practical applicability, awareness of necessity
+ ESP task complexity IAW general E
+ involvement of E teachers in practical activities (map reading, live firing, staff work, …)
+ native speakers as supplements
+ tactical decision games, role plays, briefings, etc.
+ wordlists as reference (not as training material)
+ fulfilling student’s demands
+ prescriptive and descriptive approach
+ national solutions
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2

9. Contact:
COL Herwig Preining, Mag.phil. Head of Tactical English Section AAF Lng Inst
Jürgen Kotzian, Mag.phil. Chief Training Officer English AAF Lng Inst
BILC Conference 2017 – Vienna; Study Group 2