1. UK MOD Language Assessment
MODLEB
UK MOD Language Assessment
Lt Col JD Lewis RE
SO1 DOLSU
Maj CED Burrows AGC (ETS)
SO2 Requirements & Evaluation, DOLSU

2. Definitions MODLEB – Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board
EBP – English Base Paper
MCQ – Multiple Choice Question
MLA – Multi-Level Assessment
Operational languages:
Pashto, Dari
Arabic, Farsi, Somali
Short Answer – length defined in rubric
Usually fewer than 10 words

3. MODLEB 2011 Expiry of current MODLEB contract
Evolved language requirement
Comprehensive re-evaluation
Job Analysis
Training Process
Financial climate
General proficiency vs operational requirements

4. MODLEB 2011
Operational
Requirement
Language
Training
Assessment

5. Applied Skills
Military use of language must have practical application
Conducting business
Rapport building and general conversation
Task and linguist management
Gisting
Situational or liaison interpreting

6. Operational/Intelligence
Contexts
Operational/Intelligence
Generalist
Planned operations
Work with indigenous forces
Instructing
Dealing with the public
Incident control
Information gathering
Life support
Social engagement
Office workplace
Public speaking
Special-to-role business
Common:
Telephone conversations Dealing with media
Announcements Word processing
Atmospherics (Media)

7. MODLEB 2011 SLP 1 (Short course output)
Threshold assessment retained
Focused proficiency based on operational experience
SLP 2 – 4 (SLP 0 – 4 output possible)
Multi-level assessment (MLA)
General proficiency with wide-ranging military focus
Concentration on accurate measurement of SLP 2 and SLP 3
English base paper model retained

8. SLP 1 – Threshold Assessment
Listening
Military Comprehension 1
Multiple Choice Questions
Military Comprehension 2
Reading
Military Comprehension Short Answer Questions
Operational Signs
Short Answer Questions
Speaking
General Conversation
Military Business 1 Transaction
Back Brief
Military Business 2 Transaction

9. Broadcast – Military News & Comment (SLP 3/3+)
MLA – Listening
Section 1
Section 2
Task 1
Briefing (SLP 2+/3)
Excerpts (SLP 2)
Task 2
Task 3
Section 4
Section 3
Broadcast – Military News & Comment (SLP 3/3+)
Staff Report (SLP 4)

10. MLA - Reading Section 1 Section 2 Task 1 Briefing (SLP 2+/3)
Excerpts (SLP 2)
Task 2
Task 3
Section 4
Article – Advanced Topic (SLP 4)
Section 3
Military Report (SLP 3/3+)

11. MLA – Productive Skills
Speaking
Section 1 – Guided Conversation
Section 2 – Information Retrieval
Section 3 – Present & Justify
Writing
Single piece of written work
90 minutes
Six stimuli (two visual, four textual – in English)

12. The Balance Threshold Assessment Rigorous assessment at a level
Narrow range of lexis testable
Requires staging, or profile may be unuseable
Multi-Level Assessment
Cumulative ‘snapshot’ assessments
Number/breadth of tasks
Useable profile
For candidate
For employer

13. Other experience and contributions welcome!
MODLEB 2011
Currently in first phase of Pilot
Second phase Jun/Jul 11
Roll-out for Oct 11
Positive indications on current Pilot format
Poor candidate perception of MCQ
Listening problematic
Other experience and contributions welcome!

14. Contact details: JtCap-DOLSUSO2ReqtEval@mod.uk +44 (0)1980 618112
Questions?
Contact details:
+44 (0)