BILC Conference 03 08 05 2015 Madrid Spain

BILC Conference, 03 -08. 05. 2015, Madrid, Spain 1

Human Resources Management Directorate Bulgarian Ministry of Defense Е 1101 “English Language Proficiency” Requirements and the Bulgarian English Language Training System BILC Conference, May 2015, Madrid Emilija Nesheva, State expert on foreign languages teaching and testing, Education and Qualification Department, Human Resources Management Directorate, Bulgarian Mo. D

Content: 1. Introduction to E 1101 N requirements. 2. How Bulgaria has managed (so far) in fulfilling these requirements? 3. Bulgarian English language training system for the militaries. 4. Brief report of the system for 2014. 5. Bulgarian STANAG 6001 certificates for English language competence. 6. Problems to be solved. 3

Continuity: Е 0356 E 1101 N. Goal: Ensure that all NATO Command Structure (NCS) staff and other national personnel who are routinely involved in NATO issues or deployed on NATO operations are able to communicate effectively in the English language. Capabilities that could be attained? Enhanced interoperability among NATO forces. 4

Е 1101 N Requirements 1. For personnel earmarked for participation in the NCS and national staffs who are routinely involved with NATO issues : a. Officers: SLP 3333; b. NCOs: SLP 2+2+. 2. For personnel subject to deployment on NATO operations, exercises or training: a. Officers in command positions/principal staff officers: SLP 2+2+; b. All other officers: SLP 2222; c. NCOs, OR-5 and above likely to have frequent contacts with personnel from other nations: SLP 2222; d. Enlisted personnel of all services planned to operate on tactical communication/NATO communications networks/members of tactical air control elements: SLP 2211. 3. Conduct general proficiency language testing IAW STANAG 6001 Ed 4, using testing methodology as recommended by BILC and the ACT sponsored language testing seminars. 4. By the beginning of 2016 – three-level approach of integrating English language training into the curricula of officer and NCO education establishments and in career development and unit training programs. 5

Е 1101 N – Where Are We? 1. 100% of the personnel, appointed for taking positions in NATO structures, multinational staffs, and national staffs working with NATO are selected in accordance with the language requirements (though sometimes quite different from the levels in part 1 of E 1101 N). 2. As of 31. 03. 2015, 52% of the personnel in the NATO declared forces have the proper SLP in English. 3. Out of the 6 members of the STANAG team – 5 have attended the LTS in Garmisch-Partenkirhen and 3 - the ALTS + 1 is planned for June 2015; only 1 member of the team hasn’t attended neither of the seminars due to maternity leave. 4. Since the beginning of 2015 – a new model of EL qualification courses as well as SLP 2222 is required for enrolling the Rakovski National Defense College in Sofia. 6

Done So Far in Bulgaria – Normative Base Documents that we have developed and that we follow: Strategy for the development of the English language training system for the Bulgarian Armed Forces (MO № ОH– 130/21. 02. 2011); МO № ОH-724/07. 09. 2011 about the military positions in the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, in the structures directly under the command of the Minister, and in the Bulgarian Armed Forces that should have English language competence requirements according to NATO STANAG 6001; МO № ОH-753/29. 09. 2011 about ordering additional money to the monthly payment to all Bulgarian militaries who have STANAG 6001 SLP 2222 and above in English and French; МO № ОH– 218/19. 03. 2013 about the introduction of a new system of English language courses in the Bulgarian military educational institutions; MO № OH-219/19. 03. 2013 about the development and administration of STANAG 6001 tests in Bulgaria 7

Where Do We Teach English? ↙ ↘ IN THE MILITARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS - Rakovski National Defense College, Sofia - Levski National Military University: IN THE MILITARY UNITS https: //sites. google. com/site/learningcenterof Language and Physical Training Department, Veliko. Turnovo Leadership and Language Training Chair in Aviation Faculty, D. Mitropolia Foreign Languages Department in Artillery, Air Defense and CIS Faculty, Shumen 61 mbr / - Naval Academy, Varna Part of the syllabus of NDA officers and NMU and NA cadets Qualification courses for the military and civilian personnel Distant Learning 8

Bulgarian Military Educational Institutions 9

National Military University Foreign Languages Department Shumen FIRST STEPS, DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES COL Petkov Madrid, May 2015

FLD History The Foreign Languages Department (FLD) is a successor of the Center for English Language Training and Information Technologies (CELTIT) established in 2005 as a Bulgarian-American joint venture. - the Bulgarian MOD has invested more than € 1, 000 in it. - the US Government has allocated more than $ 1, 000 along the FMF and IMET programs for books, labs, mobile training team, and teachers’ training. The CELTIT was officially inaugurated on October 16, 2007 by the Minister of Defense Vesselin Bliznakov and by His Excellency Mr. John R. Beyrle – the US Ambassador in Bulgaria at that time. In 2010 the FLD was declared a Pf. P Education and Training Center on English language training. In 2012 the FLD has been included in the Individual Training and Education Programme – ITEP, Project 1. 7, Tier 1, NATO Smart Defence Initiative. In September 2015 the FLD expects a visit by the QA team of NATO HQ SACT JFT as we are in a process of NATO certification. 11

International Cooperation USA CULP Project – each year since 2012 UK Exercise Native Tongue Bulgaria Project – 2 groups in 2014, 4 in 2015 Cooperation with PLTCE, Garmisch Partenkirhen, Germany, and all the PTECs Cooperation with the Hellenic Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center (MPSOTC)in Kilkis, Greece

Foreign Languages Department, Shumen Facilities Language laboratories: ◦ 3 level II labs – 25 seats each – renovated June 2008 (FMF program); ◦ 2 level IV labs – 15 seats each - renovated June 2008 (FMF program); Test storage room Library – 9 tons (over 20000 pieces) of printed materials; last shipment – December 2012 (ALC), January 2015 (North Star)

Foreign Languages Department, Shumen ◦ ◦ Dormitory with 128 rooms Dining facility Outdoor sport facilities Inside gym and swimming pool

Foreign Languages Department, Shumen Trainees More than 2000 Bulgarian militaries have been trained. 39 international students from 7 countries – Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia and FYROM.

Who and How? 58 English language teachers in the military educational institutions; 6 English language teachers in the STANAG 6001 team; 16 English language instructors in the military units; guest-teachers from DLI, San Antonio, sent for 6 months each in Bulgaria to enforce the English language training in the military units; native speakers supporting the English language courses in the FLD, Shumen for enhancing the speaking skill of the trainees: – project “Exercise Native Tongue - Bulgaria”, UK Mo. D; - project „Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency“, US Do. D; unified and standardized teaching programs and textbooks for all; tons of textbooks and teaching materials (paper, audio, video); 17 language labs in the military educational institutions; 15 language labs in the military units; 5 self-access centers in each military educational institution. 16

The new model of English Language Qualification Courses № name type textbook duration 1 Preparatory level non-intensive ALC Book 1 -10 480 lessons/10 months 2 Preparatory level intensive ALC Book 1 -10 480 lessons/16 weeks 3 Level 1 intensive ALC Book 11 -20; North Star 3 480 lessons/16 weeks 4 Level 2 intensive ALC Book 21 -30; North Star 4 480 lessons/16 weeks 5 Level 3 intensive ALC Book 31 -34; North Star 5 480 lessons/16 weeks 6 Refresher preparatory level intensive Headway Elementary 120 lessons/4 weeks 7 Refresher level 1 intensive Headway Pre-Intermediate 120 lessons/4 weeks 8 Refresher level 2 intensive Headway Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate 120 lessons/4 weeks 9 Refresher level 3 intensive Headway Advanced 120 lessons/4 weeks 10 Course level 2 distant materials developed for the course 24 weeks 11 Course level 3 distant materials developed for the course 24 weeks 12 Course refresher level 1 distant materials developed for the course 6 weeks 13 Course refresher level 2 distant materials developed for the course 6 weeks 14 Course refresher level 3 distant materials developed for the course 6 weeks 15 Military English courses intensive textbooks on military topics 2/3 weeks 17

In 2014: approx. 600 military and civilian personnel were included in English language courses in the military educational institutions; approx. 300 militaries were included in English language courses in the military units; approx. 600 students in the schools for sergeants, cadets in the National Military University and the Naval Academy, and officers - students at the Defence College studied English as part of their regular studies; approx. 1500 candidates sat for the STANAG 6001 exam. 18

STANAG 6001 Certificates (April 2015) 19

Problems to Be Solved in order to enforce the fulfillment of E 1101 N: Improve the work of the HR structures for better selection of the course participants. Upgrade the equipment in the existing language labs. Provide new language labs with computers for all military educational institutions. Administer STANAG 6001 CATs only. No paper tests since 2016. Enlarge the item bank for the STANAG 6001 CATs for reading, listening, and writing. Advertise the distant-learning courses among our militaries and encourage them to enroll. Ensure financing for sending more EL teachers and instructors to methodology courses in-country and abroad. 20

Funny tips for learning Bulgarian https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=4_0 NHPDr. Fg. Y 21

Questions? 22