Towards taskoriented blended language learning Karijn Helsloot Defense
Towards taskoriented blended language learning Karijn Helsloot Defense Intelligence and Security Institute Netherlands
Defence Language Centre Dutch Defence Academy (NLDA, Breda) • the interpreter’s section (3) • the translation section (6) • the five separate language teaching & training sections • • • 2 Air Force Training Command (3) Navy School for Enlisted Ranks and NCOs Land School for Enlisted ranks (NCOs) (1, 5) Defence Academy (8) Intelligence & Security Institute (8) language training, testing, development and policy section Ministerie van Defensie
Objectives • share knowledge and materials between language teachers • collaborate in (test/course) material design and production • update the approaches to language training and support • have a single portal for supply and demand • have a digital system • language needs • the soldiers’ and civilians' language knowledge • have a central language policy 3 Ministerie van Defensie
BILC’s Language Assessment, March 2012 Final Report Cooperative Language Training Assessment • Policy and Management • Implementation and Training 4 Ministerie van Defensie
Policy and Management • the lack of a systematic inventory of the language needs • the absence of a flag officer to promote the language case at the central policy and management level • the language training times in the NLDs are very, very short • establish a testing policy 5 Ministerie van Defensie
Implementation and Training • Develop learning curves w. r. t. English • Develop a Stanag test English as well as a screening out device for lower proficiencies • Create pool of language experts (English language coordinators and assistants) • Start train-the-trainer programs • Assess the digital learning options 6 Ministerie van Defensie
Language Training Strategy Offer blended task-oriented language training, where blended means a mixture of • monitored e-learning • class-room meetings • job-integrated training 7 Ministerie van Defensie
Programs Pashto and Dari Russian for Border Control Guards English for junior Army NCO’s French for JISTARC 8 Ministerie van Defensie
Pasto and Dari 1. Welcoming 2. Introducing 3. Speaking and Communication 4. Inviting 5. Asking for information 6. Warning for danger 7. Police training 8. Law and culture 9. Women’s programs 9 Ministerie van Defensie
Marechaussee security guard Upholding law and order for the armed forces and investigating criminal offences Contributing to building up the security sector in mission areas Border control tasks Police and security tasks at airports Assisting and working jointly with the police Guarding and protecting vital locations and persons Core task: Security & Surveillance Workflow: carrying out and coordinating security tasks 10 Workflow: carrying out border control tasks Ministerie van Defensie Workflow: carrying out first-line border control tasks in Russian
Workflow: conducting first-line border control tasks in Russian Understanding travel documents Can read names Can read place of birth Can read place of issue Can read place of residence Can read dates (incl. months) Can read statement of sex Can read nationality Conducting a short general interview Can greet persons Can say goodbye Can exchange pleasantries Can give instructions Can (briefly) explain procedures Can ask for clarification/ repetition Can express his or her approval/ disapproval Can request travel documents Can understand responses to the above 11 Asking general control questions Can ask (short) factual questions and understand the responses related to: * speaking languages * identity * stay (duration and location) * transfer (from and to destinations) Asking work-place specific control questions Airports Can ask (short) factual questions and understand the responses related to: * purpose of visit (business, tourism, visit) * finances (cash and credit cards) Mobile Security Monitoring Can ask (short) factual questions and understand the responses related to: * purpose of visit/travel route Ministerie van Defensie * finances * mutual relationships of passengers Seaports Can ask (short) factual questions and understand the responses related to: * how to contact the captain * crew list * position on ship * location of work and sleep station *location of personal belongings Can introduce himself (incl. aim/position) Can ask about wellbeing
English to junior NCO´s Land Forces 6 Day training course Military English (26 hrs) Subject Language skills Day 1 – 4 hrs Introduction student’s book General Introduction to the course Speaking Important military words and expressions Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms Wall charts ‘AIFV CV 9035 NL’, ‘Army Structure’, ‘Colt C 7’, ‘METHANE Report’, 'MB 290 D’, ´Soldier´s Kit´, ´Combat Ration-MRE´ Ministerie van Defensie 12 Vocabulary
6 Day training course Military English (26 hrs) Day 1 – 4 hrs Subject Language skills Introduction student’s book Introduction to the course Important military words and expressions General Speaking Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms Vocabulary Wall charts ‘AIFV CV 9035 NL’, ‘Army Structure’, ‘Colt C 7’, ‘METHANE Report’, 'MB 290 D’, ´Soldier´s Kit´, ´Combat Ration-MRE´ Exercises Important military words and expressions 1 Day 2 – 4 hrs Describing situations Geographical expressions 1 Important military words and expressions Operational terminology The OPORD – Platoon Order Issue of Platoon Order by US SGM Johnson (film clip) Confirmation Brief (CB) – in class Geographical expressions 2 Legend Homework assignment ICBB 13 Ministerie van Defensie Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms Speaking Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms Vocabulary Reading / Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms Listening / Abbreviations & acronyms Speaking Vocabulary Speaking
6 Day training course Military English (26 hrs) Subject Language skills Day 3 – 4 hrs ICBB Speaking Exercises Important military words and expressions 2 Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms Briefing of OPORD – Prepositions and military timings Grammar Warning Order (WARNORD) - in class Speaking Briefing of OPORD – Listening Intro speaking assignment – issue of section/squad order Speaking Radio communication, Procedure words Vocabulary + homework: study prowords Radio conversations ‘FIREREP’ Listening 9 -Line MEDEVAC Request Listening / Speaking Exercise Radio communication Speaking Commands and warnings Vocabulary Issue of section/squad orders (in pairs) Speaking Test and Evaluation Vocabulary Day 4 – 4 hrs Day 5 – 4 hrs Day 6 – 4 hrs – 2 hrs 14 Ministerie van Defensie
English for Junior and Senior Army NCO’s 15 Yesterday Tomorrow 22 hrs in 1 wk 50 hrs in 6 wks Integrated modules in entire school period Class room + in the field On-line + class room + in the field Ministerie van Defensie
DOME (Digital Environment Military English) Functional and career EN Technical EN Basic Military EN Enlisted ranks, NCO´s, Officers 16 Ministerie van Defensie
17 Ministerie van Defensie
Language Inventory JISTARC Werknemer / Naam PS nummer Invuldatum Taal Moedertaal Spreken Lezen Schrijven Diploma Gebruik taal 1 Nederlands Ja Goed Ja Dagelijks taal 2 Engels Nee Goed Ja Maandelijks taal 3 Frans Nee Elementair Nee Een paar keer per jaar taal 4 Spaans Nee Elementair Ja Een paar keer per jaar taal 5 Duits Nee Goed Maandelijks 18 Goed Ministerie van Defensie Nee
JISTARC Summary Afdeling Stafesk aantal ingevuld Frans JA Elementair Redelijk Goed Co-gp 4 3 3 Log-pel 15 1 1 C 2 ost 10 3 2 Sie 2 4 0 Sie 3 6 5 5 Sie 4 4 2 1 Sie 6 en SBK 10 7 6 102 EOV Cie Staf 19 7 4 EOV pel 1 19 2 1 EOV pel 2 19 8 5 1 Logpel 11 3 2 1 104 Verk-esk 64 30 28 2 107 AS Bt 75 12 8 4 260 83 66 11 TOTAAL 19 Zeer goed 1 1 1 3 1 Ministerie van Defensie 2 5 1
Conclusions • Out of the class-room, into the field • Language designer + military instructor designer • Integrate language training in military program • Create DOME: a modular structured language training archive • Monitor the learners from a distance 20 Ministerie van Defensie
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