1. Can Distance Learning Train and Maintain Advanced Skills? The Russian Language Example Rose Likins and Tatiana Levi Foreign Service Institute U.S. Department of State

2. What U.S. Diplomats Do • Face of America • Protecting Americans • Promoting U.S. business • Communications are key • Expertise in foreign languages and cultures

3. Language at State • Focus on communications skills • World, hard, super hard; proficiency levels • Classroom: small size, native speakers • Distance learning: customized, mentored • Challenge of maintenance on the job

5. Ingredients for Success • Defined target audience: Russian 3/3 speakers • No need to test or evaluate • Familiarity with audience: former students • Credibility with audience: previous success • Applicability: relevant to job now • Choice of topics: key issues in Russian society • Media personalized, reusable

6. Russian People to People Course • Family • Religion • Education • Media • Human Rights • Democracy

7. Experiential Learning Approach(Kolb 2005)

8. Examples from the course

9. Development Features • Integrated team: language/culture experts AND instructional designers • Careful selection/creation of materials • Importance of sequencing • Opportunities for synthesis – mentor sessions

10. Measures of Success • Number of enrollments: 24 • Number of completions: 15 • Customer feedback: Course met their needs, present & future • Leadership feedback: Course met goals • Instructor evaluation: Ss made good progress