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Enhancing Diplomatic Skills: Distance Learning for Proficient Russian Language Communication

Explore how the U.S. Department of State utilizes distance learning to train and maintain advanced Russian language skills for diplomats. The course focuses on key issues in Russian society through personalized and reusable media, with an experiential learning approach emphasizing language and culture. Integrated teams, carefully selected materials, and mentor sessions enhance skill development and job proficiency. Measures of success include enrollment numbers, completion rates, positive customer feedback, leadership endorsement, and instructor evaluations.

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Enhancing Diplomatic Skills: Distance Learning for Proficient Russian Language Communication

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  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

  4. 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

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

  6. Experiential Learning Approach(Kolb 2005)

  7. Examples from the course

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

  9. 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

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