Towards task-oriented blended language learning

1. Towards task-oriented blended language learning • Karijn Helsloot • Defense Intelligence and Security Institute • Netherlands

2. Defence Language Centre Dutch Defence Academy (NLDA, Breda) • the interpreter’s section (3) • the translation section (6) • the five separate language teaching & training sections • 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

3. 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

4. BILC’s Language Assessment, March 2012 • Final Report • Cooperative Language Training Assessment • Policy and Management • Implementation and Training

5. 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

6. 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

7. Language Training Strategy • Offer blended task-oriented language training, • where blended means a mixture of • monitored e-learning • class-room meetings • job-integrated training

8. Programs • Pashto and Dari • Russian for Border Control Guards • English for junior Army NCO’s • French for JISTARC

9. 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

10. 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 • Police and security tasks at airports • Assisting and working jointly with the police • Guarding and protecting vital locations and persons Border control tasks • Core task: Security & Surveillance • Workflow: carrying out and coordinating security tasks • Workflow: carrying out border control tasks Workflow: carrying out first-line border control tasks in Russian

11. Workflow: conducting first-line border control tasks in Russian • Understanding travel documents • Conducting a short general interview • Asking general control questions • Asking work-place specific control questions

12. 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 9035NL’, ‘Army Structure’, ‘Colt C7’, ‘METHANE Report’, 'MB 290D’, ´Soldier´s Kit´, ´Combat Ration-MRE´ • Vocabulary • Exercises Important military words and expressions 1 • Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms • Describing situations • Speaking • Geographical expressions 1 • Vocabulary • Day 2 – 4 hrs • Important military words and expressions • Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms • Operational terminology • Vocabulary • The OPORD – Platoon Order • Reading / Vocabulary / Abbreviations & acronyms • Issue of Platoon Order by US SGM Johnson (film clip) • Listening / Abbreviations & acronyms • Confirmation Brief (CB) – in class • Speaking • Geographical expressions 2 • Vocabulary • Legend • Vocabulary • Homework assignment ICBB • Speaking • 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 • Day 4 – 4 hrs • Briefing of OPORD – Listening • Listening • Intro speaking assignment –issue of section/squad order • Speaking • Radio communication, Procedure words • Vocabulary + homework: study prowords • Radio conversations ‘FIREREP’ • Listening • Day 5 – 4 hrs • 9-Line MEDEVAC Request • Listening / Speaking • Exercise Radio communication • Speaking • Commands and warnings • Vocabulary • Day 6 – 4 hrs – 2 hrs • Issue of section/squad orders (in pairs) • Speaking • Test and Evaluation • Vocabulary

15. English for Junior and Senior Army NCO’s

16. DOME (Digital Environment Military English) • Functional and career EN • Technical EN • Basic Military EN • Enlisted ranks, NCO´s, Officers

18. Language Inventory JISTARC

20. 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