18 october 2011 netherlands defence staff dr. c.j. helsloot language coordinator...

18 October 2011

Netherlands Defence Staff

Dr. C.J. Helsloot

Language Coordinator

[email protected]

BILC Seminar Monterey, October 2011

An Integral Approach to English in the Dutch Military:the results of a Quickscan

Ministry of Defence2BILC Seminar, Varna 18 October 2011

The scenario framework: 2010-2030

English in the Dutch Military

BILC Seminar, Monterey


The scenario framework: 2010-2030




Policy document 2007:- English is a basic military skill for (almost) all personnel- A STANAG 6001 test for English must be developed- Technological innovations concerning language learning

must be adopted.

Lessons Identified ISAF 2010:English proficiency is too often insufficient - at all ranks.

Summit on English at the Defence Staff in January 2011:Highly ranked representatives of the Defence Staff and the

Operational Commands as well as the Dean of the Military Faculty agreed on the need to improve the knowledge of the English language in the Dutch armed forces.




The Vice Chief of Defence requested for a

Plan for the Improvement of the Command of English

Which was drawn up with the Working Group English and subsequently approved by the Defence Languages Platform.




Personnel

70,000 Employees 50,000 Soldiers and 20,000 Civilians

Staff 2,000Support Command 10,000Defence Materiel Organisation 7,000

Army 26,000Air Force 8,000Navy 10,000Marechaussee (MP) 7,000




PersonnelEnglish Language Teachers

Army 5Air 3Navy 3

Military Academy 6

Total 17 FTE




Initial education Officers Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA): 80 hours

NCOs Royal Military School (Army): 22 hoursNavy School : 40 hoursAir Force School: 40 hours

Post-initial educationPre-deployment refresher courses: 30 or 60 hoursMedical personnel course Writing skills

Air Force school: air traffic controller course, F16 technician course


English Training in the Dutch Armed Forces



The Plan is the result of analyses of written sources and of interviews and meetings focusing on the English language requirement and the English language proficiency level of Defence personnel

The Plan outlines an integral approach to increasing and/or maintaining the English language proficiency of Defence personnel to or at the required level throughout their career.





Required language proficiency

Education, training and testing

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Adequate command of English


1. Make an inventory and conduct a systematic and professional analysis of the kind of language skills required to be able to adequately perform military tasks and positions

2. Define minimum English language proficiency requirements for all military and civilian positions, and include these in the conditions for appointment pertaining to job clusters and/or specific jobs.





Education, Training and Testing

English language education: Instruction in grammar, productive speaking and writing skills, receptive listening and reading skills, and instruction in military and job-specific terminology.

English as instruction language: Adopting English as the instruction language in selected job-specific, trades and career training.

Using English in exercises: The controlled use of English in operational exercises and training.



3. Develop continuous learning curves for English.

4a. Create a pool of language experts and employ them across the board (pooling and sharing),

4b. And increase the number of English-language experts over the next few years.





5. Make targeted investments in the provision and support of digital English-language training and testing programmes using the electronic learning environment of the Defence organisation.







6. Introduce the English-language testing policy across the Defence organisation.

7. Analyse the need for and implement the use and production of English-language documents.



8. Bring in external expertise for train-the-trainer programmes for providing English-language instruction.

9. Drawing on the available language talents, select and appoint language coordinators and English-language assistants at the required organisational hierarchical level.





The recommendation in the Policy Letter from the Minister of Defence to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 8 April 2011:

invest in Language Training

(9 FTE extra)





NEW

Intermediate Vocational EducationCommunity College

English is compulsory, from 2010 onwards

Catching up

English Training outside the Dutch Armed Forces



Secondary and Vocational Education

MoD Ministry of Defence / MoE Ministry of Education / VMBO Pre-vocational Secondary Education / MBO Vocational Secondary Education / HAVO Senior General Secondary Education / VWO Pre-university Education / OCIO Training Centre Initial Training (Pvts)/ KMS Royal Military School (NCOs) / KMA Royal Military Academy (Offr Cadets)

OCIO

Basisschool (Primary School)

4-12 years

VMBO

4 levels / 12-16 years

HAVO12-17 yrs

VWO

12-18 yrs

MBO 430m

330m21

KMS KMA MoD

MoE



Intermediate Vocational Education

Pupil’s Objectives:1. General Subjects: e.g. Dutch /English etc.2. Conducts Basic Military Skills3. Leads and Executes Coordinating Tasks4. Gives Instruction and Training5. Executes Basic Military Security Tasks6. Conducts Basic Technical and Logistic Skills

Structure: 3 Wks Indoor at REC / 1 Wk Outdoor Under Command of Soldiers

SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 3Pre-education for NCOs (650 Students/Year)




Intermediate Vocational Education

Pupil’s Objectives:1. General Subjects: e.g. Dutch /English etc.2. Conducts Basic Military Skills3. Leads and Executes Coordinating Tasks4. Gives Instruction and Training5. Executes Basic Military Security Tasks6. Conducts Basic Technical and Logistic Skills

Structure: 3 Wks Indoor at REC / 1 Wk Outdoor Under Command of Soldiers

SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 2 Pre-education for Privates (2,500 Students/Year)




Intermediate Vocational Education Military English Programme

150 Contact Hours of English in 30 Months

Military English Programme by RMS Weert:Campaign Student’s Book Level 2 +70 Hours

SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 3




Intermediate Vocational Education Military English Programme

90 Contact Hours of English in 18 Months

Military English Programme by RMS Weert:Campaign Student’s Book Level 1 +35 Hours

Italian Army: Line of Communication; Loud & Clear

SECURITY & PROFESSIONALISM Level 2




The recommendation of the Minister of Defence to the House of Representatives:

invest in Language Training

9 FTEor

?




18 october 2011 netherlands defence staff dr. c.j. helsloot language coordinator...

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