bilc conference budapest may 29 - june 1 2006 standardizing language training programs in the...

BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

Standardizing language Standardizing language training programs in the training programs in the

Bulgarian military Bulgarian military educational institutionseducational institutions

Olga Sotirova, LTC S.StamatovOlga Sotirova, LTC S.StamatovPersonnel Policy Directorate, MoDPersonnel Policy Directorate, MoD

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA


Presentation overviewPresentation overview

New strategy on ELT - goal and tasksModel of ELT Action plan


BackgroundBackground

April 2004 – Bulgaria member of NATO:

- need for adequate language competence – to integrate and function professionally in a multinational environment;

- need for standardized English language training to meet the STANAG 6001 testing requirements efficiently and timely.


Ministry of Defense – EG 0356Ministry of Defense – EG 0356

1. A Package of Force Goals 2004 was approved in September 2004.2. A ministerial order was issued to distribute responsibilities and control functions among the executive agencies. The Personnel Policy Directorate is the responsible agency for ЕG0356 LANGUAGE PROFICENCY OF THE DEPLOYABLE FORCES. 3. With ratification protocol 20, Item 5 – Oct.2004 – NATO STANAG 6001 (ed. 2) LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY LEVELS – was officially applied to MoD and Bulgarian Army personnel as of January 1, 2005.


The New Strategy on English The New Strategy on English Language TrainingLanguage Training

A STRATEGY

FOR DEVELOPING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING AND TESTING SYSTEM FOR THE PERIOD 2006-2010

WAS APPROVED BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND IS IN FORCE AS OF

JANUARY 1, 2006


STRATEGY GOALSTRATEGY GOAL

Improvement of the systems of training and control and the conditions of English language acquisition by military and civilian personnel at general and professional levels complying with

NATO STANAG 6001.


TASKSTASKSThe main task of the Strategy is to set the direction and the mechanisms for developing the system of English language training and control in order to achieve the Goal of the Armed Forces EG 0356 “Language skills of the deployable forces”

Other tasks: to enhance the system for English language training and

control and its administration; to increase the quality and effectiveness of training as well

as the number of trainees; to implement new forms of English language instruction in

order to maintain the achieved levels of proficiency; to modernize the equipment and facilities used in English

language training


Model of English Language TrainingModel of English Language Training General description of the model of training The English language training follows the model of career

development of military personnel and is carried out through the following complementary forms:

- training towards a Bachelor’s or Master's degree in the field of “Military Science” provided by the military institutions for higher education;

- training in intensive and non-intensive English language qualification courses;

- training in the form of distance learning and ESP courses; Courses for maintaining the level of English language are planned

as inseparable part of the systems for preparation of units of high and low readiness level for participation in missions and operations, of units that will be part of multinational contingents and carry out tasks in the full range of modern military operations.


Model of the English language trainingModel of the English language training

English language training in the curricula of Vasil Levski National Military University, Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and Georgi Rakovski Defence and Staff College

The minimum number of allotted classes in the curricula for achieving Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in the professional field of “Military Science” is 700.

BILC conference

Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

VarnaShoumen

V. Tarnovo

D.Mitropolia

.


Intensive Language Training in Post-Intensive Language Training in Post-Graduate Qualification CoursesGraduate Qualification Courses The intensive language training in post-graduate The intensive language training in post-graduate qualification courses is carried out in the departments and qualification courses is carried out in the departments and faculties of the Defence and Staff College, the National faculties of the Defence and Staff College, the National Military University, the Naval Academy and the Foreign Military University, the Naval Academy and the Foreign Language Training Centre.Language Training Centre.


Level oneLevel one – – duration 18 weeksduration 18 weeks. . The aim of the course is to provide The aim of the course is to provide initial language training to absolute beginners. initial language training to absolute beginners.

Level twoLevel two – – duration 18 weeksduration 18 weeks. . Eligible for training are holders of Eligible for training are holders of STANAG 1-1-1-1 Certificates, Certificates for successfully covered STANAG 1-1-1-1 Certificates, Certificates for successfully covered Level 1 Course or Certificate issued by the Commandant of the Level 1 Course or Certificate issued by the Commandant of the respective educational institution proving sufficient coverage of respective educational institution proving sufficient coverage of Level 1 Final test requirements Level 1 Final test requirements

Level threeLevel three – – duration 15 weeksduration 15 weeks. . The aim of the course is to The aim of the course is to provide adequate preparation of trainees for achieving STANAG provide adequate preparation of trainees for achieving STANAG 6001 level 2-2-2-26001 level 2-2-2-2. .

Level fourLevel four – – duration 12 weeksduration 12 weeks. . The aim of the course is to The aim of the course is to provide adequate preparation of trainees for achieving STANAG provide adequate preparation of trainees for achieving STANAG 6001 level 3-3-3-3. 6001 level 3-3-3-3.

Training is carried out in courses on four levels:Training is carried out in courses on four levels:


Training in intensive English language Training in intensive English language courses is organized and administered in courses is organized and administered in

the following structures:the following structures: - level one (elementary) and level two (pre-intermediate) –

predominantly at the Centre for language and computer training and information technologies, and when necessary – at the military educational institutions;

- level three (intermediate) and level four (advanced) – at the departments and faculties of all military educational institutions and at the Centre for language and computer training and information technologies;

- specialized courses – at the departments and faculties of all military educational institutions

- specialized English for Staff Officers – at Rakovsky Defence and Staff College


Non-intensive training courses

The non-intensive English language courses are to be organized into various forms and with various duration and frequency depending on the course.

A system for distributed learning is being developed at the Defence and Staff College, the National Military University and the Naval Academy for the purpose of conducting refresher courses for maintaining the language levels. Participation in this form of training is regulated by a Ministerial order.


CRITERIA FOR THE COURSES CARRIED OUT AT THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER MILITARY

EDUCATION:

№ Course Type Course Duration ALC books and additional

materials

Minimum Entry Requirements

ALCPT/STANAG

Minimum Exit Requirements

ALCPT/STANAG

1. Level 1 18 weeks Books 1-12 - 50 points

2. Level 2 18 weeks Books 13-24 50 points 70 points

3. Level 3 15 weeks Books 25-30 70 points 80 points

4. Level 4 12 weeks Books 31-34 80 points orSTANAG2-2-2-2

90 points

5. Specialized courses 2-8 weeks 80+ points orSTANAG2-2-2-2

Set by the respective training institution


Expected final result of English language trainingExpected final result of English language training

The final result will be considered successful if at the end of the training process military and civilian personnel have developed their language proficiency in all skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) at a level, sufficient to enable them to perform successfully within the range of their professional competence, to integrate into a multinational environment and to continue to improve their proficiency level on their own.


System for control and evaluation of English language proficiency

The evaluation of the language skills of trainees attending courses is carried out through the following forms of control:

- entry control –administered at the beginning of each course by the training institution in order to establish the entry level skills of the trainees;

- current control – administered by instructors in compliance with the syllabus in order to evaluate acquisition of taught material;

- exit (final) control – administered at the end of the course

to measure the level of language skills.


Evaluation of language skills of military and civilian personnel according to

NATO STANAG 6001 Requirements for test candidates: - to hold a valid STANAG 6001 certificate or

certificate whose validity expired not longer than a year ago;

- to have achieved a result of minimum 65 points at an ALCPT in the year of applying for taking the test or the previous year.


THE ACTION PLANTHE ACTION PLAN

Standardized curriculum for cadets Standardized curriculum for qualification

intensive courses Standardized curriculum for ESP courses Standardized procedure for administering ALCPT Standardized procedure for development and

administering of STANAG tests – Regulation №3/ February 7, 2006


WORK GROUPSWORK GROUPS For the development of standardized syllabuses for

training cadets and trainees at the Defence and Staff College

For the development of standardized syllabuses for intensive qualification courses

For developing ESP courses For applying a standard ALCPT administering

procedure For developing SAC materials For developing a distance learning platform


Considerations for the development of Considerations for the development of standardized syllabuses for the intensive standardized syllabuses for the intensive

coursescourses

Number and type of courses Course duration Main course book Additional materials Ratio between General and Specialized English Incorporation of self-study


INTENSIVE COURSES INTENSIVE COURSES LEVEL I - IVLEVEL I - IV

Entry and exit requirementsObjectivesTeaching materialsSyllabus content


NEXT STEPSNEXT STEPS

Finish work on syllabuses for cadets and officers attending the Defense and Staff College

Finish work on syllabuses for ESP coursesImplement SACs and Distance Learning


TOTAL NUMBER OF TRAINEES IN BULGARIATOTAL NUMBER OF TRAINEES IN BULGARIA

0

500

1000

1500

2000

Total: 7059 252 379 1164 1317 1298 1509 1140

1999 г. 2000 г. 2001 г. 2002 г. 2003 г. 2004 г. 2005 г.


STANAG 6001 SERTIFICATE HOLDERSSTANAG 6001 SERTIFICATE HOLDERS

Sessions 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Abroad Total

1111 16 55 131 268 158 200 56 3 887

>1111<2222 130 230 365 828 854 556 594 15 3557

2222 44 87 141 119 174 184 76 13 838

>2222<3333 58 67 191 227 351 192 220 35 1341

3333 13 23 35 48 57 49 86 29 340

>3333<4444 5 6 46 27 26 28 16 6 160

4444 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 7

Total 266 469 493 1518 1722 1210 1057 101 6836


QUESTIONS ?

bilc conference budapest may 29 - june 1 2006 standardizing language training programs in the...

Documents

level of english language

language skills

language proficiency

systems of training

effectiveness of training

g0356 language proficency

adequate language competence

higher education training