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Aligning Training and Testing for Interoperability: The Dutch Armed Forces Experience

This seminar presentation discusses the current status of aligning training and testing in support of interoperability in the Netherlands Armed Forces. It explores language policy, the lack of a Defense Language Institute, and the language training and testing needs within the forces. The presentation also touches on the language policy in the Netherlands education system.

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Aligning Training and Testing for Interoperability: The Dutch Armed Forces Experience

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  1. BILC Seminar Varna, October 2010 Aligning training and testing in support of interoperability The present status in The Netherlands

  2. L’Infinito […] E il naufragar mi e’ dolce in questo mare. Giacomo Leopardi, 1819

  3. The scenario framework: 2010-2030

  4. Aligning testing and training in support of interoperability Presupposes that: Language training takes place at different levels; Language training is task-specific; Language tests are available; Language training & testing is regulated and registered.

  5. Aligning testing and training in support of interoperability Presupposes the existence of: a Language Policy a Defence Language Institute

  6. Present status in the Dutch Armed Forces • There is a Language Policy document • accepted in 2007 • by the Defence Administration • but • there is no Defence Language Institute

  7. Present status in the Dutch Armed Forces No Defence Language Institute No implementation of the policy

  8. Present status in the Dutch Armed Forces • Language Policy document (BR 8.03; 2007) • English is a basic military skill for (almost) all personnel • Development of a STANAG 6001 test for English • Registration of the languages known by all personnel • Analysis of the language needs within all Staff and Ops commands • Investing in languages other than English, e.g., French, Mandarin, Hindi, Russian, Arabic, Spanish • Use of language learning technologies

  9. Language within the Dutch armed forces: past & present The Dutch armed forces consists of 70,000 employees  50,000 soldiers and 20,000 civilians Staff 2,000 Support Command 10,000 Defence Materiel Organisation 7,000 Army 26,000 Air Force 8,000 Navy 10,000 Marechaussee (MP) 7,000

  10. Language within the Dutch armed forces: past & present • Which languages? • Military Academy: English (once also French) • Officers • Military School: English • Non-commissioned Officers

  11. Language within the Dutch armed forces: past & present Which languages? (non-individually taught) Russian until 1990 English since 1994 [German (Cold War; 1995 German/Dutch Corps)] Serbo-Croatian between 1998 and 2002 Pashto between 2007and 2010 French since 2008

  12. Language within the Dutch armed forces: past & present English Classes Initial education Officers  Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA): 80 hours (only first year, only 36 contact hours) NCO’s  Royal Military School (KMS): 22 hours Secondary education Pre-deployment refresher courses: 30 hours (professional level) or 60 hours (functional level) Medical personnel course Writing Air Force school: air traffic controller course, F16 technician course Navy school

  13. Language within the Dutch armed forces: past & present • Language Teaching Personnel • English: 12 full positions (fte) • French: 0,5 • Russian: 1,5 • Dutch: 1,5 • Research personnel: 2 • Support personnel • Office for Interpretation: 3 • Office for Translation: 8

  14. Language within the Dutch armed forces: past & present No English language education for: Civilians Privates/Corporals Conclusion At least 65% of employees of the Dutch military forces does not get any English language education. Lessons Identified ISAF English proficiency is mostly insufficient at all ranks.

  15. Language within the Dutch armed forces: past & present Moreover, English proficiency is insufficient not only within the military, but throughout the Dutch society. Who’s to blame?

  16. Language policy in the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) Primary school Since 1986: English is compulsory at primary schools from the age of 10 years. Barcelona Convention 2002, 2 FLs at an early age. In 2008, the Dutch Council of Education (Onderwijsraad) advised teaching English much earlier, from 4 or 6 years. Although not yet compulsory, in 2010 about 200 primary schools have initiated EarlyBird programmes.

  17. Language policy in the Netherlands Secondary school Only since 1998 English is compulsory at all levels Pre-university school (VWO): 12-18 Higher general secondary school (HAVO): 12-17 Lower vocational level (VMBO): 12-16 German or French Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Frisian

  18. Language policy in the Netherlands • NEW • Secondary school • From 2012 on, there will be a minimum requirement: an insufficient mark for English is not allowed, almost insufficient, must be compensated Content and Language Integrated Learning • Bilingual secondary schools (NLD-ENG) 112 pre-university education 25 higher general secondary education 20 lower vocational education • National agency, European Platform, in charge of the quality control

  19. Language policy in the Netherlands NEW Intermediate Vocational Education Community College English is compulsory, from 2010 onwards Catching up

  20. Language within the Dutch armed forces: present & future NEW Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence introduced military curricula IntermediateVocational Education (16-18 years) Security and Craftmanship Level 1 (Corporals): 90 contact hours of English Level 2 (NCOs): 150 contact hours of English

  21. Language within the Dutch armed forces: present & future NEW Pilot Survival course (SLP 1) through blended-learning Willem van der Plaat 2009 Digital course: Pashto for the Military

  22. Language within the Dutch armed forces: present & future NEW Classes in English (CLIL) From 2011 at the Defence Institute of Intelligence and Security Out-in-the-field English, guided by language experts and highly proficient military content-based instructions

  23. Present status in the Dutch Armed Forces • Language Policy document (BR 8.03; 2007) • English is a basic military skill for (almost) all personnel • Development of a STANAG 6001 test for English • Registration of the languages known by all personnel • Inventory of the language needs within all Staff and Ops commands • Investing in languages other than English, e.g., French, Mandarin, Hindi, Russian, Arabic, Spanish • Use of new language learning technologies

  24. Language within the Dutch armed forces: future Since 2008 Defence Language Platform By 1 Oct 2010, Project Team Language to draw up a plan for a Defence Language Institute

  25. Language within the Dutch armed forces: future Education & training Testing & Registration Defence Language Institute Collaborationjoint & combined Research & Development

  26. The scenario framework: 2010-2030

  27. Questions Which countries have a defence language institute? How are they organised? What are their aims and objectives? Are there models available regarding planning & control? I would be happy to get answers.

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