Bureau for InternationalLanguage Co-ordination

BILC UpdateJulie J. Dubeau

SecretaryBucharest Oct 08

Who we are…

NATO’s consultative and advisory body for language training and testing issues

BILC was established in 1966. The founding members are France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Subsequently, the following countries joined:

1967: Belgium, Canada, Netherlands1975: SHAPE and IMS/NATO (non-voting members) 1978: Portugal 1983: Turkey 1984: Denmark and Greece1985: Spain 1993: Norway 1999: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia

Who we are…

Partnership for Peace (PfP): Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, FYROM, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Mediterranean Dialogue (MD):Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco,

and Tunesia.

Other longstanding Non-MEMBER NATIONS Austria, Australia, Finland, NTG, NTG/JSSG, NATO

PCC, SHAPE, & Sweden.

Secretariat

The voting members of the Steering Committee are the heads of each full member delegation. The non-voting members are the heads of any associate or observer delegations. The BILC Chairman chairs the Steering Committee.

Secretariat staffed by: The UK (1966-1981) Germany (1982-1996) The US (1997-2008) CAN (2008- )

Senior AdvisorDr. Ray Clifford

SecretaryJulie J. Dubeau

LanguageTraining Assessments

Keith Wert

LanguageTesting Programmes

Peggy Garza

BILCSteering Committee

ChairDr. R. D. Monaghan

AssociateSecretaries

BILCSecretariat

Deputy Sect’yJana Vasilj-Begovic

Where do we fit in?

Bureau for International Language Coordination( The Consultative and Advisory Body on Language Matters )

Joint Services Sub-Group( The Action Committee for Join t T raining )

Arm y

N avy

A ir Force

Finance

NATO Training Group( Responsible for Consolidation o f Multi-national T raining )

Military Committee( Senior M ilitary A uthority in NATO )

What do we do?

Annual Conference in Spring Annual Professional Seminar in Fall Responsible for STANAG 6001 Report back to JSSG on progress twice yearly Taskings from NTG Special requests from International Military Staff

and International Staff

Language Testing Seminars Language Training Assessments Benchmark Advisory Test New Assistance to National Testing Programmes

STANAG 6001 Ed 3

Background: NTG/JSSG asked BILC to update STANAG 6001

BILC Study Group reviewed STANAG 6001 and recommended more accurate labels for each level

NEW

0 No Proficiency1 Survival

2 Functional3 Professional

4 Expert 5 Highly-articulate native

STANAG 6001 Ed 3

Significant range between levels

BILC Testing WG developed descriptors for use of optional plus levels

Outcome: STANAG 6001 Edition 3 approved by BILC SC at the June 2008 Conference (2 admin. abstentions).

STATUS: Submitted to NSA for staffing July 08

STANAG 6001 Ed 3

NEW: French STANAG Ed. 3 (coming soon)

Translated and revised. Draft distributed for info.

If there are comments, Heads of national delegations should email BILC Secretary no later than 15 Nov 08.

Email: Dubeau.jj@forces.gc.ca

Coming in 2009

Website to be hosted in Canada:

www.bilc.forces.gc.ca

Annual Conference in Rome, Italy

7 – 11 June, 2009

Theme: Bridging the gap: Language requirements vs. Language reality.

Professional Seminar October 2009- Copenhagen, Denmark, dates TBD

UpdateBILC Activities in 2008…

Jan 08 – Language Training Assessment to GEOApr 08 –Language Testing Workshop to BIH (part 1)Apr 08 - Language Training Assessment to ROUJul 08 – Assistance to National Testing Programme to GEOSep 08 - Language Testing Workshop for BIH (in Garmisch) (part 2)

3 LTS conducted in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (#4 in Nov) BAT WG continued project via /meeting Athens, e-mail &

NATO Secure website

Conference Conference held in Athens 22-26 June 08

Theme: General Proficiency and Specialized Needs: the Philosophical Implications of Education vs. Training

Ahead

Language Testing Seminars Language Training Assessments Assistance to National Testing

Programmes The BAT Administration

New in ’09: Advanced Language Testing Seminar

NTG Task

New Task: 5000 TI-3220R/NTG Dated 18 Sept 2008

BILC should complete a survey of the most cost effective, 6001 Compliant, High Stakes, commercial and government test available in Nations

Report on known elements

Coming to BILC

Joining Instructions (JI):

For May/June Conference, JI sent Jan/Feb For Oct Seminar JI sent May/June

Contact the Secretariat if you don’t receive the Joining Instructions

Merci!

Questions?