Established as part of the Military University of Moscow in October 2010

Mission:- foreign language training, retraining of Armed Forces’ active duty and civilian personnel;

- foreign language support of MoD international activities, training of foreign military specialists, international military education programs

LINGUISTIC CENTER

Developing foreign language proficiency for communication in general and professional areas

Shaping social and cultural competencies and behavioral stereotypes required for effective multilingual communication throughout service career

Developing ability for self-education for perfection of language proficiency in general and professional communication

GOALS OF LIFELONG LANGUAGE LEARNING

LIFELONG LANGUAGE LEARNING CONCEPT

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

MoD Secondary

Schools

Military academy/

college

Proficiency UpgradePrograms

STAGE 1MoD SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Aged 11-18 children of military prsnl.

6 academic hours of foreign language a week for 7 years;

Compulsory end-of-course exam for a language proficiency level

STAGE 1: Agenda & Pilot ProjectsUniform curricula and textbooks;

Half-year testing for all;Regular assessments of teachers;

Integrated Culture Course in English;

Olympiad – competition for best knowledge of English Summer school

STAGE 2: History & Lessons Learnt Language proficiency shortfall

Two 45-min classes a

week, four semesters ending in

exam

Six semesters on standby

No requirement for language on entrance

STAGE 2: Past Attitudes & Approach

Contacts with peers highly unlikely, hence no need to learn;

all you need isREAD

STAGE 2: Changing Environment

Reductions: 36 academies left from about 100 before

Lots of international affairs involving Russian Armed Forces;

Rising wages and more incentives

TIGHTER REQUIREMENTS

STAGE 2: Novelties1st YEAR 2nd YEAR 3rd YEAR 4th YEAR 5th YEAR

4 language classes a week

Upgrading language proficiency in general

Englishfrom Secondary School

Levelwith a gradual drift

towards professional topics

Perfecting language performance in professional areas by branches

Other -admittance exam;-standard language teaching through efficient check & attestation of teachers;-uniform training aids and books;-bonuses…

STAGE 2: Interim Results

Policy documents approvedUnity of command achievedFirst meeting of teachers

convenedCurricula discussion under way

Nation-wide competition of cadets held

STAGE 3: Target-oriented upgradeGeneral English – 450-500 hours (3 months)

Military & civilian personnel of staffs, depts, offices, whose activities are tied with international military cooperation

Military English – 180-200 hours (2 months) Language instructors and interpreters, appointed from

civil life

UN observer course (combined) – 450-500 hours officers applying for UN observer status

Interpreter course – 1200-1400 (10-months) selected military and civilian personnel with high

proficiency levels

STAGE 3: Target-oriented upgrade

On-demand courses:Air Force “sky-talk”;Navy comms procedure;Peacekeeping “crash course”;NCO course;Pre-retirement course, etc.

Job description & language need analysis

STAGE 3:Formats

Full-time courses – 200 psnl a yearOn-the-job training – n/a

Distance training – in plans

Language proficiency evaluation

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3

HALF-YEAR TESTING THROUGHOUT TERM OF

INSTRUCTION

PROFICIENCY TESTS(once a year)

Language proficiency should be checked at the end of the training period every year by means of tests distributed by Linguistic Center or available online through a specialized network.

FUTURE PLANS

Multi-level & multi-faceted lifelong language learning;

Teaching Russian as foreign language;Linguistic support of MoD activities;Language proficiency evaluation and testing;

International education and training program assessment

THANK YOU!

QUESTIONS?