Foreign Language Training in Latvian NAF

commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence (2018); focus on capability development; limited spending on personnel (50%); maximization of recruitment ( ) more flexibility in selection; training has to be more adaptive. preparation for Warsaw Summit (presence of Allied Troops in Baltic See Region) 2 Defence Policy

3 Personnel Development State Secratary Undersecretary of State Personnel Development dep. Militery Education and Science div. Personnel div. Social Issues div. increasing the number of recruits; deminishing the number un unexpected contract terminations; capability to function in agile environment keeping the education and training standards high, but reasonable; military education in context of civilian education

4 How to succeed don’t forget who your clients are; coordination between MoD and: NAF HQ (J-1 Personnel department); TRADOC; Language School. regular meetings with specialists from other countries, sharing the experiance

NAF LS Structure 5 Commander (1) Training Section (3+23) Alūksne TS (5) Liepāja TS (4) Testing Section (7)

6 Limbaž i Valmier a Gulben e Balvi Ludza Rēzekne Madona Valka Preiļi Daugavpil s Jēkabpils Ogre Jelgav a Ventspils Talsi Kuldīga Rīga Bauska Saldus Lithuania Estonia Russia Krāslav a Sigulda Belarus Baltic Sea Rīgas Jūras līcis Jūrmala Liepaja TS Dobele Alūksne TS Tukums Kadaga Alūksne Riga TS

NAF LS Objectives  Design curricula for language training in compliance with NATO STANAG 6001 (Ed 4)  Provide language (English, French) training and testing for NAF and MoD personnel  Develop STANAG 6001 English language tests  Maintain NAF personnel language training and ELP data base 7

Languages  English (intensive, non-intensive)  French (non-intensive)  Dari (Farsi) (suspended since the end of 2012)  German (suspended since the end of 2009) 8

Non-intensive English courses English for MoD Employees (9 months; 4 lessons/week) Writing for NATO STANAG 6001 (72 lessons in 6 weeks) Listening, speaking and reading for NATO STANAG 6001 (72 lessons in 6 weeks) Grammar for NATO STANAG 6001 (72 lessons; being developed; launched in 2017) 9

Intensive English Courses  Professional English Language Courses (16 weeks; divided in 7 different levels)  Professional English for NDA cadets (12 weeks)  English for BDCol candidates (12 weeks)  English for Military Representatives at Multinational HQ (12 weeks) 10

Materials  Campaign English for the Military  Specialized DLI materials  Authentic materials  Headway; Language Leader; New English File  English Collocations in Use  English Vocabulary in Use  English Grammar in Use 11

Capacity English  Intensive (16 weeks) 260 per year  Non-intensive (6 weeks) 120 per year  Non-intensive (9 months) 80 per year French  Non-intensive (9 months) 20 per year 12

Language Testing 13

Language tests in Latvia English:  ALCPT  STANAG

ALCPT  Placement a) as part of entrance test for intensive courses (in combination with writing); b) to select the most appropriate STANAG bi-level test (1/2 or 2/3)  Qualification a) NCOs; b) cadets & junior officers 15

STANAG 6001  Qualification/ promotion a) for senior and higher officers (SLP at least ); b) for positions at NATO HQs; c) for studies at BALTDEFCOL  At the end of an intensive course 16

Teaching and testing  Before a course: ALCPT + short writing test for placement  During the course: - Mock STANAG test to practice the test format and combat test anxiety; - ALCPT to select the most appropriate STANAG bi-level test (1/2 or 2/3) 17

Teaching and testing  End of/After the course: STANAG test – for qualification & check the effectiveness of the training programme 18

STANAG Testing  Team - 6+1; capacity – per session  4 sessions a year – organized around courses + individuals upon demand  Reading and listening – in co-operation with Estonia 19

STANAG Testing  Piloting – Latvian/Estonian tests in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia  Bulgarian, Croatian and Slovak tests piloted in Latvia  Teachers can take the STANAG test on a voluntary basis 20

Challenges  High personnel turnover rate (6 in 5 years)  Recruiting qualified and experienced personnel  Pressure to award the required levels (without providing (adequate) training)  Appeals  Introducing computer-based writing test 21

22 ATTENTION! THANK YOU FOR YOUR