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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA. Standardizing language training programs in the Bulgarian military educational institutions Olga Sotirova, LTC S.Stamatov Personnel Policy Directorate, MoD. Presentation overview. New strategy on ELT - goal and tasks Model of ELT Action plan.

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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

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  1. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Standardizing language training programs in the Bulgarian military educational institutionsOlga Sotirova, LTC S.StamatovPersonnel Policy Directorate, MoD BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  2. Presentation overview • New strategy on ELT - goal and tasks • Model of ELT • Action plan BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  3. Background • 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. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  4. Ministry 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 protocol20, Item 5 – Oct.2004 – NATOSTANAG 6001 (ed. 2) LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY LEVELS – was officially applied to MoD and Bulgarian Army personnel as of January 1, 2005. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  5. The New Strategy on English Language 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 BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  6. STRATEGY 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. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  7. TASKS The 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 BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  8. Model 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 ofunitsof high and low readiness levelfor 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. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  9. Model 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

  10. Shoumen . V. Tarnovo Varna D.Mitropolia BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  11. Intensive Language Training in Post-Graduate Qualification CoursesThe intensive language training in post-graduate qualification courses is carried out in the departments and faculties of the Defence and Staff College, the National Military University, the Naval Academy and the Foreign Language Training Centre. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  12. Training is carried out in courses on four levels: • Level one – duration 18 weeks. The aim of the course is to provide initial language training to absolute beginners. • Level two – duration 18 weeks. Eligible for training are holders of STANAG 1-1-1-1 Certificates, Certificates for successfully covered Level 1 Course or Certificate issued by the Commandant of the respective educational institution proving sufficient coverage of Level 1 Final test requirements • Level three – duration 15 weeks. The aim of the course is to provide adequate preparation of trainees for achieving STANAG 6001 level 2-2-2-2. • Level four – duration 12 weeks. The aim of the course is to provide adequate preparation of trainees for achieving STANAG 6001 level 3-3-3-3. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  13. Training in intensive English language courses is organized and administered in the following structures: • - level one (elementary) andlevel 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) andlevel four (advanced) – at the departments and faculties of all military educational institutions and at theCentre 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 BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  14. 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. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  15. CRITERIA FOR THE COURSES CARRIED OUT AT THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER MILITARY EDUCATION: BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  16. Expected 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. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  17. 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. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  18. Evaluation of language skills of military and civilian personnel according toNATO 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. BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  19. THE 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 BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  20. WORK 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 BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  21. Considerations for the development of standardized syllabuses for the intensive courses • Number and type of courses • Course duration • Main course book • Additional materials • Ratio between General and Specialized English • Incorporation of self-study BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  22. INTENSIVE COURSES LEVEL I - IV • Entry and exit requirements • Objectives • Teaching materials • Syllabus content BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  23. NEXT STEPS • Finish work on syllabuses for cadets and officers attending the Defense and Staff College • Finish work on syllabuses for ESP courses • Implement SACs and Distance Learning BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  24. TOTAL NUMBER OF TRAINEES IN BULGARIA BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  25. STANAG 6001 SERTIFICATE HOLDERS BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

  26. QUESTIONS ? BILC conference Budapest May 29 - June 1 2006

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