The DLIFLC offers foreign language (FL), military studies (MS), and area studies (AS) courses in resident programs in 22 different languages. Many more languages and dialects are taught on a nonresident basis through contracts administered by the DLI Washington Office. The program offerings are subject to change as they are determined by the requirements of the DoD and other federal agencies. On the Presidio of Monterey, the DLIFLC conducts intensive foreign language education at levels ranging from basic to advanced, as well as various specialized programs.
The primary objective of the educational programs on all levels is to teach the target language as a vehicle of active communication. Teaching is normally carried out by faculty with native or near-native language proficiency and the language is always taught within the cultural, political, socioeconomic, and military contexts of the country or countries where the target language is spoken.
Most students attending the DLIFLC are assigned to a basic program. Teaching begins with carefully selected authentic materials and gradually moves toward creative use of the language in a variety of real-life situations. This progression is achieved through activities that emphasize listening, reading, and speaking skills. Student self-confidence is increased by means of conversational activities such as role playing and coping with everyday situations. Students also learn to write in the language, but this skill is not formally evaluated.
Intermediate and Advanced level programs provide maximum flexibility for both the student and the teacher. A variety of routines are employed to increase the student’s ability to communicate orally: presenting reports, debating current issues, and supporting a point of view are typical classroom activities. The level of proficiency achieved varies, depending on the length of the program and the difficulty of the language.
The DLIFLC also offers a number of specialized programs to meet special needs. Brief program descriptions follow.
Each basic program is an intensive program with 100, 200, and 300 level language courses. Each program is designed to take the student up to an Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) proficiency Level 2 in the three tested skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and speaking ability. The writing ability acquired varies, depending on the target language. Prerequisite: minimum DLAB score (as specified under “Admission Requirements”).
Basic Conversational Program: Code 02
An abbreviated program at the introductory level that focuses on active communication skills suited for daily interaction in the target country. It is designed to develop listening comprehension and speaking ability to ILR proficiency Level 1. Prerequisite: none (DLAB scores as specified under “Admission Requirements” are recommended).
An introductory-level program utilizing specialized materials and teaching techniques designed to provide the student with adequate language capability to meet some social obligations and to enable him/her to cope with personal survival situations. Prerequisite: none (no DLAB required).
Cross-Training Program: Code 05
In the case of closely related languages or dialects, this intensive program at the beginning and intermediate level is designed to provide basic program graduates of one language or dialect with parallel skills in a related dialect. Prerequisite: an ILR proficiency Level 2 in listening comprehension and reading comprehension in the original language studied.
A program with 300 level courses designed as continuing education for basic program graduates who have served in the field in a professional specialty. It is designed to advance the student’s listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and speaking ability to ILR proficiency Level 2+ and to further develop the student’s overall proficiency in writing. The instruction varies according to the student’s initial competence and the difficulty of the language. Prerequisite: ILR proficiency Level 2 in listening comprehension and in one other skill in the language to be studied.
An advanced language program designed as continuing education for intermediate program graduates who have served in the field in a professional specialty. Most advanced programs provide a general review of the intermediate program and are designed to advance the student’s listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and speaking ability to ILR Level 3 as well as to further develop the student’s overall proficiency in speaking and writing. Instruction is based on authentic materials selected from current target language publications. Prerequisite: ILR proficiency Level 2+ in listening comprehension and in one other skill in the language to be studied.
A program in a limited number of languages designed to meet students’ needs for specialized vocabulary or unique instructional objectives. Prerequisite: varies with the objectives of the individual program.
Extended (Le Fox) Program: Code 10
An intermediate-level program designed for selected cryptologic service personnel, undertaken immediately upon completion of the Basic Program. It is designed to advance the student#146;s listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and speaking ability to an ILR proficiency Level 2+ and to further develop the student#146;s proficiency in writing. Prerequisite: an ILR proficiency Level 2 in listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and speaking ability in the language concerned.
Basic Special Projects: Code 15
A basic program designed to develop listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and speaking to ILR Level 2, with more attention directed toward listening, and speaking skills for educational, governmental, political, and social environments. Class composition will normally consist of officers, senior enlisted, and high-grade civilians who will be entering a foreign educational program or occupying security assistance, embassy, attaché, or foreign area officer designated billet. Prerequisite: Minimum Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score: 120.
Sustainment Program: Code 31
A program designed to sustain and broaden the current proficiency of foreign language specialists. This continuing education is narrow in scope due the limited time available. The course content is designed around student current language skills. Education is in the four language skills. Language is taught within the geopolitical, socioeconomic and military context of the target cultures. DLPT scores are not expected to increase, but students’ linguistic skills should. Prerequisites: Students must have successfully completed a formal language course and received a Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) skill level of 1+ in two of the three modalities tested.
Refresher Program: Code 41
A program designed to reestablish language proficiency levels in listening, reading, and speaking of personnel with proficiency levels below L2/R2/S1+ who have recently dropped a half level or more. The expected proficiency gain for this course is one half level in those skills where proficiency has declined. Education is in the four language skills. Language is taught within the geopolitical, socioeconomic, and military context of the target cultures. Prerequisites: Current Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) skill level of at least Level 1 in listening, reading and speaking on a test administered within one calendar year prior to the scheduled start of the program. Students without a current speaking score will be tested upon arrival at the Presidio of Monterey, CA.
MOLINK Translator Program: Code 50 (DLI-Washington)
A program specially designed to teach advanced translation techniques in Russian as required for the Moscow-Washington Direct Communication Link (MOLINK) Program. Precise one-way Russian to English written translation is emphasized. Prerequisite: an ILR proficiency Level 3 in all skills in both Russian and English; candidates undergo an agency screening process.
MOLINK Maintenance Program: Code 55 (DLI-Washington)
Guided self-study for MOLINK translator program graduates to enable them to maintain the proficiencies necessary for the Moscow-Washington Direct Communication Link program. Prerequisite: successful completion of the appropriate Code 50 Program.
DTRA Russian Arms Control Speaking Proficiency Program:Code 71
A specialized intermediate program with 300 level courses designed to prepare select students for the mission of working as Russian interpreter-inspectors, -escorts, and -monitors for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, On-Site Inspection Directorate, under the provisions of current and future arms control treaties and agreements. Speaking ability, interpreting and translating skills, and knowledge of current treaties are stressed. Prerequisite: an ILR proficiency Level 2 in Russian listening and reading comprehension skills.