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Renewal of SLP Certificates

BILC ConferenceIstanbul

26 May 2010

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• Loose ends

• Background

• Principles

• Aims and Objectives

• Concept

• Implementation

Presentation

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Now available!

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English language training is part of

career training for Officer candidates – SLP 3332 Army NCOs („Feldwebel“) – SLP 2121 civil defense administration personnel

– SLP 3332/2221

Loose ends

The setting (Oct 2009)

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English language training is part of

career training for Officer candidates – SLP 3332 NCOs („Feldwebel“) – SLP 2221 civil defense administration personnel

– SLP 3332/2221

The setting (Apr 2010)

Loose ends

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Grundsätze für die Fremdsprachenausbildung in den Streitkräften – GenInsp – 22 Apr 2010

(Principles of Language Training in the German Armed Forces – CHOD – 22 Apr 2010)

The setting (Apr 2010)

Loose ends

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• Bundeswehr missions are generally embedded in multinational structures of NATO, the EU and the UN

• Language skills are a prerequisite for the ability to fulfil tasks in a multinational environment and, increasingly, also in national settings

Background

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• Language teaching takes time

• SLP-language examinations take time

• After the completion of career training, there is often no further systematic testing of language skills

• Language skills often need to be proven, i.e. certified, at short notice

Background

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SLP language examinations

• are based on the STANAG 6001 Definitions of Proficiency Levels

• examine communicative competence; they do not test achievement based on course content

• can certify language skills only for a limited period of time

• test each skill separately

Principles

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The development of a testing method

• to facilitate a permanently up-to-date proof of language skills

• to reduce testing time and effort for examiners and candidates without reducing face value

• which does justice to the limited period of validity of the SLP certification

Aims and Objectives

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Separate tests for

each of the 4 skills

• several appointments• personnel-intensive• travel-intensive

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SLP Examinations

L: 1 hr 1 superv.

S: 15 mins. 1 superv., + 15 mins. 3 examiners

R: max. 1 hr 1 superv.

W: 1 hr 1 superv.,2

correctors

Complete SLP exam

• Facultative (2x/year)

• Obligatory on-demand

• End-of-course exams

Pre-test 200 point pre-test Pre-test : 2 hrs 1 superv.

Examination System

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Separate tests for

each of the 4 skills

• several appointments• personnel-intensive• travel-intensive

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SLP Examinations

L: 1 hr 1 superv.

S: 15 mins. 1 superv., + 15 mins. 3 examiners

R: max. 1 hr 1 superv.

W: 1 hr 1 superv.,2

correctors

Complete SLP exam

• Facultative (2x/year)

• Obligatory on demand

• End-of-course exams

Pre-test 200 point pre-test Pre-test : 2 hrs 1 superv.

Concept

SLP renewal (Recertification

examination)

3 separate tests

one appointment one appointment one placeone place

L: 30 mins. R: 30 mins.

MC C: 40 mins.

1 super- visor

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Recertific. exam

c. 1 hr (online)without supervision

max. 2 hrs supervised

Voluntary preliminary test

Complete SLP exam

(End of course, Obligatory on-demand,

Facultative 2x/year)

valid

for

3 y

ears

3332 +

3-year-old SLP

3332

Recertified SLP

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Renewal of SLP Certificates (Recertification)

Concept

valid for 3 years

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Recertific.exam

c. 1 hr (online)without supervision

max. 2 hrs supervised

Voluntary preliminary test

Complete SLP exam

(End of course, Obligatory on demand,

Facultative 2x/year)

valid

for

3 y

ears

3332 +

3 year old SLP

3332

Recertified SLP

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Renewal of SLP Certificates (Recertification)

Concept

Self study program “Brush up your English”

too weak?

valid for 3 years

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1.-15.:Online preliminary test

I.I. III.III.II.II.

Self study program“Brush up your English"

Self study program“Brush up your English"

last week:Recertification examination

January February March April May June

Examination Cycles

last week:Recertification examination

1.-15.:Online preliminary test

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Service area

teletutors

ext. sources,

Internet

exercise generator

auto-matic

glossaries

definitions

grammar

structure

help,program

R – Reading Comprehension

L – Listening Comprehension

O – Oral Production

W– Written Production

G – Grammar

V – Vocabulary

Exercise area

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Project “Brush up your English”

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• All processes are technology assisted

- Administration (Registration, Admission, Certification)

- Production processes of the examinations

- Evaluation/Assessment

Concept

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Intranet / Internet

Database

Laptop

Concept

Examination Procedures:

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Laptop

Intranet / Internet

Scanner

3332

Recertified SLP

Database

Concept

Evaluation/Assessment:

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• Can-Do Statements = Self assessment based on questions/statements taken from the

definitions of SLP-Proficiency Levels

measures both objectively and exactly

has become one of the most widely used language test procedures in Germany

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• C-Test = usually 4 texts with 20 gaps each; the second half of nearly every

other word needs to be completed (free text)

Voluntary Preliminary Self Assessment:

One attempt after registration –only possible online

Concept

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Elements of the Recertification Examination:

• MC C-Test (40 mins.)

MC C-Test = 4 authentic texts with 20 gaps each and 4 options per gap

MC-Test = Multiple Choice (3 options per task/question)

• MC-Test Listening Comprehension (30 mins.)

• MC-Test Reading Comprehension (30 mins.)

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Concept

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Beispiel C-Test-Item

Ergänzen Sie bitte die fehlenden 20 Wortteile.Ergänzen Sie bitte die fehlenden 20 Wortteile.

U. K.: One-fifth of infantry not fit for fighting

RAF MILDENHALL, England - One-fifth of the British army’s infantry soldiers are unfit to fight on the front lines, according to Ministry of Defence figures released Tuesday.

Some a_re___1) not deplo_______2) due t_______3) physical o_______4) mental inju_______5), lack o_______6) fitness o_______7) other nonme_______8) reasons, acco_______9) to a BBC report.

Wi_______10) roughly 9,500 tro_______11) deployed, mo_______12) to sout_______13) Afghanistan, Bri_______14) is t_______15) second-largest contr_______16) to NA_______17)’s Intern_______18) Security Assis_______19) Force th_______20)

Ministry of Defence spokesman Alastair McCrea-Steele called the statistics "misleading" in an e-mail Tuesday, saying that all units deploy at the required strength to fulfill their missions.

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U. K.: One-fifth of infantry not fit for fighting

RAF MILDENHALL, England - One-fifth of the British army’s infantry soldiers are

unfit to fight on the front lines, according to Ministry of Defence figures released

Tuesday.

Some a_______ 1) not deplo_______ 2) due t_______ 3) physical o_______ 4) mental

inju_______ 5), lack o_______ 6) fitness o_______ 7) other nonme_______ 8)

reasons, acco_______ 9) to a BBC report.

Wi_______ 10) roughly 9,500 tro_______ 11) deployed, mo_______ 12) to

sout_______ 13) Afghanistan, Bri_______ 14) is t_______ 15) second-largest

contr_______ 16) to NA_______ 17)’s Intern_______ 18) Security Assis_______ 19)

Force th_______ 20)

Ministry of Defence spokesman Alastair McCrea-Steele called the statistics

"misleading" in an e-mail Tuesday, saying that all units deploy at the required

strength to fulfill their missions.

reries

r

hernops

stthrding

dicalfroyable

tain hetanceationalTOibutor

ere

Sample C-Test Item

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Sample MC-C-Test Item

A are A deployable a a ab b b b bc c C to c cd d d D or D injuries

a a A nonmedical a ab b b B according bC of c c c C withd D or d d d

a a a a aB troops b b b bc C most C southern c cd d d D Britain D the

a a a a ab b B international B assistance bC contributor c c c C thered D NATO d d d

20.16. 17. 18. 19.

10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

6. 7. 8. 9.

U. K.: One-fifth of infantry not fit for fighting

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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Sample MC C-Test (Solution)

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Current Status / Plan:

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• Examination items have been producedMC C-Test-Items: validated on 1,500 candidates

• Limited implementation from mid 2010

• C-Test online from mid 2011

• Technology assisted implementation from mid 2011

Concept

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The recertification process

• is economical and efficient

• retains a high level of validity as a certification of language skillsin a system of alternating between complete SLP and recertification exams

• facilitates a permanently up-to-date proof of language skills

Conclusion

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