NationalDefenceUniversity

Defence Language Centre

BILC Conference 2011 Vilnius

National Report

  1. Languages taught

The Defence Language Centre offers foreign language training as part of the BMSc- and MMSc -degree-programmes as well as officers’ continuous education programmes in the National Defence University and by means of tailored courses available for the salaried personnelof the Finnsh Defence Forces on demand bases. The languages covered include English, Swedish, French, Russian, and German. When applicable, outsourced ad hoc-based training is provided in other languages, such as, for instance, the varieties of Arabic.

  1. Number of graduates

In terms of the degree- and continuous education programmes in the NationalDefenceUniversity, nearly all of the foreign language credit points are accrued in English. This setting mainly results from how the national foreign language selection available at schools predominantly features English as the foreign language mostly opted for and thereby significantly limits the students’ language repertoire. In order to improve this situation, the Defence Language Centre organizes voluntary evening courses for those interested learning Swedish, French, Russian, or German.

As for the tailored ad hoc-based language training, again the majority of the courses given focus on developing skills in English. In addition, at least five courses are yearly organized in Russian, French and Swedish, respectively. The levels covered range from zero to advanced proficiency.

The following featuresexamples of the courses givenby the Defence Language Centre during the current academic year of 2010-11. Apart from these listed, the Air Force and Naval Academies as well as the FINCENT organize language training on ad hoc bases, usually in cooperation with the Defence Language Centre.

2.1 Language courses as part of degree- and continuous education programmes

English

Professional terminology refresher in English for 167 freshmen BMSc-students, 2 credits, proficiency levels 1-3

Academic writing for 134 second year BMSc-students, 2 credits, proficiency levels 1-3 Academic writing for 17 MMSc-students, 3 credits, proficiency levels 1-3

Briefing and negotiation skills for 90 Senior Staff Officer Course students, 1 credit, proficiency levels 1-3

Service- and branch -related terminology refreshers in English for 140 freshmen BMSc-students in the Army and Air Force Academies, 2 credits, proficiency levels 1-3

Professional Swedish for 167 freshmen BMSc-students, 3 credits, proficiency levels 0-3

Beginners’ Swedish for 10 BMSc-students, 2 credits, proficiency levels 0-1

Intermediate Swedish for 10 BMSc-students, 2 credits, proficiency levels 1-2

French

Military French for 2 freshmen BMSc-students, 2 credits, proficiency level 2

Beginners’ French for 2 freshmen BMSc-students, 3 credits, proficiency level 0

Intermediate French for 2 freshmen BMSc-students, 3 credits, proficiency level 1-2

German

Military German for 1 freshman BMSc-student, 2 credits, proficiency level 2

Military German for 1 second year BMSc-student, 2 credits, proficiency level 2

Intermediate German for 2 freshmen, 3 credits, proficiency level 1-2

Russian

Military Russian for 3 BMSc-students, 2 credits, proficiency levels 2-3

Beginners’ Russian for 12 BMSc-students, 3 credits, proficiency level 0

Intermediate Russian for 9 BMSc-students, 3 credits, proficiency levels 1-2

2.2 Foreign Language Courses for salaried personnel

Advanced Military Russian, 33 credits, proficiency levels 2-3

Intermediate Russian Refresher, proficiency level 2

Intermediate Swedish Refresher, proficiency level 2

Military English Update, proficiency levels 2-3

Professional Writing, Utti Jaeger Brigade, proficiency levels 1-3

Professional English Refresher, Armoured Brigade, proficiency levels 1-2

Beginners’ and Intermediate Arabic, proficiency levels 0-2

  1. New material development

Tailored materials are continuously being developed for all the courses listed. This material production goes hand in hand with the methodological development that currently features personalized tutoring and guidance in order to be able to maximally serve the attendants in the context of decreasing resources.

  1. Special projects

The Defence Language Centre continues to organize its own Russian military language test in three levels covering the STANAG6001 levels 1, 2, and 3-4. Similarly, the Defence Language Centre tests operational English proficiency when applicable.

As for the overall proficiency testing in other foreign languages, the FDF rely on the CEFR-based test organized by the National Board of Education.

  1. Contact information

Director Risto Kuokkanen, , +358299530 600