Arabic immersion acquisition language training for HUMINT linguists.

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Due to current foreign language training and mission requirements, military occupational specialty (MOS) 35M, Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Soldiers are again receiving language training to enable their MOS skills. The first iteration of the experimental immersion language program began 4 February and will end 14 November 2008. This will be followed by a four week in-country immersion for selected students to improve their modern Standard Arabic proficiency and learn Iraqi dialects. Eighteen recently graduated HUMINT advanced individual training course students were chosen to participate based on their Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) test results. The course, developed by the U.S. Army Intelligence Center (USAIC) and the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), is an immersion isolation program.

As opposed to in-country immersion learning where students live in the target country and interact with native speakers, these students are isolated in an artificial "Arabic" environment in a refurbished wing of Riley Barracks at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Here they live, study, and train. The area includes classrooms, a library and media center, and a large study room all culturally enhanced with posters, pictures and other realia that provide an authentic immersion atmosphere.

Instructors are DLI trained native speakers of the target language with advanced English proficiency. There are five DLI civilian instructors and two military language instructors (MLI). The MLIs supervise directed study after class hours and organize the weekend activities in addition to mentoring and peer tutoring.

The immersion course is activity based, interactive, and constructive. In addition to classroom training, students organize and participate in weekend language and cultural activities outside the classroom, visiting Arabic communities in Tucson and Phoenix, and role playing in scenarios organized in an "Arabic" community setting. Their one day off, Sunday, is a free day where they may choose to relax on or off post. However, the students will report back on Monday and using Arabic only, describe their Sunday activities. After 2 to 3 weeks, if they are required to complete administrative or medical errands, they will complete them in pairs with one student acting as an interpreter. They will eat together during breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the dining facility where the conversation will be in Arabic; a native speaker will facilitate these exchanges.

Students will be administered the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) at the conclusion of the course. Pre- and post-course questionnaires and on-going course summative and formative course assessments by the instructors will provide course feedback and progress evaluations. We expect outcomes to result in 2/1+/2 as measured by the DLPT before immersion; The Language MOS Enhancement Program (LMEP) will be implemented at the end of the course to familiarize the students with specific job skill language that will support HUMINT operations. Qualified students will be sent to a 4-week incountry immersion at the conclusion of the course, probably in Jordan and Egypt. Pete Shaver is the Director, MI Foreign Language Training Center, and the Immersion Course Program Manager. He can be reached at [phone] or [e-mail].