Language Training Resources

Language Training Resources

These U.S. government affiliated programs and online language resources assist professional linguists who want to maintain or enhance their global skills as well as other individuals who are interested in increasing their proficiency or learning a new language.

 

Joint Language University (JLU)

A U.S. government-sponsored language training portal that allows students to acquire, maintain, enhance and/or refresh language skills. The repository offers 10,000+ catalog items, including targeted language training, assessment objects and area and culture training. It also offers access to popular subscription services such as daily foreign-language papers from Library Press Display, Rapid Rote vocabulary training and other products from Transparent Language's CL-150 program, and Rosetta Stone.

 

Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC)

DLIFLC is DoD's premier school for culturally based foreign language education and training, with classroom instruction, mobile training teams, and online materials tailored for students at all levels of required proficiency or performance. The institute is a military-only school attended by all four branches of the military service and select individuals sponsored by their agencies.

  • Gloss online offers thousands of lessons in dozens of languages for independent learners to improve their foreign language skills. Lessons are available for intermediate and advanced learners, with the ability to focus on specific topic areas, tailored for building listening and reading proficiency.
  • DLIFLC Online Resources DLIFLC produces most of the language materials used for its basic and advanced courses. These products and other language materials are available for pre-deployment training, deployment use and refresher studies. The majority of DLIFLC products are publicly available through this website.

The Advanced Global Intelligence Learning Environment (AGILE) is a collaborative learning environment that encourages the sharing of learning tools and solutions. AGILE has catalogues and registration for courses from across the Intelligence Community, to include on-line courses in cultural and area studies.

 

Training FLOAT

The Foreign Language Initiative – also known as the FLOAT – was an Intelligence Enterprise project that authorized IC agencies and components to exceed their Full Time Equivalent ceilings by 100 positions across the enterprise to facilitate foreign language training. The program was designed to allow IC elements to exceed their authorizations and pay salaries for backfill hires as well as the costs of the foreign language training. The funds of the FLOAT program were realigned from FLPO to the base budgets of the IC agencies and components beginning in fiscal year 2016.

 

National Cryptologic School (NCS)

The NCS offers language and culture training for U.S. government students in many languages.  Courses range from one-on-one tailored directed studies to 12- and 18-month enhancement courses.  The Cryptologic Area Studies Program also provides area studies training in English and in foreign languages at the foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels. Course information is available on ATRRS - Army Training Requirements and Resources System website, under School Code 820. (Users must access through .mil or .gov system.)

 

Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

FSI offers full-time and part time classroom-based instruction to U.S. government personnel in over 70 languages. FSI also offers mentored online distance learning courses. 


Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR)

The ILR is an unfunded federal interagency organization established to coordinate and share information about language-related activities at the federal level. It serves as the premier way for departments and agencies of the federal government to keep up to date on the progress and implementation of techniques and technology for language learning, language use, language testing and other language related activities.

  • Webliography of Language and Area Studies Resources
    Represents a comprehensive compendium of online Internet materials. Depending on the language, available resources can include socio-historic language sketches, introductions to writing systems and phonologies, beginning and intermediate online tutorials and exercises, online dictionaries, media sites, area studies links to international agency and government sites, cultural and target country materials, etc. Links to webliographies for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian languages are provided permission of the Slavic and Eurasian Language Resource Center (SEELRC) at Duke University and are listed on the right hand side.
  • Language Roadmaps
    The goal of Language Roadmaps is to select and map for language learners and professionals “the best” online language materials and resources for independent and directed study and for instruction and course development.

Special Operations Forces Tele-training System (SOFTS)
SOFTS takes advantage of proprietary and commercial off-the-shelf technology to deliver real-time language & culture training to students anywhere in the world, including those who are unable to attend traditional classes at traditional training institutions. This is live instructors teaching live students, not a software application. Any Department of Defense uniformed or civilian person can apply. Classes will only be initiated for SOF personnel, but empty seats can be filled by other DOD personnel. Priority is given to SOF uniformed personnel. If you qualify, feel free to register now.