MAURICIO JATIVA POINTS TO INNOVATION AS A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE INTO THE LEARNING PROCESS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

National Development Projects and the UK Army

Using Computers to Improve Language !!!

Earlier this year, the Army formally launched its trial of an innovative language learning package to help Gurkha soldiers and those recruited from Foreign & Commonwealth countries to improve their English language skills. In partnership with the University for Industry (UfI), the Director of Educational & Training Services (Army) (DETS(A)) has established an ELLIS centre at Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe in Kent – home of the 1st Bn Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR). ELLIS (the English Language Learning Instructional System) is an ICT-based package that, with the support of specialist tutors, can be used effectively as part of tailored programmes to meet individual soldiers’ language needs.
By allowing learners to progress at their own pace and enabling them to practise all the skills of reading, writing, listening AND most importantly, speaking, the ELLIS programmes delivered through the high-tech medium of the Army Learning Centre on the barracks are already proving effective and attractive to those Gurkha soldiers and Nepalese wives who have volunteered to take part. The six month trial (from Nov 08 – May 09) offers short intensive courses as well as longer programmes that are flexible enough to fit into busy Army lives. At the same time, 1 RGR’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Craig Lawrence is keen to promote the benefits of this facility for his troops and sees language education as “real investment that will bring genuine returns for the individual, for his unit and for the Army”. With recognised qualifications in their sights, the soldiers are able to access ELLIS during working hours as well as in their own time….and all at no cost! Working flexibly to run sessions when learners want them, specialist tutors from the near-by South Kent College and the Army’s own BS Tutor based at 22 AEC provide the guidance and support for individuals.
Together with literacy and numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) forms part of the national adult Basic Skills strategy. The Army’s ELLIS project is a pioneering part of the its own BS initiative to develop a system of support that meet the BS needs of Army personnel, wherever they are stationed in the UK and overseas.

The national BS standards are described in 5 levels: from Entry Level 1 rising to Level 2. Entry Level 1 is the standard expected of a 5 year old. Children leaving primary school at 11 years old would be expected to have achieved Entry Level 3 literacy and numeracy skills and those holding GCSE English and Maths at Grades A* - C would demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills at Level 2 respectively. The national qualifications framework for all recognised qualifications comprises 6 levels from Entry Level to Level 5, as shown on the table below. Almost 50% of recruits join the Army with literacy or numeracy skills at Entry Level 3 or less.