WEEKLY ACTIVITIES REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00442A000200040068-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2009
• Sequence Number: 68
• Publication Date: August 13, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/18: CIA-RDP61-00442A000200040068-1
Office Memorandum ? UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Acting Chief, Language and Area School
Deputy for Language Training
Weekly Activities Report
DATE: 13 August 1959
A. SIGNIFICANT ITEMS
None to report.
B. OTHER ACTIVITIES
1. The Qualifications Review Panel which met last week approved
the applications of three employees for external Arabic training, one
for the LAS full-time Arabic course, and one for the LAS full-time
Chinese course.
2. LAS has received a request from NE to schedule a new Basic
part-time course in Turkish in September. We had originally scheduled
Phase III of an earlier Basic course to begin in September, but could
if desirable change to Phase I. Our Turkish courses have had a high
rate of attrition in the past, in spite of the fact that they ar
in I Building, and this has been pointed out to
offered by FSI for their full-time Thai course this September, to the
extent of absolutely guaranteeing two bodies. We have informed FSI of
our acceptance of the slots, and are now awaiting final word as to
whether they are still available.
4. We have had no word on the clearance of any of the prospective
Arabic instructors, and this leads us to face the necessity for offering
our full-time Arabic course somewhat later in the fall than had been our
intention. Not knowing when we might count on an instructor, we have
not yet been able to announce a definite date. Incidentally, there
appears to be some misunderstanding, possibly as a result of Mr. Bissell's
directive on this subject, about the course to be given by LAS. In a
His comment was that there were good reasons for a ra o
those concerned and that this was "something we would have to live with".
We plan, despite this lack of assurance about the future, to meet NE's
request for the new beginners' course, with some stronger strictures
about cancellation if enrollment drops below minimum.
3? has shown great interest in the two slots we were
7-, 9 Z L, r.
uunr fi ?_
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conversation with) expressed considerable
surprise on learning we are planning to offer the course in the
regular way, that is, open to any qualified Agency employee.
view had been that, since NE has been directed to hire and place in the
field anyone who successfully completes the course, all candidates for
the course should be screened by IRE.
e Basic German FT class spent four days o ek at
accom anied by of LAS.
acted as chaperone and contributed greatly to the
the trip.
6. ~ has been working on revised budget estimates for the
VIIIP during FY 1960. These figures, which show a considerable saving in
the VLTP over the amounts shown in the official OTR estimates, are being
held for discussion with the D/TR upon his return.
7 informs us that Personnel has approved our
use of on a part-time basis for typing Russian, Polish
and German. contract has been signed, but this. will not be counted
against our ceiling. has completed typing of the Polish Area
Reader and is now working on some Russian structural drills. She
receives fifty cents per double-spaced page.
article
8. An ppearing :.n tne e ruary 1959 Foreign ervice Journal,
was included in the printed "Hearing before a Subcommittee of the
Committee on Foreign Relations on Improvement in Standards of Language
Proficiency and in Recruiting for the Foreign Service", April 16, 1959.
This was part of the material in support of the Saltonstall Bill 9.12+3
to establish standards of foreign language proficiency for the Foreign
Service of the United States.
9. TO/OSI,.has informed us that six students from his
office are scheduled to enroll in Basic Russian Reading (I), four in
Basic Russian Reading (II), two in Scientific Russian Reading, and three
in the Seminars.
10.I are re-organizing somewhat the structure of
Basic Russian Reading and II), with a view to reducing the grammatical
content and increasing the amount of material intended for practice in
reading. Although the same texts will be used as in previous years,
supplementary mimeographed sheets will be handed the students embodying
the above features.
11. Two persons from SR and one from AF are now receiving special
part-time training in spoken Russian. This training is expected to
continue until about the middle of September.
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/18: CIA-RDP61-00442A000200040068-1
1 1FIlE TIAL
12. "interviewed a prospective French instructor -
The quality of French is native and the availability is Part-Time.
13. A rush typing job in French was done for
of the Romance Language Department. The 20 page document was
repro aced in record time.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/18: CIA-RDP61-00442A000200040068-1