CIA'S FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06202A000100050008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: April 6, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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tvflE MOB AND
SUBSECT
itryrRyticr
1. TMs
fleferenc. a1 paragrap
port
Di?t- "
6 APR 1966
TrdMng 'Program
Memo dtd & Feb toDTR fr DDS.
1111122* !Maj.
itatO dtd /1 Dec 6 to DDCI fr DDS,
same subj.
to
Z. As an initial step In Implementing Age w Toretn
Language Pettey as approved by the DDCI on t Febriu4ry 1966. / have
appointed the Deputy Director of Training s Chairmsn of the CIA
Comnsittee for Langeege Developno.erst. This Committee. repreeented
by a senior officer from each of the hear Agency directorate. will be
responsible for (a) assiLting the Director of Training in developing
procedures for implementing the Unguage developmeet program, (b)
assisting Deputy Directors in developing realistic language and lan,sfu
train/ma requirements, (c) providing centralirtd monitoring of the pro-
gram. and (d) recommending policy changes or additions to the orogr.m
where necessary. An example of the latter would be to recornmene
whether monetary incentives are to 'be used In COSiI. en= with the pro-
gram; end if affirmative, to develop the ground rules for their adz-rani:?
trod-Ion. The Committee may elect to set on this provision prior to
0TR's reviSin
One of the first problems to be presented to the Committet,
the DDTR hopes to convene on 8 Aprti 1966. l the natter of
g language proficiencieT of employees who have of me
knowledge of a foreign language. This we believe must be done before
the Agency can embark on any comprehensive language training progrc- ,
Tb* Agency's language qualification register is completely unreliable
as NSW recorded; we estimate that less than one third of those employees
oloisoing proficiency actually possess that proficiency. The first 9ten.
therefore is to purge or purify the register.
4. Ai of this date, the intensive tesling program has
disappointment. The average number of em1oyera being tested each
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verge,bile aaa of 56 test perioe scheduled
pacity is 12). Employee tither ftfl to how or reqnes
uled. Uslase this situation Improves we will have tested
.400 employees by the end of this cal ndar year out of a
00 thet should be tested. The importance of language te,)ting
t to bear on each committee member. We will look to
Ore more enthusiasm in their components for this phese of
m than heretofore hown. Altao, OT I1 will be looking for
from Committee members ao, to maintenance of the
register.
S. Another item for the Cozvnittee'sfirst meeting bi the eubject
of language eqiireinoati and language trdntng requirements. La
requiremente must be determined prior to tb stblihrrtentof tral
requirements. The Chief of the Lasagnas* School is developing format
to be used by Agency components in outlining their current Iengnag ,
requirement. This format will be revieved with the Committee prior
to its use by the Directorates.
6. Since the Working Group envta'
four years for the Agency to fully developand
required to discharge the mission and fu MIS 0
will be the guiding principle for the Coi-irnittee
Quid take up to
in language 3kiti*,
he Agency, this
TR. During the
remainder of Ty 1966 Agency componeutz, working in concert with
their represetatatives to the Language Development Committee, will
determine, and develop language requirements and language treinieg
requirements for ry 67. As the program, gain% Momentum and a4 the
Languege School augments its training capabilttiem, e forsoae a grAual
boild-up in the nu,nber of employees engegeti in foreign language tr-Pining
at any one time. The peek may not be reached until FY 69 or Fit 70.
This will depend, of course, on the number of employee, the DDP And
other Deputy Directorate.s are able to place in full- end part-time
language training during any one year. We may find thst the ntenber
In training will rise moderately during FT 67 again la 63 then tend
to remain constent through FY 70-71.
7. OTR. La ite recent Program. CaR, aeumi.d tht Agency cr
mints would not be able to place large numbers in trin1ng until l?zitt,
TY 67 or early FY 60. Utng Ode as our gtvide with cons tent
increase in the numbers of Career Trainees engeet4 In tanguege tra
imp believed that it would be necessary to 4tart Allgrrtenting the Langu
School Staff during Ty 61. We believe the school will need srlditionel
2 etaff instructors one tnore clerical employee, 1 full-tieva cnntr: et
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and a number of additional employed on a WAE
lag FY 611, seven more fts1 tors and 16 WAEs
red. The School as presently staffed will be able to meet
sluing reetdrements during the interim period, i.e. remainder of
this fiscal year and the first few months of FY 67.
A major problem in language training is to provide for full
on of language classes. In the five common languages, one
or is able to accommodate 5 or 6 students to a claw,. Currently
go of only 2 students is enrolled in each class. This problem
be taken up with the Language Development Committee to
whether, through regular scheduling, classes can be fully
If this problem cannot be overcome the Language School
be bard pressed to meet all training requirements even
rease in its instructional staff.
9. It is clear that we plan to rely heavily n the Language Develop-
ment Committee to assure smooth and progressive implementation of
the Language Development Program. Sy working through committee
members, we should be able to exert steady preesure on Agency compo-
seats to provide us with realistic training requirements, and to make
certain that employees in their components are tested and enrolled in
language classes.
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 : Cl
Sohn Richardson
Director of Training
00100050008-9
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