LANGUAGE TRAINING SCHOOL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06217A000200020022-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: August 1, 1965
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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Background
The Language Training School has as its main function
the providing of in-house language training capability geared
to the extensive language training requirementseof all
categories of Agency personnel, where in-house training is
required by considerations of cover and security, specialized
needs, or in cases where training of the type required is not
otherwise available.
The predecessor of the Language Training School, called
the Language Services Division,, was established in 1951 at
the direction of the then Director of Central Intelligence,
General. Walter B. Smith,4 during the period when Agency training
was being consolidated under the office of Training. During
the period 1953-55 the function was combined with administration
of external training of all kinds, since the majority of language
training was being conducted externally.
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In. 1955 it was determined that major dependence on external
language training posed insoluble problems of security, control
of content, and availability of suitable instruction. The
decision was made to develop capabilities, for in-house language
instruction and to depend upon external facilities, such as
facilities desirable. In 1955 the external training function
was moved elsewhere and language training was linked with area
training where it remained until the Area Training Faculty was
dissolved in January 1965 and its remaining functions assumed
by other components.
Scope and Accomplishments
Agency language training is accomplished in a highly
varied program of full-time and part-time courses and tutorial
instruction. Part-tiii training is conducted before, during,
and after duty hours. _.-Training ac es rangeSfrom
familiarization programs of a few hours in length to full-
time intensive training of case officers, and covert training
of staff and contract agents, such as a recent three-week
full-time project to teach English to two foreign agents as
a part of their covert training.
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The major non-teaching function of the Language Training
School is the furnishing of foreign language proficiency
testing services for the Agency.
In addition we operate language laboratories and a
library of language and general area books, supply tape
recordings and text materials to support language training
activities in the field and maintain a group of personnel
highly proficient in various foreign languages who are
frequently of use to other Agency components for translitera-
tion, translation, interpreting, and research projects
requirint linguistic skills.
Language Training is conducted by a highly professional
and flexible staff consisting of 9 professional staff employees,
9 technical and clerical employees, and 16 full-time and 4 part-
time contract instructors. The contract instructors are native
speakers of various foreign languages. This staff is supplemented
at present by 35 instructors who are paid an hourly rate when
actually employed. A total of 55 hourly-rate employees are
available to us if needed. Classes held outside of duty hours
are, taught by Agency staff employees who have the necessary
lynguis?ic.skills,, supervised and supported by the Language
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Tr'airing School. In the staff are represented capabilities
for teaching ~d languages,and other capabilities can be acquired
In Fiscal Year 1965 a total of 750 individuals were in
training in 22 languages in various programs of the Language
Training School. Part-time training made up almost 75% of
total training. During the year we engaged in a total of 314
separate teaching projects, each of which has to be supported,
and supervised. 63,548 hours of teaching were accomplished
in all of our projects. During Fiscal Year 1965, 313 written
proficiency tests and 280 oral tests were administered in 24
languages. In Fiscal Year 1966 we are experiencing an upswing
in language proficiency'testing. As the first step in achieving
a more effective policy on language proficiency the Clandestine
Services are making a concerted effort to have tested all those
individuals who have claimed a proficiency but who have not
yet been tested. As a result of this effort we will be called
upon to, complete approximately 800 extra oral proficiency tests
by 1 January 1966. The cost of this extra testing, which was
not specifically budgeted for, can probably be absorbed
completely in the budget for hourly rate.contract employees.
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In addition to teaching and testing activities we supplied
language training texts and tapes in response to 61 requests
during the fiscal year, plus extensive advisory work in setting
up language training facilities
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