LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TESTING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06202A000100050007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 13, 1966
• Content Type: MF

L/-5?
Approved For Release 20041f8f/30 : 8-06202A000100050.007-0
1 3 APR 1966
MAORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Support
SUBJECT Language Proficiency Testing
1. On 8 February 1966 the Language Training School (LTS) began
an intensive foreign language testing drive in response to the new
Agency language policy. The policy places an LTS the responsibility
of testing by 31 December 1966 all staff personnel at Headquarters
with claimed but previously untested foreign language proficiencies.
This intensive testing drive is being conducted concurrently with
our regular testing of EOD's, overseas returnees, students completing
courses, etc.
2. Administration of the testing effort was implemented as
follows; The Language Qualifications Register was divided up to show
the language proficiencies in each division or office of the Agency;
pertinent runs were banded to the training officers of the directorates,
who, in turn, passed them to their divisions. Training officers'
representatives contacted individually each employee who has a claimed
but untested proficiency in any language and set up with LTS an
appointment according to a schedule issued by the School; the current
schedule carries through June 1966. Each week, Tuesday through
Friday, two panels consisting of two native speakers, :mainly contract
instructors at LTS, give testa at Headquarters three hours per day.
UP to the present time, oral tests only have been offered, but we are
now making up combined reading/speaking tests which will begin later
in April.
3. At the beginning of the intensive testing drive, a total of
411 untested claims remained to be tested. Since then, with a teat
reservation capacity of 504 tests available, LTS has given 284
proficiency tests and has received notification of roughly 270 disclaimers,
either in lists from various divisions, which are still arriving, or
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 : CIA-Fatf6202A000100050007-0
Approved For Release 200447/30 : 8-06202A00010005000,Z4
eloyeea when they were called by telephone after not
a sduled test, In addition to the disclaime
were diled for teats and, when they did not appear
ed by telephone, requested to be rescheduled at a
later date, this figure represents 25 percent of the acheduled teste
covered. These figures point to the weakest link
fort, namely the time and energy wastpd te division
re and ITS personnel in ocheduling testa for personnel
do not Show to appear at the seheduled time. It has
d that some employees claiming Intermediate to Native
a language, 'env*, upon being queried disclaimed
current profictncy,. in several instances such disc eiefere are open
to question.
4. Another problem being enoo.tntered is that empl
departing for PCS overseas itbout having been tested, end will not
be avellable for two to four years4 To eliminate this gnp
suggested that language testing be required an a pert Df employees'
oute-pnyeasilag and that they not be released for departure prior to
completion of the tests.
Although 3699 theorctca
te the actual number of te
f the relatively high disclaimer rate
sting, LTS has the capability of caaduet
31 December deadline. With the current
of language instructors, ITS estietes
capacity by the end of June if needed
ain to be tested,
,d at 2400,
at the current
ever 2500 tests
celerated
that it could double
6. Scheduling of tests and efforts to achieve 0 higher dec;rec
hence with the policy have been closely coordinated between
Senior Training Officers as well as staff end division
cell!. By and large the cooperation of the training
been excellent. Although the training officers heve in de
recent renewed efforts to improve compliance, we are now trying to
assure compliance with the policy through cemaand chennels. An Agency
notice eill shortly be published ebleh will place the responsibility
upon each employee concerned to appear for the teats as scheduled.
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 : CIAVOnitr 202A000100050007-0
GROUP 1
EXChided from atii,npf
downgrading
Approved For Release 200'1707/30 :trAy8-06202A000100050007-0
Within the next four weeks we should have sufficient evidence as to
whether publication of the notice and other recent measures taken
suffice to assure compliance with the policy and thus the achieve-
ment of our testing objective.
Acting Director of Training
Distribution:
Orig and 1 - Addressee
1 - ADTR
1 - C/LTS
1 - C/LPT/TR
1 - Subj
1 - Chrono
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 : CIA-aPatt202A000100050007-0
25X1A