LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM- -A REPORT ON A PROJECT BY THE OFFICE OF TRAINING TO VERIFY LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CLAIMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06215A000300040003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 15, 2000
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: MF

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director-Comptroller
SUBJECT : Language Development Program--
A Report on a Project by the Office
of Training to Verify Language
Proficiency Claims
REFERENCE : Memo to Deputy Directors from
Ex. Dir. -Gompt. dtd 7 Mar ' 69.
same subject
1. Pursuant to your request contained in referent memorandum
to provide your office with a status report on untested language pro-
ficiency claims. I am pleased to outline here the main features of an
extensive administrative and testing effort currently being made by the
Office of Training to verify language proficiency claims.
2. On 29 August a specially developed Language Proficiency
Inventory Card. copy attached, was sent through component Training
Officers to 4, 163 individuals whose names were listed in the Language
Qualifications Register (LQR) as having proficiency in a foreign lan-
guage. The LQR was current through 31 July 1969. Each recipient was
asked to record on this pre-printed card his preference regarding
validation of untested language claims by tests or, optionally, disclaim-
ing previously claimed proficiencies. The card also provided space to
affect deletion of proficiencies recorded in the LQR by error. All cards
were to be signed and returned to the OTR Project Coordinator via the
component Training Officer. By arrangement with the Office of Person-
nel, Training Officers are to forward the Language Proficiency Inven-
tory Cards on employees serving overseas to the Central Processing
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25X9
Branch. This procedure will ensure that returning personnel will
receive a card and appropriate instructions during in-processing.
Presently, there are approximately -employees professing lan-
guage proficiency- -according to the LQR--now assigned to overseas
stations. All completed cards are sent to the Qualifications Analysis
Branch, Office of Personnel, for processing into the Language Quali-
fications Record.
25X9 25X9
25X9 3. Through 17 September, -completed cards were returned
to the Project Coordinator. Exclusive of the cards ear-marked
for personnel presently overseas, this number represents about 59
percent of the cards distributed to Headquarters 25X1A
personnel or approximately cards dis- 25X9
tributed on 29 August. Individuals electing an examination to validate
claims of ELEMENTARY, or better, were asked to arrange testing
appointments with the Language School by 15 September 1969. To date,
369 employees have made arrangements to be tested. Additionally,
a significant number of individuals claiming a proficiency of SLIGHT
have been tested, or scheduled for testing, although first priority was
assigned to personnel with claimed proficiencies at the ELEMENTARY,
INTERMEDIATE, HIGH, and NATIVE levels. Beginning in January
1970, a concentrated effort will be made to evaluate the remainder of
untested claims in the SLIGHT category.
4. Considerable progress has also been made in the two other
important areas of the Language Development Program mentioned in
your memorandum--identification of position language requirements
and language training requirements. All Directorates have now iden-
tified staff positions which require language competence. This infor-
mation will be sent to the Office of Personnel for incorporation into the
Position Control Register. Additionally, the Office of Training
has received language training requirements from the Plans and Sup-
port Directorates indicating that the majority of requirements are now
a matter of record. This information will be extremely helpful in
making the most efficient and economicaleu se of our facilities and
instructor personnel.
5. A comprehensive report summarizing position and training
requirements and the status of proficiency testing will be submitted
to you by 15 January 1970, as requested in your memorandum.
25X1A
Chairman,
Language Development committee
SECRET
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