Should local language training be mandated when Stationed overseas?

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 12:18:15 -0500

Excuse my short comings.... I've never been stationed overseas so there may be a breadth of info I'm just not aware of.

But I feel language training, even at least to get bare minimum familiarization (spanglish, germanish, japangliah) with the language could be great for the soldier even if it's a short two year sentence. Even just for diplomacy reasons, having soldiers somewhat acclimated to their environment could be good. Thoughts?

Response by TSgt David L. made Dec 11 at 2016 12:28 PM

TSgt David L. — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 12:28:59 -0500

I think it would be a good idea but it shouldn't be mandatory. Most folks don't have time to do their job AND develop a second language. Conversational German and Italian are two different animals. There is a chance that only 3-5% of the service might qualify for OCONUS duty if you made a 2nd language mandatory.
Either actually or on purpose! LOL

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 11 at 2016 12:32 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 12:32:25 -0500

Good Question. I have yet to get stationed anywhere where there wasn't some kind of Indoctrination when you arrived even when a ship pulls into port you get some sort of Indoctrination before hand to give you some Idea about the Culture but very rarely is Language Training included which I do find sad. I would highly encourage You to learn the language anywhere you get stationed, It Helps and It is almost impossible to do a Tour and not pick up some degree of Local Language Skills. Unfortunately In my Case I learn all the wrong/bad words in most places I hung out, LOL!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 11 at 2016 12:39 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 12:39:25 -0500

Thing is, learning a bit of the local language helps with everything from simple shopping to the more...esoteric...things that men and women get up to. I never needed more inspiration than that, and that's why I speak both Japanese and Tagalog fluently.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 11 at 2016 12:52 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 12:52:59 -0500

As long as I could order a beer or three I was good.
The idea may sound good but what to do with those that fail?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2016 1:06 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 13:06:02 -0500

Where I was stationed in Germany, it was mandatory that all Soldiers and their families (if applicable) had to attend a week long Head Start program to get learned on the local customs and had to learn some basic language skills.

Response by Sgt Jeff Kelly made Dec 11 at 2016 2:01 PM

Sgt Jeff Kelly — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 14:01:01 -0500

Most of my Marine Corps deployments involved foreign languages: Puerto Rico, Vietnam, Japan. Later I worked for the United Nations in Rwanda, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Folks in the UN joked that if you spoke two languages you were bilingual, three languages you were trilingual and if you spoke only one language you were an American. It's really not our fault. English is widely spoken worldwide thanks to first the British empire followed by the American. The world accommodates us. Also, our huge North American continent speaks mainly English. In Europe go 100 miles and you're likely to run into another language. In North America you can drive for days and it's all English. Not that we shouldn't try. A little bit of another language pays off big rewards; it breaks down barriers and give you a feel for another culture.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Dec 11 at 2016 2:24 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 14:24:43 -0500

During my time in both Germany and Italy there was a program with in-processing that included language learning for a few days. Every other country I went to (Korea, Hungary, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, & Egypt) I taught myself the basics. Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, reading culture and history books.

The challenge with any mandated program is that it has to be funded. If there is funding. I can see why I only got some type of headstart program for 2 of the 8 countries I served.

In my last assignment working at the embassy in Cairo, understanding the culture was more important than knowing how to speak language to do our job and to live. Yes a few words helped of course.

If you get a chance to attend a paid program, awesome. If you can't get what you need, consider one of the many free tools on-line or at the post library.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2016 2:43 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 14:43:08 -0500

It should be an option not mandatory, people hate things that are mandatory.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Dec 11 at 2016 4:30 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 16:30:22 -0500

I'm never a fan of mandatory anything and fear that any "mandatory" language classes would be teaching the high school language class that is absolutely worthless to the GI trying to adapt to the local culture. This is probably a place where a voluntary MWR program could step in and teach families what language and phrases they need to communicate with locals around their station. Those that really care about learning the language can get a Rosetta Stone program. Some subsidy for the costs of these courses would make more sense than setting up a mandatory language training program.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2016 4:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 16:59:47 -0500

Most of your major overseas duty assignments have that. Most places call it Head Start, and it is one or two weeks of mandatory classroom training on VERY basic language skills and culture that you will get on reception and integration before reporting to your unit. They teach you to say hello, ask for directions, order a meal that sort of stuff. However, in recent years some of these classes got the 'ol budget cut ax.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Dec 11 at 2016 5:20 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 17:20:28 -0500

I think at least some basic "survival" language and phrases is a very good idea.

In Yokosuka Japan my wife and I attended mandatory Inter-Cultural Relations class. We learned basic Japanese "survival" phrases, some Kanji, the train system, local food and basic Japanese driving laws. For the "final test" we had to ride the trains by ourselves, up to Tokyo to a destination of our choice (ours was Meiji Shrine). That's also where i discovered the doors to the Men's and Women's restrooms at the park in the Shrine complex, opened up into the same restroom. That wasn't covered in the class....LOL!

Overall it was a great experience and familiarized us with the local area. It made us get out and about, out of the comfort zone of the base.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2016 9:06 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 21:06:28 -0500

My first active duty tour was in Germany, then I went to Fort Stewart, then I went back to Germany. During my second tour, they wanted me to take headstart again...for two weeks.

They wouldn't allow me to waive the language part even though thanks to my first tour, I already read/wrote/spoke fluent German (and still do). Once I GOT to the class, though, they gave me the option to test out...so I had mornings off for two weeks.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Dec 12 at 2016 8:03 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 08:03:46 -0500

Well I don't know about the Army, but in the Marines, it is mandated. Typically we're trained on everything from cultural sensitivity to local customs/traditions and useful phrases/words/pronunciations.

Response by SGT David T. made Dec 12 at 2016 9:27 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 09:27:10 -0500

While I think it is a good idea, I don't think it should be mandatory. I have never been anywhere where I couldn't speak English and get by. I think learning about the culture and society is far more important than the language. I also found that pretending to be Canadian was beneficial because they don't seem to have the same reputation that Americans do. It may have been harder if I had a Southern accent, but my Western New England accent was close enough to get by.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2016 1:23 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 13:23:03 -0500

Hi, SPC Ladolcetta.

I've found that even the very basic use of the local language, even when you slaughter the pronunciation, goes a long way with the locals.