[EDLING:1786] Re: US State Dept. staff abroad lagging on languages

[jdeak at DOLPHIN.UPENN.EDU]

  In my experience, the State Dept does not hire people for their linguistic
skills or even their language-learning talent/potential, but rather for their
political views and/or "patriotism." I've known more than a few very eager and
qualified applicants, most political science majors and some already bi- and
tri-linguals, who tried repeatedly to get diplomacy jobs and were turned down
after interviews despite having passed the written test. It seems they don't
want you to have much in the way of political views or interests unless they are
in line with GWBush's. The only friend of mine who did get hired told them he
was a Republican. When I was interviewed for his security clearance, they asked
me questions like "has he ever introduced you to subversive/anti-American
literature" (what's that??) "has he ever expressed a desire to live abroad?" (of
course, why else would he want to be a diplomat?), "any foreign travel you know
of?". I hear Mormons are overrepresented in the force. 
  If traveling abroad, studying politics, and having opinions disqualifies you,
it's no wonder they're not able to train whoever's left (lifelong monolinguals)
to native-like fluency with a few months of study in Washington. Has anyone else
heard similar stories? 

Julia Deak
 
Quoting Francis M Hult <fmhult at dolphin.upenn.edu>:

> Via lg-policy...
> 
> > State Dept. staff abroad lagging on languages
> > Nearly 30 percent of those in posts where proficiency is required get a
> > failing grade, according to a GAO report.
> > 
> > By Anushka Asthana
> > Washington Post
> > 
> > WASHINGTON - Nearly 30 percent of State Department employees based
> > overseas in "language-designated positions" are failing to speak and write
> > the local language well enough to meet required levels, a report by the
> > Government Accountability Office says. "We have a shortage of people with
> > language skills in posts that need them," said John Brummet, assistant
> > director for international affairs and trade at the GAO. "If people do not
> > have the proper language skills, it is difficult to influence the people
> > and government and to understand what they are thinking. It just doesn't
> > get the job done." Languages described as "superhard" by the report are
> > proving particularly difficult. Four out of 10 workers in posts requiring
> > Arabic, Chinese and Japanese fail to meet the requirements.
> > 
> > The levels are even higher in some critical postings. Sixty percent of
> > State Department personnel in San'a, Yemen, and 59 percent in Cairo,
> > Egypt, do not meet language requirements, the report said. Even levels set
> > by the department could be too low to do the jobs properly. According to
> > the GAO, embassy officials in China and Yemen said the speaking and
> > reading levels asked for were "not high enough and that staff in these
> > positions were not sufficiently fluent to effectively perform their jobs."
> > 
> > Not all the news is bad. The report - which has been sent to Sen. Richard
> > G. Lugar (R., Ind.), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee - said
> > there had been positive steps: "State has made progress in increasing its
> > foreign language capabilities, but serious language gaps remain." Still,
> > the GAO found that many posts, including some critical to antiterrorism
> > efforts, were vacant or filled by inexperienced workers.  Brummet said
> > shortages included "visa officers, political officers, economic officers,
> > substantive reporting and consular affairs."
> > 
> > "We are looking for the State Department to rethink the assessment system
> > and do things they are not currently doing to fix the problem," he said.
> > "We are pleased they have agreed with the recommendations and are thinking
> > of making significant changes. The question is: How far is the department
> > willing to go?" All the way, officials said. Justin Higgins, a spokesman,
> > said the State Department had worked with the GAO on the report, which
> > took a year to compile. "We are already making the changes that will
> > address many of the concerns noted in the report,"  he said.
> > 
> > More staff will be employed to ensure additional training opportunities in
> > critical languages such as Arabic. Higgins said efforts to close remaining
> > gaps had been "hampered by an expansion of our mission, including in Iraq
> > and Afghanistan." The report says some postings are not long enough for
> > staff workers to build up skills in certain languages.
> > 
> > Read 65-pg. GAO report on language skills at
> > http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06894.pdf
> > 
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > 
> >  2006 Philadelphia Inquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
> 
> 


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