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California State University, Long Beach

LTC Description:

The California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Language Training Center (LTC) program has successfully offered residential and online language courses to experienced military linguists from all services and components for the last 12 years. The CSULB LTC offers a Pathway program by providing online sustainment courses prior to and after its virtual or residential intensive courses. The Pathway program was established for sub-2/2 level linguists trying to re-gain their baseline language skills. For example, linguists first prepare for an intensive course by attending a 16-week hybrid language mentor (HLM) tutoring course. Once the HLM course is complete, they subsequently enroll in an intensive course to increase their language proficiency.  Serious linguists can then enroll in the next HLM course to sustain their new level of proficiency. 

The CSULB LTC program offers six 16-week hybrid (online) language mentor (HLM) courses each semester in Arabic, French, Chinese Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Persian Farsi (fall 2023 only). During the 16-week period, faculty and students meet one-on-one for one hour of synchronous instruction per week using Zoom. Students are expected to take a pre-test, a post-test, and to commit to at least one hour of asynchronous work outside of class for each hour of instruction. The HLM courses are offered during fall (Aug-Dec) and spring (Jan-May) semesters. 

CSULB's summer program hosts three 16/17-day 80-hour virtual intensive language courses in Spanish, Russian, and Arabic; and two 16/17-day 130-hour residential intensive courses in Chinese Mandarin and French. The online intensive courses (QB, RU, AD) provide intermediate and advanced language instruction six-hours a day for twelve days and require eight hours of asynchronous work outside the classroom. Voluntary instruction and make up instruction are presented on Saturdays. Sundays are left for individual asynchronous work. The schedule for the residential intensive courses at the CSULB campus provides 10 hours of instruction a day including some weekend days for a total of 130 hours. All CSULB LTC students must complete American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) online reading, listening, or speaking tests at the beginning and end of each course. Eligible linguists must have the approval of their chain of command to attend consistently for the duration of the course. Residential intensive course students may have the opportunity to take the DLPT at the end of course. Virtual and online students who are eligible to take the DLPT are encouraged to test immediately following any of these online mentor or intensive courses.  For information on how to apply, dates of courses, or available seats, please visit the CSULB LTC website.

 

Courses Offered:

Languages/Other Course Type Course Pre-requisites Location
Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic) Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 1 to 3+, CLPM approval Online Hybrid Language Mentor Course
Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic) Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 2 to 3+, chain of command approval or on military orders This Intensive Course is currently online.
Chinese (Mandarin) Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 1 to 3+, CLPM approval Online Hybrid Language Mentor Course
Chinese (Mandarin) Classroom ILR 2 to 3+, chain of command approval or on military orders CSULB Campus
French Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 1 to 3+, CLPM approval Online Hybrid Language Mentor Course
French Classroom ILR 2 to 3+, chain of command approval or on military orders CSULB Campus
Russian Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 1 to 3+, CLPM approval Online Hybrid Language Mentor Course
Russian Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 2 to 3+, chain of command approval or on military orders This Intensive Course is currently online
Spanish Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 1 to 3+, CLPM approval Online Hybrid Language Mentor Course
Spanish Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous ILR 2 to 3+, chain of command approval or on military orders This Intensive Course is currently online
Persian (Farsi) Asynchronous , Online , Synchronous 1 ILR to 3+ ILR Online Hybrid Language Mentor Course (Fall 2023 only)
For specific information on this year’s course dates and how to enroll in a course, please visit California State University, Long Beach ’s website by clicking on the link below.
Pedagogical Approach

CSULB’s teaching methodologies are based on creating a communicative environment focused on maximizing language production. Role playing, interactional activities, shared speaking time, and project development provide language production opportunities in multiple modalities. Experienced faculty carefully select authentic media and cultural realia to provide the foundation for the curriculum. This curriculum covers a wide variety of topics common to the Defense Foreign Language Program as well as the needs and interests of the individual linguist. CSULB emphasizes mastery of high-frequency vocabulary and presents grammar in context. Small group learning and one-on-one oral proficiency instruction provide effective learning opportunities during the intensive courses. Online HLM sustainment courses are tailored to students’ needs and help them prepare for a major language training event such as immersion or intensive courses. The CSULB LTC utilizes GLOSS modules and other beneficial learning platforms such as Yabla and The Chairman's Bao for  asynchronous learning before, during and after LTC courses.   

Testimonials:

“The CSULB LTC training was excellent! I especially liked the 1 hour time frame and the cultural learning applied. Also, I liked the very advanced reading and listening exercises. The course afforded me the capability to score a 3 (in listening) for the first time on my DLPT after taking the DLPT for over 20 years! I would like to continue taking this course, especially with the exceptional instructor… who designed the successful advanced curriculum.”

“(The instructor) was exactly what I needed. (They) understood my proficiency level in 10 minutes and tailored (their) mentorship to enhance my specific deficits. It was a PLEASURE to consult with (them) every week and I hope to have an opportunity to work with (them) again!”

“This course, along with all of the people in the program, has become something I look forward to every year.”

“I’ve grown in contextual understanding of the language. I now can take from the rest of a passage and determine the meaning of words that I didn’t know prior to reading/listening to that particular passage.”

“Another great course. With (professors name) help, I was able to score a 3/3 for the first time.”

“This course was exactly what I needed… This class raised my last DLPT (5 years ago) from 1 to a 2. I think I could have easily gotten a 2+ with a few more days.”

“Compared to where I was when it started, it was a big improvement. I believe my language is back to where I was when I graduated from DLI, or close to it.”

“(Professor’s name) is a great instructor – he knows what the students need and he is flexible enough to adapt to our learning needs.”

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