GCMC Public Affairs staff report

TBILISI, Georgia (May 17, 2013) – The English programs chair of the Partner Language Training Center Europe here addressed the Bureau of International Language Coordination at its annual conference May 5-10.

Peggy Garza, PLTCE’s English programs chair, talked about mobile applications for NATO-orientated language learning at the Bureau for International Language Coordination annual conference May 5-10. BILC is NATO’s only language advisory body. The conference was attended by 68 representatives from 27 NATO and partner countries.

The theme of this year’s conference was “NATOSPEAK,” which involved numerous presentations and study groups on the inherent difficulties of using English as a Lingua Franca by a linguistically diverse population in complex international military environments.

“NATO studies have identified inadequate English language communication skills as the most significant obstacle to interoperability during NATO-led operations,” Garza said. “This conference brought together language experts and NATO staff to collaborate on finding solutions to that problem.”

The attendees of the conference represented their national military language training systems and language schools comprising a unique grouping of professionals with similar challenges and concerns.