About Us
The California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Language Training Center (LTC) is one of the original LTCs selected by the Department of Defense in 2011 to provide language education to military linguists. Since 2012, an average of 94% of the CSULB LTC attendees have maintained or improved their language proficiency on the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT). Of those that maintained their proficiency, almost 30% came to the course at the 3/3 Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) level. Linguists who are serious about improving their language skills should strongly consider attending CSULB’s Language Training Center courses.
Intensive Courses
California State University, Long Beach hosts five 80-hour virtual 16/17-day intensive language courses in French, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Spanish. To be eligible to attend these intensive courses, the military linguist must have a 2/2 ILR rating. In some cases, the program director may waive this requirement. The objectives of the intensive language courses are:
- Increase language proficiency by an “+” ILR rating in at least one modality, and,
- Assist students in developing language learning strategies to improve overall language proficiency
During each virtual intensive course, students will take a higher education pre- and post-tests in listening, reading and (if applicable) speaking. Instruction and materials for the intensive courses are free to the student.
Mentor Courses
CSULB LTC program also offers 16-week hybrid language mentor (HLM) courses. The following HLM courses are offered:
| Fall (Six Classes) | Spring (Five Classes) |
|---|---|
| Arabic | Arabic |
| Chinese | Chinese |
| French | French |
| Persian Farsi | Russian |
| Russian | Spanish |
| Spanish |
Hybrid Language Mentor courses provide individual instruction to DOD civilian or military linguists in the target language. Prior to the start of these courses, the instructors will contact the students to begin to coordinate one-hour face-to-face meetings using Zoom (preferred), MS Teams, or Google Meet. Students are required to take a pre-test before the course, meet with the instructor once a week, spend at least one additional hour per week as study time, and post-test after the final meeting. Instruction is free to the student. The objectives of the hybrid courses are:
- Improve or sustain target language proficiency
- Prepare students for an intensive course or other major language training event.
- Assist student in discovering resources and learning strategies.
Note:
The combination of online sustainment courses leading to intensive language courses provides serious linguists with a pathway to achieve higher language proficiency.
