The main problem with the DLPT V is that a lot of linguists that have been in for a while memorized the questions on the DLPT IV, and bombed miserably on the V. The new version has more authentic material, and the scoring is a bit different.
You have to get at least 75% of lower level questions right in order to get like a 3-3 on the test.

Edited to add; I also was in one of the classes that validated the Levantine DLPT V and it sucked.

quote:

Originally posted by USMCgirl_05:
The main problem with the DLPT V is that a lot of linguists that have been in for a while memorized the questions on the DLPT IV, and bombed miserably on the V. The new version has more authentic material, and the scoring is a bit different.
You have to get at least 75% of lower level questions right in order to get like a 3-3 on the test.

Edited to add; I also was in one of the classes that validated the Levantine DLPT V and it sucked.

Now I'm super motivated to take it.............

The DLPT 5 is a joke, as are the other forms of the DLPT. It is not a real test of profeciency. I've seen many upon many Marines at their MOS school for close to 2 yrs, and they can speak, read, and listen good enough to do their job...........YET, they fail and end up in another MOS. Time and money wasted.

I took the spanish DLPT 5 for the heck of it, because I grew up hearing it in the household and I got a 1+ 1+. That's ridiculous, I understood almost everything I heard or read.

I even took the English DLPT 5 as part of a test program, which is a shortened version of examples from other languages translated to English. The way they form the questions are very difficult and quite frankly confusing.

I think the DoD is just tired of paying FLPP pay and the 5 cuts their payouts.

Hey I know Japanese, and I am enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, if I tell them I know Japanese will I get stuck/stationed in Okinawa permanently(errm, until my enlistment ends)?? Or something like that?

Who knows... anything is possible. You could also be stationed on mainland Japan, Hawaii, or California.

What I meant was, if I would be stationed in Japan the whole time just becuase I know Japanese?

Like I said... who knows, anything is possible. But you have to know that wherever the USMC needs you, you will have to go.

JohnWMiller,

Where you will be stationed depends on your MOS/job. If you go in as a Crypto Linguist, they don't offer Japanese to enlisted Marines currently, but you never know.

I haven't heard of many linguists going to Japan though.

Jude,

My impression was the exam was so difficult because it's what they use to evaluate everyone from DOD on up to State Dep and NSA etc. They need to differentiate between people all the way up to people who'd be well fitted as a diplomat.

You didn't mention what you got on the English DLPT (which I'm guessing is basically a TOEFL) but you'd want to be able to tell the difference between two English speakers if you were a foreign company. Like say a the level of a 15 year old and an English professor. They're both fluent English speakers but one is much more capable.

Anyway that was confusing. I've heard of native speakers taking the DLPT and not maxing out, on more than once occasion.

I am currently in the DEP under the UH contract. I have used Rosetta Stone for Spanish and it has worked wonders.

My question is, would it be advisable to try to learn Arabic through Rosetta Stone?

I know that there are a bunch of different dialects, but does anyone on here have experience using Rosetta Stone for Arabic?

If so, is this an appropriate instructional device for learning Arabic even if it is used erratically (mostly because of infantry training)?

In my experience, the few Arabic words and phrases that I knew were put to good use, and allowed me to break many barriers. So would you think it is better to know some then none at all? I did. BTW... if you do take Arabic, make sure it has a Saudi dialect.

Example: Would you teach a non-English speaker English spoken in Jamaica, or English spoken in Great Britain?

i can speak italian fluently, will i still qualify for a bonus even if italian is not a in demand language?

Languages in high demand (Arabic, Farsi, Pushtu, Urdu, etc.) qualify for the bonus, while Italian does not.

However, if you were part of an exercise/operation where your unit worked with an Italian unit, your language skills will be put to use, thus receiving extra pay for the duration of the time you work with them.

quote:

Languages in high demand

EVERYBODY wants cunning linguists.

When I was in Syria there were some Cadets from West Point and they were given Rosetta Stone during the summer to keep up with Arabic.

I never looked into it, b/c I figured it was for teaching individuals who don't know the alphabet or something but I guess I am wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by Gurgis:
Jude,

My impression was the exam was so difficult because it's what they use to evaluate everyone from DOD on up to State Dep and NSA etc. They need to differentiate between people all the way up to people who'd be well fitted as a diplomat.

You didn't mention what you got on the English DLPT (which I'm guessing is basically a TOEFL) but you'd want to be able to tell the difference between two English speakers if you were a foreign company. Like say a the level of a 15 year old and an English professor. They're both fluent English speakers but one is much more capable.

Anyway that was confusing. I've heard of native speakers taking the DLPT and not maxing out, on more than once occasion.

Gurgis,

I'm not sure if the DLPT is used for other DoD employees or what not. Although, I'm talking about current, entry level service members, who are usually in the 18-24 age range, that take the DLPT 5 and are confused by the english verbage used in the questions. For them, they don't have an option to fail (currently anything under a 2 2 1+), not only will they not get any FLPP pay, but usually get reclassed to a new MOS. There goes all that money spent on training, for maybe missing one or two questions. That's ridiculous.

As for the English DLPT, we didn't get the scores. It was a test program so introduce people to the new DLPT 5. Although, I've taken the DLPT in several languages and I remember the questions, though now they were in English.

As for natives failing the DLPT 5, I would want all instructors to take the DLPT before teaching, then you would have an idea how hard it is. I know spanish fluently and understood the whole DLPT 5, but I got a 1+ 1+, go figure.

As a Dep poolee out of RSSKC, i took my DLAB and got a 116, i ship to basic early February.
I have taken many years of spanish in high school and obviously pick up on new languages well, so what language am i likely to be taught in relevance to what;s necessary overseas?

quote:

Originally posted by arachnid920:
As a Dep poolee out of RSSKC... i ship to basic early February.

I take it you joined the Army?

i told my recruiter i speak fluent german ( read and write ) and only speak farsi he didnt put it donw in my papers , should i try to get it all done after boot camp ?

You could do it yourself either on MOL (Marine Online) or go to your Admin S-1 shop when you get to your unit.

You'd be surprised how many Marines let things pass by and don't keep good records. I'm in Admin at least once a week doing things. Gotta stay proactive.