3 Picks for DLI

[shark11]

I know the topic of what languages to learn has been discussed many times however,

I learned that I may have to write down three languages to go to DLI for, and I may get one based on the needs of the Marine Corps. I plan on putting down

Arabic
Russian (took a semester in college)
Korean (speak a little already)

I'm interesting if anyone has any other ideas on this, I have a feeling that if I put down Arabic I'll pretty much get it, I want to have a good plan B in case it doesnt happen though.

Also, I have been looking into the Rosetta Stone, is this program as good as the company says it is?

Gamsa Hamnida to anyone who can help

[mara]

Anyanghamshimnika. Chae irimun "mara" imnida.

I suggest learning Arabic. Otherwise you'll be spending your enlistment bouncing back and forth between Korea and the assignments you'll have right before you go back to Korea.

From what I gather from my buddies in the Army, having any type of language aptitude whatsoever and having Korean anywhere on your list is like an ROTC cadet having Chemical Corps on their branch request list... you're going to get it. If I could pick three languages, it would be:

Arabic (current threat)
Chinese (future threat)
Spanish (so I can talk to people when I go back to Georgia)

Good luck.

[shark11]

I really never gave much thought to chinese, I have been thinking of Korea as a future threat too. It seems like Russian has become the new latin. I think I might ask for Arabic, Korean, and Chinese

taedan hi gamsa hamnida

[Snake]

1)Chinese
2)Arabic
3)Persian
4)Generic Eurolang

[GackMan]

Arabic or Chinese, maybe Farsi if you are thinking Iranian threat.

The Marines who had Korean didn't have it as bad as the Army. They seemed to get better duty stations and had a more rounded professional development program. But I'd still run like hell from Korean. If we go to war with NK, there will be a few Koreans on our side.

Honestly, I can't remember a whole lot of Marnies in CM when I was there (but my info is way out of date).


P.S. Stop romanizing Korean... you are killing me.

[mara]

Not all of us have a Han Gul-capable keyboard ;)

[SgtUSMC8541]

Is e-bonics an option? :D

[Jimbo]

1) Farsi
2)Turkish
3) Russian


Central Asia still ahs a number of growing pains to go through.

[GackMan]

Be careful what you wish for.

If you put languages on your 'wish list' that don't exist at DLI, or have limited enrollment, or are non-threat languages, then you will get needs of the <insert your favorite service>.

I know the Farsi school was pretty small when I was there. I'll assume that it has grown since then, but probably not a huge linguist factory like some of the Asian schools or like Russian was 'back in the day' when they were running 2 schools and didn't have enough room to expand.

I don't know how many people I heard at DLI talking about how they were going to try to get Japanese... :rolleyes:

[Jimbo]

Be careful what you wish for.

If you put languages on your 'wish list' that don't exist at DLI, or have limited enrollment, or are non-threat languages, then you will get needs of the <insert your favorite service>.

I know the Farsi school was pretty small when I was there. I'll assume that it has grown since then, but probably not a huge linguist factory like some of the Asian schools or like Russian was 'back in the day' when they were running 2 schools and didn't have enough room to expand.

I don't know how many people I heard at DLI talking about how they were going to try to get Japanese... :rolleyes:


Farsi gives a linguist an excellent foundation for learning Dari and Pashtu. And you never know where you'll bump into a Farsi speaker. Latin America, Lebanon, the Sudan.

[Jedburgh]

Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian are all good options.

Farsi would be an excellent choice, for the long-term. The Farsi numbers at DLI have expanded a bit, although still nowhere near Arabic or Korean. But it has become not uncommon to relanguage Arabic failures into Farsi for a second try.

They do teach Kurdish here now. But the numbers are still very small.

Turkish numbers have shrunk radically over the past few years. It's rarely taught to other than FAOs or those going to very specific assignments.

[shark11]

mianhamnida,, I'm mean sorry about the romanized hangul.


Like I said I never gave much though about Chinese but I think I might put that down as one of my three choices. We'll see come the fall.

[peter28]

I read a soldier's account of how he became fluent in the three most important languages a member of combat arms can learn:

5.56
7.62
9mm

ok seriously

farsi
arabic
spanish

[Spinner]

And you never know where you'll bump into a Farsi speaker. Latin America, Lebanon, the Sudan.


LOL, driving a cab in downtown Chicago. :D

1. Spanish
2. Chinese
3. Russian

[shark11]

whats so great about Spanish, i can learn that anywhere. and why is everyone so afraid of Korean?

morugesumnida

I am correct in understanding that Arabic is harder than Farsi? I thought they would be about the same.

spaseeba

[Snake]

What languages are offered at DLI.

My Wife has been twice (Japanese and then Arabic). She says that they offer a whole mess of Languages, but not all are open to Initial Entry personnel.

[shark11]

DLI offers quite a few languages, the way my job works is I pick three that they offer and Im guaranteed orders to one of them, anyone asking for arabic right now seems to be getting that above all else

[GackMan]

Farsi gives a linguist an excellent foundation for learning Dari and Pashtu. And you never know where you'll bump into a Farsi speaker. Latin America, Lebanon, the Sudan.

hey hey hey... don't interject any logic into this. There was no rhyme or reason to the assignment of languages when I was at DLI.

I spoke a language already when I got to DLI. The Army wasn't concerned with that. They gave me a new and improved one!!! There was a soldier who majored in Chinese and had a BA in it, plus spoke native German in my Korean class... there was a 1/2 Korean guy who showed up there the same time as me, who wanted to learn Korean - he got Chinese.

Just cause is makes sense to learn Farsi, doesn't mean that the military will let a person.

I think (IIRC) there were 2 Farsi classes a year at DLIFLC when I was there. If you don't arrive at the right time, forget it... the USMC, being as small as it is, probably won't keep anyone around for 5 months in order to get them the language they put on their wish list.

in retrospect, farsi would have been cool. lots of hot Iranian chics in Austin, TX when I was there. :eek:

[peter28]

I am correct in understanding that Arabic is harder than Farsi? I thought they would be about the same.

spaseeba

yes you are correct. I hear that farsi doesnt have the ridiculous and tedious grammar rules that are used in proper arabic. I dont know too much about indo-euro languages, their grammar or styles of spoken dialects, but I would imagine that theyre closer to english grammar structures than arabic and its various dialects.

[old_rus_crypto]

Arabic was a 2 year language when I was there, but that's been a while ago. My Basic Russian Course was 47 weeks. You could do worse than spend 2 years in Monterey.

If faced with it again and I had my choice, I'd go:

Arabic (with its many dialects)
Farsi
Russian

Folks, don't count Russia and it's many former republics out. Especially with them signing the agreement with Iran earlier this year to help them develop their nuclear capability...

Also, we don't only gather intel on those with whom we are actively engaged in hostilities. Sometimes we even gather intel on... others.

Don't know why I don't have much of an interest in Asian languages. Was even born in Japan.

[shark11]

Well I give the monitor my DLI dream sheet in 2 weeks, Im asking for
1. Chinese
2. Farsi
3. Korean

The Marine Corps is pushing Arabic like mad right now. I would like Arabic but it really is the new Russian

[GackMan]

hey - you might get Arabic anyway!

[USAFINTEL]

Your placement at DLI will be based on your DLAB scores.

Arabic, Chinese, Korean are Cat 4 Languages so you will need a high DLAB score to be considered. I think th cut off for study of Cat 4 languages in somewhere in the mid 90s

We just did a study out at DLI and let me tell you the way they pick students for courses seems a little odd. We spoke with one student who was not only fluent in French but taught french in college and they stuck him in Russian.

Any language will benefit you in the long run.

Are you going into a linguist position? Other Intel position?

Rosetta Stone is okay for vocab but not much else. I don't think it is worth the price they want. They are much better programs out there alot cheaper.

[USAFINTEL]

DLI Info

Basic Course
FY04 Student Load Class Days Program
Presidio* Language Faculty** In Course Duration***
800 Arabic 204 315 (63 weeks) 18 months
640 Korean 152 315 (63 weeks) 18 months
350 Chinese 83 315 (63 weeks) 18 months
50 Japanese 8 315 (63 weeks) 18 months
1840 Category IV Languages 447
250 Russian 112 235 (47 weeks) 13 months
200 Persian Farsi 52 235 (47 weeks) 13 months
150 Serbian/Croatian 27 235 (47 weeks) 13 months
150 Pashtu, Tagalog, Dari, etc. 30 235 (47 weeks) 13 months
750 Category III Languages 221
10 German 7 170 (34 weeks) 10 months
10 Category II Languages 7
200 Spanish, French, 60 130 (26 weeks) 7 months
Italian, Portuguese
200 Category I Languages 60
2800* Totals 735**

* Projected Student Load as of 1 June 2004 in Basic Courses only

[Chuvak]

The Marine Corps is pushing Arabic like mad right now. I would like Arabic but it really is the new Russian

Arabic isn't going to "go away" in the same sense that Russian did. A problem with Russian is that it is no longer, and more so with every day, the lingua franca of Eurasia. The State Department, as of a few weeks ago, stopped sending Foreign Service Officers to Russian class that are going to Georgia; they're learning Georgian now. Arabic will never have that problem. Also, and more importantly, the threat of Arabic-speaking "badguys" won't likely reach the same "conclusion" the Soviet Union did.

Study Chinese or Korean if you're a pessimist and Arabic if you're an optimist.

In my opinion, Rosetta Stone is only good if used in conjunction with a routine class. It's a glorified over-priced flash-card program.

[USAFINTEL]

I still would not rule out Russia as a bad guy or the importance of having Russian Qualified Linguists, they did supply half the world with military equipment and that legacy is not going away any time soon.

I do agree that Arabic and Chinese should be the priority and I might even put Russian over Korean. Spanish would also be useful and is one of the easier languages to learn.

[Citizen]

hey hey hey... don't interject any logic into this. There was no rhyme or reason to the assignment of languages when I was at DLI.

I spoke a language already when I got to DLI. The Army wasn't concerned with that. They gave me a new and improved one!!! There was a soldier who majored in Chinese and had a BA in it, plus spoke native German in my Korean class... there was a 1/2 Korean guy who showed up there the same time as me, who wanted to learn Korean - he got Chinese.


My best friend was also a native German speaker, had lived in Puerto Rico for a time and was fluent in Spanish; received a double B.A. in both of them, requested every possible German or European assignment- and was subsequently stationed in Japan.

Little did I know that the most enduring truism I'd receive from high school was by way of my music theory teacher:
"Do not try and place reason in a place where reason does not exist."

[Chuvak]

I still would not rule out Russia as a bad guy or the importance of having Russian Qualified Linguists, they did supply half the world with military equipment and that legacy is not going away any time soon.

I do agree that Arabic and Chinese should be the priority and I might even put Russian over Korean. Spanish would also be useful and is one of the easier languages to learn.

I completely agree, except I would not characterize the Russians as badguys. Russia is a failed state (something no one wants to admit). Ethnic Russian women on average have 1.1 children. Kazan 7, Tatars 6, Chechens 7-10, to name a few. Supposedly, and I find this hard to believe, 1/3 ethnic Russian women marry muslim non-Russian men (making them and their future family no longer ethnic Russian). In alcohol poisoning alone, Russian men die at a rate of 1/2 of September 11th *every day*. Russian men that reach the age of 16 (working ages are considered 16-60) have a 50% chance of making it to 60 (it's 80% in the US). Deaths of ethnic Russians are greater than births by 100 *per hour* and by 2050 (considering ALL factors, not just the 100 per hour), ethnic Russians will half in population. In the next 15 years, Russia's borders will almost certainly shrink significantly. A number of regions already have diplomatic relations with other nations (with a flag), particularly Tatarstan, which has diplomatic recognition with 17 countries including the US.

Although I do agree with the supplying of weapons part, the need for Russian-speakers is shrinking.

[Spinner]

Study Chinese or Korean if you're a pessimist and Arabic if you're an optimist.


That's why my next language is going to be Chinese. I want to get the glass back to half empty. Or is that half full?:confused:

[Citizen]

Although I do agree with the supplying of weapons part, the need for Russian-speakers is shrinking.

I will not argue with the premise that a Russian threat is non-existant, or, at the very best, highly unlikely.

However, Russian is still a language with widespread useage throughout most of the Stans and Asia. Even for people far outside it's borders, it's still considered a back-up language in the way French is among parts of Africa.

For this reason, wouldn't it still be a language worth studying?

[GackMan]

For this reason, wouldn't it still be a language worth studying?

they have nukes. any need to elaborate?

[Chuvak]

For this reason, wouldn't it still be a language worth studying?

In a word, yes. This is a little contrary to my previous statement, but I, personally, am far more concern about what is going to happen in the Former Soviet Union than what is happening in the Middle East. But for the time being, I find it less career enhancing/lucrative. shark11 asked which languages would be best to study and I answered what I thought would be "best" in an assumed context. Could Russia's state (not to mention its nukes) have a greater impact on the US than the Middle East? I think so.

No failed state has ever recovered without violence within its borders and its neighbors. If the situation turns out as bad as I've been told it could, I'm not going to start studying Russian. I'm going to run for the hills.

[shark11]

calm down SOCNET linguists, no need to quarell, I will post what my beloved Corps deems fit to teach me hear in a few weeks, I do appreciate all the input. There are only a limited number of languages that the Corps sends linguists to so I am somewhat limited in my choices. I really want Chinese but I have been looking at those damn characters and it scares me.

[GackMan]

let us know when you're past 4 months and either on cruise control or rocked out and headed to the fleet... LOL

[Chuvak]

let us know when you're past 4 months and either on cruise control or rocked out and headed to the fleet... LOL

What's the attrition at DLI?

[GackMan]

My class was over 50%.

33 started, 16 finished.

But not all for academic reasons. I'd estimate 25 - 30% were academic. the rest were for clearance failure, kicked out of the army, dope smoker, sudden attack of being gay, etc.

The big kicker was we had people make it through the entire course, and score 0+/0+ or 1/1 on the DLPT.

[Snake]

Well I give the monitor my DLI dream sheet in 2 weeks, Im asking for
1. Chinese
2. Farsi
3. Korean




You put Korean on your dream sheet.....You're getting Korean.


If the Marine Corps language managers are anything like the Army/AF freaks....

[old_rus_crypto]

My class was over 50%.

That's consistent with what mine was in the late 80's.

[Citizen]

...sudden attack of being gay...


I just laughed until my stomach hurt. I'd never heard that before. Thanks.


okay, sorry- back to the thread topic...

This is going to sound like a foreign idea, I'm sure, but why not just pick the three languages you are most interested in learning.

I've not been to DLI, but I have put in many, many hours studying in and out of the classroom. Not for nothing but I've always done 50-100% better in topics I was genuinely interested in.

My $0.02.

[arete]

I hope you picked Mandarin Chinese, rather than Cantonese. I love Hong Kong as much as the next guy, but it's pretty likely that the PLA is going to be speaking Mandarin.

[GackMan]

So Shark11 - what did you get?

This is going to sound like a foreign idea, I'm sure, but why not just pick the three languages you are most interested in learning.

If you only put languages you are interested in learning on your dream sheet, e.g. you put down German, French & Spanish thinking you'll get some nice duty at NATO HQ in Belgium and drink beer for 4 years you'd be wrong. You'll probably not get any of those three... you'll get needs of the Army, so you might as well have not put in a dream sheet at all.

You have to balance what you are interested in learning with what you might actually have a snow-balls chance in hell of getting assigned. :)

Based on your job, the needs of the military, and the current class schedule.

e.g. you might speak Japanese a little already, you might want to take Japanese at DLI, there might even be a Japanese class starting soon... problem is, we don't spy on the Japanese. PV2 radiodial just out of basic isn't going to get a slot in Japanese as a EW Voice Intercept Operator. There are no slots out in the army for that, there for there are no gaining units requesting school trained Japanese linguists. The people who get Japanese are liaison types, FAO officers, etc. I knew one E4 who got Japanese, he re-upped as a psyop and got the language in his contract.

But say you are smart and did your research. Someone like GackMan tells you that Korean sucks, because all you will ever do is bounce back and forth to Korea and Ft Lewis but never for more than a year. So you get to DLI knowing that Korean should be avoided at all costs... you check the up coming class schedule and make your wish-list the anti-Korean and hope the powers that be get you into a class that you want.

but really, you get to learn a foreign language for free. how bad can that be? I decided to stop bitching about it after I reenlisted.

I hope you picked Mandarin Chinese, rather than Cantonese. I love Hong Kong as much as the next guy, but it's pretty likely that the PLA is going to be speaking Mandarin.
I don't think they even have CC at DLI. You'd have to go to the East Coast for that.

[arete]

I don't think they even have CC at DLI. You'd have to go to the East Coast for that.

Heh. Shows what I know. I just figured they did after seeing it on the Cat 4 list of languages after taking the DLAB.

[GackMan]

We had a guy who spoke native Cantonese at DLI about the same time as me... couldn't speak English very well. No idea how he got there. They were going to re-train him in CM. The dude was on like permanent casual status because they couldn't figure out what to do with him.

[lal]

I have received very conflicting info re: DLI from recruiters.

One says that the ONLY way for an enlistee to get DLI guaranteed in the contract is enlisting as 98X. Does anyone know if this is a policy? Or dependent on DLI space? And will this change as the new fiscal year and new slots are made?

Also, if my DLAB qualifies me for a category 4 language (which I understand as being 120 right now, but could be wrong), is there a possibility of getting a category 3?

I hope this is the right place for this question--you seem to know all of the language stuff!

[Spinner]

I have received very conflicting info re: DLI from recruiters.

One says that the ONLY way for an enlistee to get DLI guaranteed in the contract is enlisting as 98X. Does anyone know if this is a policy? Or dependent on DLI space? And will this change as the new fiscal year and new slots are made?

Also, if my DLAB qualifies me for a category 4 language (which I understand as being 120 right now, but could be wrong), is there a possibility of getting a category 3?

I hope this is the right place for this question--you seem to know all of the language stuff!

97E requires language training, so that MOS will guarantee a slot at DLI. 97B does not require the language, but many in that job eventually get assigned for a language. Based on some info from other threads, 97B is not even available on initial enlistments, but anybody re-upping for it should make sure that language is included in the contract. Push for the language, don't accept anything less.

As for which category you get assigned, again, it comes down to the needs of the Army. More than likely your high DLAB score is going to lead to a CAT IV language, but not always.

Good luck.

[Spinner]

I don't think they even have CC at DLI. You'd have to go to the East Coast for that.


Or the midwest. They offer it at my local hangout. Who says spending time in the dimly lit lounge of a Chinese restaurant is a waste of time?:cool: :D

[shark11]

well the Marine Corps said Ill get Korean Farsi or Arabic (wont know which one until I check in to DLI) if I go now or I can deploy for 7 months to Iraq and they'll give more a definitive option. Bad thing is Ill have to extend if I wait. They're always finding a way to get more time out of people

[fatalfunnel]

I was at DLI five years ago as a Marine. I enlisted with Arabic as my first choice. When the Marine Det. looked at my dlab they laughed and put me in Spanish. Second when I was there, and I thin it is the same. The Marines only offered Arabic, Spanish, Russian, and Korean to first termer's. Unless you were back for a second language or had a special assignment (officers) you were 95% going to one of those four languages. You have to remember that the Marine Corps is small with specific theaters of operation unlike the Army and other services. I hope this helps, I loved Monterey, the best duty station I have ever had.

[shark11]

Im guessing you were a 26xx. The MC seems to focus in Russian Spanish Arabic and Korean for them. My MOS is a bit different, we have a wider range of languages we work with. If I want Chinese Im going to have to wait a year or so but I think its worth it. They are starting to send 26xx for Chinse, Serbo Croat, and Farsi but it is very rare for that field.

[fatalfunnel]

What is your MOS...CI, or IT? I am curious, I may be going back in and I am looking at more language options.

[shark11]

IT's ceased to exist a few years ago with the exception of a few left in the reserves that havent been through the transition course yet

[Sltwtr1]

The MC seems to focus in Russian Spainish Arabic and Korean for them.

I was a FORCE XXX 311 HET YY6 When I was in the Corp. I attended DLI and achieved a O+5 in Spainish.

The problem was, I was sent to Spain for my whole 6 years. Everytime I requested to go to South or Central America, I was told that those billets were reserved for Marines who spoke Spanish only. Since I was an expert in Spainish, I had to remain in Spain and my transfer requests were denied.

While all my buddies were running ops all over South America and Central America. I was stuck in Spain, the most action I saw was at the running of the Bulls.

The Rain in Spain, stays mainly in the plain; And those who take Spainish at DLI stay mainly in Spain.

FYI

HOORAH HOORAH Whoof whoof whoof GO DEVIL DOGS! ;) :D

[shark11]

Why are you changing my post? I know what Spanish is.


Canadians.....

[Sltwtr1]

Shouldn't you be violating your no comms rule;)

That is American Born abroad mother fucker:p

Just have fun in Monterey and keep a guest bed clean and ready:D


OUT

[GackMan]

Just have fun in Monterey and keep a guest bed clean and ready:D

Monterey?

Anyone going to HTCIA 2005 Conference August 29 - 31, 2005? :)

[2/A/3-75]

Chinese
Chinese
Chinese

Not only a miltary need, but huge future business need.

[Chuvak]

Chinese
Chinese
Chinese

Not only a miltary need, but huge future business need.

And a justification for those that have yellow fever.