Mapping TW2K Language Assets to the USG ILR Scores

[Damocles]

The United States military along with the foreign affairs and intelligence communities utilize a common scoring system to characterize and determine language proficiency for positions and personnel.

http://www.govtilr.org/

The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and Foreign Service Institute School of Language Studies are the primary centers for language acquisition for US Government personnel. Students enter language training at these institutions with the goal of achieving an Inter-agency Language Round-table (ILR) score that matches the needs of the position they will eventually encumber.

ILR language scores are expressed as two numbers, the first indicating the foreign language student’s proficiency at speaking, and the second indicating reading proficiency. The ILR scale goes from 0 to 5, with lowest score being S-0/R-0 indicating no proficiency in the tested foreign language and the highest score being a S-5/R-5, which would indicate a level of proficiency equal to an educated native language speaker with a culturally acceptable accent.

As reprinted from http://www.govtilr.org/Skills/ILRscale2.htm, someone with an S-2 score should be able to display the following level of language proficiency:

Speaking 2 (Limited Working Proficiency) Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. Can handle routine work-related interactions that are limited in scope. In more complex and sophisticated work-related tasks, language usage generally disturbs the native speaker. Can handle with confidence, but not with facility, most normal, high-frequency social conversational situations including extensive, but casual conversations about current events, as well as work, family, and autobiographical information. The individual can get the gist of most everyday conversations but has some difficulty understanding native speakers in situations that require specialized or sophisticated knowledge. The individual's utterances are minimally cohesive. Linguistic structure is usually not very elaborate and not thoroughly controlled; errors are frequent. Vocabulary use is appropriate for high-frequency utterances. but unusual or imprecise elsewhere. Examples: While these interactions will vary widely from individual to individual, the individual can typically ask and answer predictable questions in the workplace and give straightforward instructions to subordinates. Additionally, the individual can participate in personal and accommodation-type interactions with elaboration and facility; that is, can give and understand complicated, detailed, and extensive directions and make non-routine changes in travel and accommodation arrangements. Simple structures and basic grammatical relations are typically controlled; however, there are areas of weakness. In the commonly taught languages, these may be simple markings such as plurals, articles, linking words, and negatives or more complex structures such as tense/aspect usage, case morphology. passive constructions, word order, and embedding. (Has been coded S-2 in some nonautomated applications.) [Data Code 20]

Reading score levels are available here: http://www.govtilr.org/Skills/ILRscale4.htm

Converting TW2.2 assets into ILR scale equivalents for PCs whose native language is English requires dividing the asset by either 2.5, 3, or 4.5, depending on the difficulty of the language. Fractional results of .34 or greater are represented by adding a + qualifier to the base score (ignore fractions of .33 or below).

Language studies as the Foreign Service Institute are geared toward helping student achieve a 2/2 or 3/3 score in a language, prior to an assignment overseas. A course of language is typically 30, 36, 44, or 88 weeks long, with some variation depending on scheduling. Students taking World Languages (French, Spanish, etc.) are expected to achieve a 3/3 level of proficiency in approximately 30 weeks. 3/3 in a hard language typically requires 44 weeks of training. 3/3 in a super hard language requires 88 weeks, so often times, students are given 44 weeks to reach the 2/2 level before being sent to overseas. Language study and acquisition continue in-country through various mechanisms, such as tutors, study groups, etc.

A break out of the language categories used by FSI to rank the difficulty of language learning for native English speakers is listed below.

Category I (“World Languages”): Languages closely cognate with English:

Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, French, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish

To map a TW2.2 Character’s language asset to the ILR scale for these languages, divide the asset by 2.5. Thus a PC with Charisma 6 and Language (French): 3, would have a S-3+/R-3+ skill in French.

Category II (“Hard Languages”): Languages with significant linguistic and/or cultural differences from English. This list is not exhaustive:

Albanian, Amharic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Belarussian, Croatian, Czech, Estonian, Finnish, Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Kazakh, Khmer, Kurdish, Kyrgyz, Lao, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malayalam, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Persian (Dari, Farsi, Tajiki), Polish, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Slovak, Slovenian, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Turkmen, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Xhosa, Zulu

Other languages which can be treated as “Hard Languages” for the purpose of these rules include:

German, Indonesian, Malay, Swahili, Tetum

To map a TW2.2 Character’s language asset to the ILR scale for these languages, divide the asset by 3. Thus a PC with Charisma 6 and Language (Czech): 3, would have a S-3/R-3 skill in Czech.

Category III (“Superhard Languages”): Languages that are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers:

Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean

To map a TW2.2 Character’s language asset to the ILR scale for these languages, divide the asset by 4.5. Thus a PC with Charisma 6 and Language (Arabic): 3, would have a S-2/R-2 skill in Arabic.

Note that maximum score for a language is 5/5 (not 5+, 6, etc.). Ignore all results above 5/5.

A PCs native languages count as one level lower for IRL scale conversion. This ensures that a PC with an average Charisma score of 5 or higher and Language (Native) 10 will always have a 5/5 in their native language. A PC with Charisma 2 and Language (Superhard Native) 10 would have S-4/S-4 in their Superhard language, representing poor language education, elocution, or a local/regional accent or dialect that impedes communication.

To add variety to ILR scores, a PC may speak or read better than he or she read or writes. A 0.5 shift can be made between speaking or reading to represent this difference between speaking and reading levels. Thus a 3/3 in Arabic, could optionally be S-3+/R-2+ for a character who speaks at a higher level than he or she reads. As players may typically prefer their PCs speak at a higher level than they read, this shift should be allowed for no more than a number of languages equal to 1/3 of the PC’s Charisma, rounding all fractions down.

In addition, as an optional rule, all Disguise tasks should be one level harder in difficulty if the PC doesn't have at least a 2/2 in the target language. All disguise tasks should be one level easier they have a 4/4 or greater in the target language.

As an aside, players who wish to use the Government Agent career path to represent members of the US Foreign Service should add 1 point of Language skill (Language: 3 total) in lieu of Small Arms: 1 . All other Entry Requirement and First Term Skills are applicable. In the event of war, they will not be drafted, but continue as a diplomat. Subsequent term skills remain the same. Terms as Foreign Service Officers are treated the same as military officers for the purpose of determining starting funds.

Now armed with IRL score meanings and the ability to translate Player Character assets into IRL scores, go forth and impress your Polish partisan friends with your Limited Working Proficiency of their Category II Hard language!

[kato13]

Korean is hard to learn, but Chinese is much harder. It might merit its own ultra difficulty class (perhaps with Arabic)

Compared to Chinese, Korean has an alphabet and no tonal qualities. (I believe Japanese is the same). Its written form is also one of the most recent to be developed from scratch (circa 1400AD)

Chinese has two different writing types, 4 or 7 distinct tones, no alphabet and dozens of regional variations in how it is spoken. When you encounter a new written Chinese character you can sometimes learn its meaning from context but generally have no idea how it is pronounced. This might lead to a penalty on self or immersion learning without an instructor.

[Damocles]

Originally Posted by kato13

Korean is hard to learn, but Chinese is much harder. It might merit its own ultra difficulty class (perhaps with Arabic)

The USG does not formally recognize such a difference. Students taking a standard course of Chinese at FSI are required to achieve a 2/1 score prior to being posted in a Chinese language speaking slot (typically mainland China, but also Singapore, KL, Taiwan, and Vancouver). In comparison, Korean students are required to achieve only a 2/0 score following an equivalent number of weeks of language training (36 weeks for entry on duty training). In both cases, the amount of training is the same, the location is the same (Arlington, VA), and the difference is so negligible as to not warrant a modification of the rules listed above.

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by Damocles

As an aside, players who wish to use the Government Agent career path to represent members of the US Foreign Service should add 1 point of Language skill (Language: 3 total) in lieu of Small Arms: 1 . All other Entry Requirement and First Term Skills are applicable. In the event of war, they will not be drafted, but continue as a diplomat. Subsequent term skills remain the same. Terms as Foreign Service Officers are treated the same as military officers for the purpose of determining starting funds

Something I cobbled together a little while ago related to that that might be of interest:

Foreign Service Career Paths

Foreign Service Officer
Entry: Undergraduate Degree

First Term Skills (Generalist)
Computer: 2
Language: 2
Persuasion: 1
Observation: 1

Specialized FSO's take 1 point in Specialized Skill in lieu of 1 point in Computer and add Specialized Skills to Subsequent Terms

Specialized Skills
Construction (US Agency for International Development)
Farming (Foreign Agricultural Service)

Subsequent Term Skills
Bargain
Business
Computer
Instruction
Interrogation
Language
Leadership
Observation
Persuasion
Scrounging
Streetwise

Security Technical Specialist
Entry: EDU 5+

First Term Skills
Computer: 2
Electronics: 2
Instruction: 1

Subsequent Term Skills
Computer
Electronics
Instruction
Language
Machinist
Scrounging

Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent
Per basic rules Federal Law Enforcement career path but entry requirement is reduced to Undergraduate University

NGO Worker
Entry: No Prerequisite

First Term Skills
Bargain: 1
Language: 1
Persuasion: 1
Scrounging: 1
Streetwise: 1

Subsequent Term Skills
Bargain
Business
Computer
Construction
Excavation
Farming
Ground Vehicle (Wheeled)
Instruction
Language
Machinist
Mechanic
Medical
Observation
Persuasion
Small Watercraft
Scrounging
Streetwise

New Skills (Optional)

Act/ Bluff (Charisma): The ability to convincingly pretend you are something you are not. For instance, anyone with Disguise could dress like an enemy soldier, but convincingly adopting the role of a specific enemy soldier (or commander) would be an Act/Bluff task. So would any other attempt to lie and get others to believe you. The less probable the lie, the greater the difficulty of the task.

Bargain (Charisma): The skill used in trying to get more for what you offer. Most bargaining should be roleplayed, but the referee should give in more easily to characters with a higher Bargain skill, or let the player know critical information about the deal. An excellent skill for mercenaries, particularly negotiators.

Business (Education): This skill indicates a familiarity with business practices, including a knowledge of bookkeeping procedures, an awareness of resources necessary to conduct different businesses, and familiarity with methods of locating and attracting customers. A character with this skill can merge fairly well with any kind of business background and can easily imitate a businessperson. This skill can also be used as a gauge of a character’s familiarity with bureaucracy, and used to interact with bureaucracies.

Streetwise (Intelligence): This skill is a general knowledge of how to survive in the roughest parts of an urban environment. Includes such things as knowing how to project an image that engenders respect among the locals and recognizing where to go to find what you need.

(Taken from Twilight 2000 V2 Special Operations, page 25)

[Damocles]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Something I cobbled together a little while ago related to that that might be of interest:

This is a great breakout of many possible Foreign Service Careers. If you are open to some suggestions, I'd offer the following tweaks:

1) Computer skill is a bit too high for FSOs. I'd say Computer: 1 might be better, with the extra point going to Language, Persuasion, or Observation (compelling justifications can be made for any of the latter). The first term of an FSO's career always includes a significant Consular adjudication component, so Interrogation and/or Forgery might also be appropriate. CA training covers fraud detection during the interviews and while reviewing documents.

AID and FAS look good. You could add Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) as well, with business as the specialized skill. These are the guys that, if they are any good, retire early and go make mad money because they have spent 20 years making business contacts with German bankers, Saudi billionaires, etc.

2) STS - I'd probably stat these guys out as Intrusion: 2, Electronics: 2, Computer: 1. They spend a lot of time re-keying locks, installing and repairing alarm sensors, updating spin-dial combos, reprogramming keypads, fixing delta barriers, etc. They know how all the stuff that keeps bad guys out works and they know it at a very low level.

3) DS Agent looks good. Maybe add Intrusion to the Subsequent terms list since they end up being adhoc STSs at post that are too small to have an STS position.

For for Information Management Specialist and IMTS Digital Tech, Computer Operator/Programer works well if you add Language and Streetwise to the subsequent terms list. Flip Computer and Electronics first term skills and you have IMTS Radio and IMTS Telephone.

Similarly RMOs and use Medical Doctor with Language and Streetwise added. FSHPs can be RNs with those added.

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by Damocles

This is a great breakout of many possible Foreign Service Careers. If you are open to some suggestions, I'd offer the following tweaks:

Cheers, those changes make perfect sense...I completely forgot about the Consular officer's adjudication role, so will replace 1 point of computer with 1 point of Interrogation and add Forgery to FSO subsequent skill list

[rcaf_777]

what about Regional Security Officer?

[Damocles]

Originally Posted by rcaf_777

what about Regional Security Officer?

RSO is an overseas position available to Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents. Their career was covered with this entry: Per basic rules Federal Law Enforcement career path but entry requirement is reduced to Undergraduate University

Note that DS Agents serve in a variety of roles overseas. RSOs or Assistant RSOs (A/RSO) are the most common overseas positions, but there are others. For example, they may also serve as Site Security Managers (SSMs) for overseas construction projects. DS Agents also serve in a wide range of domestic investigative positions as well.

To assist in understanding this, bear in mind that Foreign Service Officers and Specialists have a skill code which defines the role in the organization they occupy. This is a bit like a military MOS. In addition, FSOs and FS Specialists have a personal rank, similar to members of the armed services.

Domestic and overseas positions have title (RSO, A/RSO, General Services Officer, Deputy Chief of Mission, Political Section Chief, etc.) reflecting specific responsiblities of that job. Since the Foreign Service is a rank-in-person system, a position not only has a title, but also a rank, just as personnel have a skill codes and ranks. Positions are filled for 1-3 years, depending on a variety of factors.

A member of the Foreign Service typically, but not always, serves in a position which aligns with his/her skill code. Serving in a position that aligns with your skill code is referred to as being in-cone. A DS Agent serving as RSO would be a good example of serving in-cone.

In addition, they typically, but not always, serve in a position that aligns with their rank as well. Serving in a position that aligns with your rank is referred to as at-grade. An FS-3 DS Agent serving as an FS-3 RSO at a small overseas post is a good example of serving both in-cone and at-grade.

It is possible however, for a DS Agent to bid on and be selected for different position, such as the General Service Officer for a post. The later would be rare, but it does happen. Normally you would expect a FS Management conned Officer or FS General Service Specialist to occupy a GSO position.

At a small post, the GSO position might be FS-4. At a medium post, it could be FS-2. At a large post, it could be FS-1.

Thus you could have an FS-3 DS Agent serving in a FS-2 graded GSO position at a post. This might be done for a variety of reasons. Hypothetically speaking, a DS Agent looking for more contracting experience might take such a position. This would be an out-of-cone, upstrech (taking a job at a higher level) assignment for the Agent.

[rcaf_777]

Foreign Service Promotion

Chiefs of mission are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Ambassadors at large are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Senior Foreign Service (SFS) members are the senior leaders and experts for the management of the Foreign Service and the performance of its functions. They are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. SFS may come from the FSO or Specialist ranks and are the equivalent to flag or general officers in the military (see Attachment).

Foreign Service Officers are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. These are mostly diplomat "generalists" who, along with some subject area experts, have primary responsibility for carrying out the functions of the Foreign Service.

Foreign Service Specialist provide special skills and services required for effective performance by the Service (including, but not limited to Facilities Managers, IT Specialists, Nurse Practitioners and Special Agents of the Diplomatic Security Service). They are appointed by the Secretary of State.

Consular agents provide consular and related services as authorized by the Secretary of State at specified locations abroad where no Foreign Service posts are situated.

Also you view Comparison between civilian and military rank equivalents see attachement

[Damocles]

This is a good, general breakout of the overall structure of the Foreign Service. It is also entertaining because it makes it seem like either the President or Secretary of State personally knows and appoints every member of an organization with 15,000 members.

What happens in practice is that these names are floated to Congress and the President en masse. This is after the individual member is recommended for tenure, promotion, or entry into the Senior Foreign Service.

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=...&id=04b7b4426e

So if John Kerry isn't stopping by every office to say, "great work, I think you are ready for the next level of responsibility!", then who does? Well, that would be the Foreign Service Selection Boards which convene annually. They compare the employee’s annual performance appraisal to core precepts to determine if a member is ready for promotion. Employees are rank ordered based on performance. HR indicates a number of positions to be filled by cone, and by grade.

If HR and Diplomatic Security agree they needs 10 more FS-2 Agents and you are number 5 on the DS Agent FS-3 promotion list – congratulations, you just became an FS-2 DS Agent. If you were number 11 on the list, then you remain an FS-3 for the following year.

An older exemplar of these precepts is available here: http://www.afsa.org/Portals/0/2011precepts.pdf