Tactical Language & Culture Training System

Infobox_Company
company_name = Alelo TLT LLC (formerly Tactical Language Training LLC) - a subsidiary of Alelo Inc.

company_type = Private
foundation = 2005
location = Los Angeles, California, USA
homepage = [http://www.alelo.com www.alelo.com]

The Tactical Language & Culture Training Systems are self-paced, computer-based courses that use virtual-world simulations of real-life social communication to teach how to speak foreign languages and understand foreign cultures. They are intended to provide knowledge needed to conduct tasks effectively and safely during both daily life and military missions.

Foreign-language instruction emphasizes spoken vocabularies and pronunciation, covering grammar and written language only when required. Significant cultural education is inherent to the courses, teaching non-verbal gestures and the norms of politeness and etiquette that are most critical for successful communication.

From the first lesson, trainees learn by listening to and speaking in the foreign language, getting immediate feedback and guidance. They play immersive 3-D videogames that simulate real-life communication by role playing with "socially intelligent virtual humans" that recognize trainees' speech, gestures and behavior. If trainees speak and behave correctly, the virtual humans become trustful and cooperative, and provide information that trainees need to advance. Otherwise, the virtual humans are uncooperative and prevent trainees from "winning" the game.

Storylines are broadly scripted, allowing a wide range of game-play paths, each with multiple dialog and action options.

Results

Since the first release of the Tactical Iraqi course in August 2006 — followed by the releases of the Tactical Pashto and Tactical French courses in 2007 — outcomes have been and continue to be excellent.Fact|date=June 2008

As of December 2007, 20,000 U.S. servicemen and a growing number of members of the Australian Defence Force have taken the courses. Fact|date=July 2008

A study of the Tactical Iraqi course by the U.S. Special Operations Command found that trainees can achieve Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) proficiency of 0+ after as little as a week of training.Fact|date=June 2008 Many rate the courses better — and more fun — than other self-study and instructor-led classes.

Available courses

The company currently offers U.S. and foreign-military courses for Iraq (Tactical Iraqi), the Pashtun regions of Afghanistan (Tactical Pashto), and the countries of French-speaking Sahel Africa (Tactical French). A Dari course (Tactical Dari) for Afghanistan is scheduled for release in 2008.

The company also offers the civilian course Mission to Iraq that teaches Iraqi Arabic language and culture to anyone living or working in Iraq performing personal and professional tasks such as general business, civil and governmental affairs, construction, security, and relief aid.

External links

* [http://www.alelo.com Official Tactical Language & Culture Training System website]
* [http://www.tacticallanguage.com/news.html Press articles about Tactical Language & Culture Training Systems]