FCS AFSANET DATED March 3, 2007 – Note this message, while sent to all AFSA members, is primarily directed to non-State members. For Rosetta Stone please refer to 96 STATE 15561 of September 19; for FSI Distance Learning Language Courses please refer to 96 STATE 192407 of November 28.

ARE YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING OR RE-LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?

As announced last year by the Foreign Service Institute and presented recently to the AFSA Board by the FSI Director and Deputy Director, foreign service officers, their spouses and other eligible family members now have 21st century internet-based language learning opportunities to enhance their careers and their foreign living experience.

For basic independent study (self-monitored, not graded) language learning, Rosetta Stone is now available on-line. For non-State agencies, including Commerce/FCS, there is a small fee ($110) that needs to be covered to gain access to the 90-day password (which can be extended or rotated to another qualified learner). The Rosetta Stone languages include at various levels Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Danish, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Welsh. FSI notes the response has been extremely positive by State officers and spouses.

The Commerce language training policy (posted on OurPlace/CS/FS Human Resources) covers both employees and spouses, who are limited to learning languages in their country of assignment. Under that policy as affirmed to FCS AFSA by OFSHR, training of spouses has been limited to either the FAST (Familiarization and Short Term) FSI language course costing about $7700, the equivalent at DLS (Diplomatic Language Services) or the equivalent through the PLP (post language programs overseas) or other overseas training. While OFSHR-approved training for spouses is optional and subject to budgetary limitations, OFSHR recognizes that spousal language training is important and generally approves spousal requests within the above guidelines. 

While no formal policy or decision has been reached and promulgated on how the FSI internet-based Rosetta Stone language training would relate to the FAST/DLS or PLP training and budget limits, there seems to be an open attitude that remains to be tested by OFSHR seeking a limited number of Rosetta Stone licenses from State (AID is currently moving this direction).

For monitored and officially graded and recorded language study, FSI distance learning language courses are offered on-line.  These include beginner or “express” courses (similar to FAST) in Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Korean, advanced reading courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, and some other courses. The cost for non-State agencies including Commerce/FCS is very roughly (depending on the course) $200 a week through an interagency transfer of funds.

Again, the same Commerce language training policy applies and remains to be “tested” for DL learning relative to the traditional FAST and PLP limits for spouses, i.e., whether it would have to substitute for them or could be in addition to them.

All questions for Commerce/FCS officers and spouses should be directed to the officer’s FSO Manager whose officer populations are determined by the first initial of the officer’s last name:

You may also contact the Chief of HR Operations and Employee Services, Denise McGann at Denise.McGann@mail.doc.gov or phone: 202-482-2737.