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About Defence

European Languages Wing

Russian, French and Spanish.

The Defence School of Language's (DSL) European Wing teaches French, Russian and Spanish. A team of civilian tutors works alongside a military OC and 2IC who provide language-specific military input. The French and Spanish Diploma, or Full Professional course, last approximately 8 months and includes a month in country staying with a local family and attending a languages school during the week. This takes place 3½ months into the course to enable students to consolidate their grammar and obtain a degree of fluency in the new foreign language. French and Spanish language training is given to large variety of students however Tri-Service Russian language training is mostly targeted towards Defence Diplomacy personnel (Attachés, Assistant Attachés and Support Staff in Embassy Defence Sections); Joint Arms Control Implementation Group interpreters as well as other RN, Army and RAF Personnel. The majority of Russian students join the 18-month Russian Defence Course and attend In Country Language Training after 12 months. Some shorter language courses are also run to suit operational needs.

Our students range from Private to Major General (and other Service equivalents) and all courses have a maximum of 12 students. Students with prior knowledge of the target language may be able join the course part way through, after being assessed by one of our tutors. There tends to be a mixture of students in each course - some are sponsored by the Department of Defence Diplomacy and are going to embassy postings in West Africa or Latin America; others are going to work on foreign ships or airbases, whilst some students are learning a language to work within intelligence. All students who have a Statement of Training Requirement (SOTR) will be loaded onto the appropriate course through Language Advice Placement Section (LAPS). Students who want to attend a language course for resettlement purposes or because they have a gap between postings should also contact LAPS to see if there is space on a course. They will be classed as non-SOTR and will only be accepted on to a course if there are places available.

Dutch and German

Dutch and German are not taught at DSL but at Salmond House in Rheindahlen, Germany. Salmond House offers Full Professional courses for serving personnel and a selection of Beginners courses in German for dependents.

Other European Languages

All other languages, except Italian, that are not taught by EuW or Salmond House are out-sourced by LAPS at DSL.

Course Dates

Generally courses generally start in January, April and September. Exact dates are published in the Defence Information and Notices (DINs) on the Defence Intranet.

Interpreting Services

DSL does not formally provide interpreting or translation services. Staff may be able to provide interpreter support to military activities if the timetable allows. All requests are to be passed through 2IC DSL.Head Office Senior Staff and Defence Intelligence personnel can request translation support using the Defence Intranet.