Our Services

Curriculum Development

We serve government and business clients with an elite team of curriculum development subject matter experts (SMEs), target language developers, project managers, and production experts. All members of the curriculum development team have experience in instructional design and foreign language education. Our work is tailored specifically to our client’s needs. By working closely together, we ensure that the curriculum is tightly aligned with your objectives.

DLS’ range of curriculum development service includes:

Proficiency-based curriculum

DLS custom-makes your program based on a combination of the level of proficiency required and the backgrounds of the individual students. The objective is that learners meet or exceed those requirements.

Performance-Based Curriculum

DLS designs programs tailored to the specific needs performed in your industry enabling your team to excel at specialized job-related tasks. With a dual focus on language and culture acquisition, our curriculum empowers learners to perform confidently in any setting.

Blended Face-to-Face & Online Curriculum

DLS crafts curriculum to incorporate a variety of training delivery methods. We blend in-class and self-paced instructional materials to create the right balance for your program. This flexible-style of delivery allows us to meet any need, every time.

DLS’ exceptional development team combined with our thorough quality control process ensures that we provide high-quality curriculum in a timely manner, every single time.

We have received glowing reviews from our clients on our curriculum development projects

DLI Post Basic Course (Pashto)

Developed a course at ILR levels 2-3 using authentic materials

DLI Weekly Training Events (Dari, Pashto, Tagalog)

Designed online self-study lessons for military and government analysts

DLI Familiarization Projects (Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Gan, Gujurati, Hebrew, Indonesian, Kashmiri, Mandarin, Pashto, Sorani, Syrian, Tausug, Thai, Tunisian)

Developed language survival kits that include basic military phrases and military vocabulary

DLI Headstart2 (Baluchi, Brazilian Portuguese, Farsi, German, Hebrew, Levantine, Mandarin, Moroccan, MSA, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Somali, Swahili, Uzbek)

Developed online familiarization modules for basic language acquisition

DLI Global Language Online Support System, GLOSS (Dari, French, Hebrew, Korean, Mandarin, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Spanish, Turkish)

Developed and revised listening and reading online self-study lessons

DLI FLC 594 Learning Objects (Dari, Pashto, Urdu)

Developed online self-study lessons

Army Special Warfare SOLT I & II (Dari, Farsi, French, Mandarin, Pashto, Russian, Urdu)

Developed two 24-week initial acquisition training courses

Naval Special Warfare (Farsi, French, Korean, MSA, Pashto, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog)

Developed performance-based, 12-week initial acquisition training courses

CLP Cultural Study Guides (Farsi, Mandarin, MSA)

Developed cultural reference material to supplement a 10-week language training program

CLP Pre & Post-Study Modules (Farsi, Mandarin, MSA, Russian)

Developed self-study modules used before and after a 10-week language training program

SCOLA (Mandarin, MSA)

Provided quality control and developed online self-paced lessons at ILR levels 3-4

DLI AFPAK Phases II, III & IV (Dari, Pashto)

Developed blended curriculum consisting of online, self-paced, and face-to-face instruction for language sustainment and enhancement

Marine Special Operations Command MARSOC (French, Indonesian, MSA, Tagalog)

Developed performance-based, 24-week initial acquisition training courses

Navy Special Forces (Cultural Training)

Provided instructional design for cross-cultural competence training

DLI Basic Courses (Italian, Somali)

Developed curriculum for full basic courses at ILR levels 0-2

Culture Ready Basics DLNSEO (Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Moroccan, MSA, Russian)

Developed online language-based content enhanced by culture-specific notes

Curriculum Development Quick Facts

Hours Developing Curriculum
Languages

CultureReady Basics

Introduction

Teachers and students were searching for high-level ILR language materials, but were struggling to find effective content. This issue was addressed using a content-based approach in conjunction with the Defense Language National Security Office (DLNSEO) CultureReady Basics online training modules for cross-cultural competence training.

Background

CultureReady Basics was built by Aptima, Inc. on contract with DLNSEO, and was an easily accessible, free and effective tool for cross-cultural competence (3C) training. Using the English content in the CultureReady Basics modules, DLS created foreign language versions that bolster high-level language acquisition, and DLS produced culturally rich content in the form of culture-specific information along with notes highlighting cultural, lexical, and grammatical knowledge.

Description of Challenges

How to merge two separate worlds? CultureReady Basics needed to be infused with the language and culture of a specific region, like China or Russia, while retaining its meaning. The material had to be built with terminology, grammatical structures, and notes pertinent to a high-level learner while accounting for an intermediate-level learner trying to increase their language capacity. Additionally, a number of key terms and concepts in the English content did not exist in these other languages.

Description of the Solution

While carefully retaining the meaning, the team at DLS packed each language lesson full of sophisticated vocabulary, enhanced grammar, and notes that delve into unique insights learned from seasoned specialists. The team described unfamiliar terms and phrases in natural ways appropriate for each language. This combination created powerful and interesting language content structured to support an advanced learner. In this way, the foreign language options give high-level learners the ability to learn cross-cultural communication competencies while increasing language skills and cultural knowledge at the same time. For intermediate-level students, there is a support system built into the language and cultural notes. Students also have the option to view the content in English as needed.

Result

A successful product that has prompted the request for more language modules. The quality of information found in these modules has received high ratings from students and there is the possibility of incorporating these modules into university curriculum. See for yourself what CultureReady Basics has to offer: http://www.cultureready.org/culture-language/culture-101/cultureready-basics

Contact

Alma Sadikaj

Registrar and Client Relations Manager

Alma Sadikaj has several years of combined experience in international development, political affairs, program management, training and coaching, human resources and recruitment, logistics and operations, education, administration, marketing, sales, and client relations. Prior to joining us, Alma worked in both the non-profit and private sectors. Her passion is travel. During those journeys, she acquires insights about how cultures and languages are linked.

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