Afghan Language Aptitude Battery (ALAB) Presented by: Michael Bunting Corey Miller Team Members:...

Afghan Language Aptitude Battery (ALAB)

Presented by:Michael Bunting

Corey Miller

Team Members:Susan Campbell

Ryan CorbettCatherine Doughty

Rachel Strong


DLAB in AfghanistanNATO and DLIELC Requirement Need a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) to better predict language learning success in the Defense Language Institute English Language Center (DLIELC) Afghan program

RelevanceNeed better preparedness for follow-on training (e.g., pilot training) and more DLIELC graduates meeting graduation requirements

SolutionQuick fix for immediate implementation followed by more rigorously developed test

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Timeline


Content of the ALAB

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Non-linguistic tests assess aptitude for learning.

Linguistic tests assess aptitude for language learning.

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Content of the ALAB: Raven’s testChoose the picture that completes the large pattern.

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Content of the ALAB: Speeded test

If the two pictures, symbols, or numbers in a pair are the same, mark the equal sign, “=”. If the two pictures, symbols, or numbers in a pair are not the same, mark the not equal sign, “≠”.

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Content of the ALAB: Figures testDiscover the pattern in the FIGURE SERIES and then decide which one of the POSSIBLE ANSWERS would appear next in the series.


Content of the ALAB

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Non-linguistic tests assess aptitude for learning.

Linguistic tests assess aptitude for language learning.


Linguistic tests

• ALAB has two linguistic tests: Language Analysis and Words in Sentences.

• In addition to the ALAB instructions, language and cultural concepts must be adapted and translated.

• Language Analysis: Required transliteration of an artificial language from Roman to Arabic.

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• Afghans don’t necessarily use the same numerals as Americans do.

• We adapted numerals to more familiar ones to avoid distraction and confusion.

• Two varieties of numerals are used in Afghanistan; based on survey results, we used the Eastern-based variety.

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Numeral adaptation


Example: Language Analysis test

• Word list:zorit..............................the farmer

volip.............................the worker

zorit volipu pigom........The farmer pushed the worker.

•Exercise:

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The worker pushed the farmer.

A. zoritu volip pigom

B. volip zoritu pigom

C. zorit volip pigom

D. volip zorit pigom

• Transliterate artificial language to Dari letters

• Dari letters are a subset of Pashto letters, resulting in identical transliteration for Dari and Pashto.

• Some transliterated words were considered offensive sounding; therefore, a different sound was substituted.

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Letter adaptation


Example: Words in Sentences test• First sentence:

• Second sentence:

Task: Which word in the second sentence does the same thing as the capitalized word in the first sentence?

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LONDON is the capital of England.

He liked to go fishing in Maine.

A B C D E


Words in Sentences challenges• Cultural transfer:

• Change in name: “Bill” becomes “Mahmud”

• Some items rely on linguistic features present in English but not Dari or Pashto:

• Infinitive “to” meaning “to sail”

• Solution: Use whole phrase “to sail”

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Additional challenges• Attractive distractors in English, such as

• “To” can be a preposition meaning towards, or part of an infinitive.

• “Reserved” can be a verb or an adjective.

• While there may be words in Pashto or Dari that are ambiguous (e.g., homographs), they are not the same in English!

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Timeline


For more informationMichael [email protected]

Corey [email protected]

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Afghan Language Aptitude Battery (ALAB) Presented by: Michael Bunting Corey Miller Team Members:...

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