Ministry of Defence Languages Examination Board
The Westminster Language Centre provides examinations for all UK forces personnel who undergo defence language training. We are also able to deliver tailor-made short military English courses, test civilian interpreters against international standards or design courses for foreign military students or trainers.
We are part of the Department of Modern and Applied Languages, which itself is part of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Working with the British Ministry of Defence – MODLEB
The University of Westminster provides examinations for all UK forces personnel who undergo defence language training. The University runs a joint board with the Ministry of Defence Languages Examination Board (MODLEB) and has been working in partnership with the MOD for more than 15 years.
Representatives from the MOD attend all examination setting, moderation and policy boards to ensure the validity and authenticity of the examination system. All examination papers are subject to approval by the MOD prior to being used.
Foreign languages
We provide bilingual language examinations to cover a range of levels set by NATO STANAG from SLP 2 (functional) to SLP 4 (fully professional).
The examination format is changing – from 2012 there will be three new test types:
- MLA Receptive skills (multilevel assessments in listening and reading). These tests comprise texts at SLP 2 and SLP 3 and are designed to grade candidates from SLP 1 to SLP 3.
- MLA Productive skills (multilevel assessments in writing and speaking). These tests are designed to grade candidates from SLP 1 to SLP 4.
- T4 Receptive skills (threshold SLP 4 examination in listening and reading). These tests are designed to assess candidates at SLP 4. They will be taken by candidates who have already achieved SLP 3 in MLA Receptive skills.
Examinations are provided in all languages requested by the MOD. In practice this is approximately 47 languages.
Other services offered by the Westminster Language Centre
Interpreter assessments
The University of Westminster currently assesses potential civilian interpreters who may work alongside military counterparts in various theatres of operation. The candidates are assessed in each of the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Each assessment paper is designed to reflect the current military and security situation. The University of Westminster is able to adapt both the examination format and content to meet the specific needs of the customer.
Military English
We also conduct military English language testing for foreign Ministries of Defence. We are able to deliver tailor-made short military English courses to meet the specific needs of the client and can design courses for foreign military students or trainers who require military English.
SHAPE
In July 2011 we were awarded the contract to provide NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) with English language proficiency tests. This is work in progress. We will be delivering bi-level monolingual skill tests at SLP 2 / SLP 3 and SLP 3 / SLP 4 in listening and reading.
Quality assurance
The University of Westminster has a team of professional linguists, language trainers and teachers, some of whom have a military background, able to provide quality assurance of any military language training process by:
- checking the validity of the military content.
- benchmarking teaching and assessment against standards such as the NATO STANAG and CEFR.
- verifying the quality of language training through inspection of lessons, materials and coursework.
- undertaking internal and external validation on behalf of the client.
- producing assessments.
