강미 | learning koreanU. S. Defense Department Seeks Korean Linguists
The U.S. Defense Department is searching for American Korean linguists as part of its enlistment program for people fluent in Korean, Arabic, Chinese and Russian.
The Pentagon has the required level of expertise on German, French and Spanish, but the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks underscored a need for people fluent in other languages.
To foster more Korean linguists, the department launched its National Flagship Language Initiative program in 2003, in which colleges offer advanced language training to U.S. students who agree to work for the national security establishment.
“These programs consist of a one-year intensive program at a U.S. university followed by a second year of customized, intensive immersion overseas,” said Lt. Col. Ellen G. Krenke, at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense in an e-mail response to a question.
In the approximately $1 million Korean flagship program, there are two U.S. programs at the University of Hawaii and UCLA, Krenke said. UH enrolled its first students in the latter half of 2003 and UCLA a year later.
UH has enrolled 12 students for the 2004-2005 academic year and eight students, including some Korean-Americans, are studying at Korea University in Seoul, Krenke said. She did not provide details for UCLA.
Via The Korea Herald.
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