13 FAM 201.3
POST LANGUAGE PROGRAMS
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(Office of Origin: FSI)
13 FAM 201.3-1 Responsibilities
13 FAM 201.3-1(A) Principal
Officer Responsibilities
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
The principal officer has the following responsibilities:
(1) To establish and administer, in consultation with
the chief officer of each participating agency and the regional language
supervisor (if any) such foreign language training as may be necessary or
desirable and practicable to meet the needs of the post and of the
participating agencies, subject to these provisions. Implicit in this
responsibility is the judicious use of time and funds devoted to language
training;
(2) To be familiar with the language-designated
positions (LDPs) at post and the degree to which the post is in compliance with
the provisions of the Foreign Service Act regarding LDPs;
(3) To ensure that the interest and effort of
individual employees in job-related language learning are adequately reflected
in performance evaluations. Such indications should be included as part of the
work requirements statement and discussed with the employee at the beginning of
the rating period. In cases where an employee occupying an LDP has less than
the proficiency required by the position, the principal officer will ensure
that the:
(a) Employee's supervisor includes progress toward
achievement of the required language proficiency in the description of duties
prepared at the beginning of a rating period;
(b) Employee's performance in meeting these goals is
reflected in the employee's performance evaluation; and
(c) The supervisor supports the employee's efforts to
improve proficiency;
(4) To designate a post language officer (PLO) who is
responsible for the local administration of the post's language program and to ensure
that the PLO is invested with adequate authority to make the necessary
decisions and is given sufficient time to carry out the related duties. The
principal officer is responsible for insuring that the PLOs take the FSI Post
Language Office Course (PLP100) before assuming his/her responsibilities, and
that the PLO is appropriately evaluated in his/her annual performance rating.
Desirable qualifications for the PLO include:
(a) Administrative experience;
(b) Previous intensive language training at FSI; and
(c) An S-3/R-3 proficiency in the language of the post;
and
(5) To ensure that post informs FSIs School of
Language Studies (FSI/SLS) of the appointment of a new post language officer so
that FSI/SLS can contact the officer to provide guidance in administering the
post language program.
13 FAM 201.3-1(B) Post Language
Officer (PLO) Responsibilities
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
Upon authority of the principal officer, the post language
officer (PLO) has the following responsibilities:
(1) To formulate and carry out plans for a single,
fully coordinated language training program to meet the needs of all
participating agencies;
(2) To establish new classes;
(3) To assign students to appropriate classes and make
such changes to assignments as may be necessary;
(4) To control:
(a) Instruction schedules for all components of the post
language program, under the guidelines for intensity, course length, and
attendance requirements established by the FAM;
(b) To terminate training when the PLO determines that
it has become ineffective or inappropriate; and
(c) To establish priorities for access to post language
program training in the event of shortage of funds, in line with guidelines in 13 FAH-1 H-250;
(5) To supervise classes to the extent that time and
competence permit;
(6) To maintain records of attendance, progress of
students, and work hours of instructors;
(7) Through established administrative channels at the
post, and in compliance with applicable human resources and procurement
regulations and procedures:
(a) To select and train candidates for instructor
positions, with the assistance of the regional language supervisor when
available;
(b) To arrange for employment of instructors and to
serve as their supervisor;
(c) To procure and maintain, for the benefit of all
participating agencies, classrooms, furnishings, and teaching equipment
including textbooks, tape recorders, and language tapes; and
(d) To account for teaching equipment loaned to
personnel; and
(8) To take such other actions as may contribute to
the economical and effective operations of the post language program.
13 FAM 201.3-1(C) Local Control
Officer
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
When one or more components of the post language program
are geographically separated from the central administration of the program, a
local control officer is designated for each such component, but overall
coordination and reporting continue to be centralized under the authority
delegated by the principal officer to the post language officer.
13 FAM 201.3-2 Establishing and
Operating Post Language Programs
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
Guidelines for establishing and operating post language
programs can be found in 13 FAH-1 H-250.