EMBASSY THE HAGUE'S FY 2007 FSI DIRECT FUNDING

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002291

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI (REITER),FSI/SLS/CTT (WATKINS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AFSI AMGT KFLO NL
SUBJECT: EMBASSY THE HAGUE'S FY 2007 FSI DIRECT FUNDING
INITIATIVE PROPOSAL

REF: STATE 155164


1. Summary. Post is pleased to submit a FY 2007 Direct
Funding Initiative (DFI) proposal for 12,506 dollars to fund
Dutch language training and materials. Embassy The Hague's FY
2007 program fund budget proposal is for 8,689 dollars.
Post's FY 2006 DFI award was 5,988 dollars with a program
fund budget of 6,700 dollars. End Summary.

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FY 2006 Program In Brief
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2. Using Embassy program and DFI funds, in 2006 post
continued its already active language program, netting
enthusiastic and committed students. Two contract language
instructors lead beginner and advanced classes at the
chancery and its nearby offices. Post's language library
consists of textbooks, software, audio media, videos, and
fiction novels. Classes are taught in the Embassy's two
unclassified conference rooms. In FY 2006, post budgeted

SIPDIS
6,700 dollars for its language program, and spent a total of
7,197. In FY 2006 post was awarded 5,988 in DFI funds and
spent a total of 5,918.

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Request for FY 2007
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3. Next fiscal year, post would like to use DFI funds to
augment its program back to 3 and beyond 3 language training
with an additional DFI-funded course of each. Demand from new
officers has been exceptionally high this year; post seeks to
start a course of each while continuing its program-funded
courses for existing officers. Each course would involve a
weekly class of 1.5 hours. Funds requested will pay the
instructor her hourly wages and travel expenses.


4. In FY 2007, post would like to use DFI funds to purchase
another session of its popular and highly successful Out and
About course. The course was developed in 2002 using DFI
funds; in FY 2007 it will be taught using 6 two-hour
classroom and field-trip sessions over two weeks. This method
gives students -- using an intensive approach -- the chance
to practice in everyday situations what they learn in class
and develop survival language capability. It is targeted to
new State Officers, Specialists, their spouses, eligible
family members, and Marines and other agency personnel as
appropriate. Funds requested for the Out and About will pay
the instructor her hourly wages and travel expenses.


5. Per reftel suggestion to support job-specific language
instruction and other imaginative uses of instructor's time,
post hereby submits a request for a new Dutch course for
Consular officers: "Dutch for the Consular Window." Post
seeks to offer, in small group sessions, a one month program
of 4 two-hour sessions in FY 2007 that includes job and task
specific language instruction followed by simulations at the
consular window. Funds requested for these courses will pay
the instructor her hourly wages and travel expenses.


6. Post seeks to offer one shopping/chores field trip in FY
2007, for the purpose of survival language training and to
increase comfort levels among officers and spouses. A much
more specific version of the Out and About course, the field
trip will train students to accomplish their shopping and
chores in Dutch using Dutch customs, expressions, and
European sizes etc. Funds requested will pay the instructor
her hourly wages and travel expenses.


7. In FY 2007, Post also seeks to initiate a Conversation
Table. These are small group sessions, held every two months
with the aid of an instructor, where students at all levels
can converse in Dutch over lunch. This program seeks to
increase comfort for everyday social conversation in Dutch,
with the goal of supporting the Embassy's priorities in
outreach and other events aimed at promoting USG messages and
generating contacts. Funds requested will pay the instructor
her hourly wages and travel expenses.


8. Finally, post would like to purchase new Taal Vitaal
language materials for incoming students.

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FY 2007 Proposal Budget
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9. The detailed budget for the items described in paras 3-8
is as follows. Note: all costs are in U.S. dollars at an
exchange rate of 0.798 euros to 1 dollar, hourly instructor
charges are 35 euros, and travel expenses are 17 euros per

session.

-- One Back to 3 Course. Sessions: 52 at 1.5 hours each.
Hours: 78. Instructor cost: 3,421. Travel cost: 1,108. Total
Cost: 4,529.
-- One Beyond 3 Course. Sessions: 52 at 1.5 hours each.
Hours: 78. Instructor cost: 3,421. Travel cost: 1,108. Total
Cost: 4,529.
-- One Out and About Course. Sessions: 6 at 2 hours each.
Hours: 12. Instructor cost: 526. Travel cost: 128. Total
Cost: 654.
-- One Consular Dutch Course. Sessions: 4 at 2 hours each.
Hours: 8. Instructor cost: 351. Travel cost: 85. Total Cost:

436.
-- One Shopping/Chores Field Trip. Sessions: 1. Hours: 6.
Instructor cost: 263. Travel costs: 21. Total Cost: 284.
-- Conversation Tables. Sessions: 6 at 2 hours each. Hours

12. Instructor cost: 526. Travel cost: 128. Total Cost: 654.
-- Taal Vitaal Language Text Book at 39.50 each and Work Book
at 31.50 each. Quantity: 20 each. Total Cost: 1,420.
-- TOTAL REQUEST: 12,506


10. Point of contact for post's language program and this
proposal is: Jay Heung, Post Language Officer. Office Phone:
31 70 310-2339. Email: heungj2@state.gov.
SCHOFER