Language training in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
From: National Defence
The Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) is the Training Authority (TA) for all language programs in the CAF. As such, we develop and maintain programs that are of the highest quality to meet the needs of the Defense mission. It includes the Qualification Standards (QS), the Training Plans (TP) and the entire curriculum for French and English languages and multiple foreign languages. We also enforce the standards on a national level for those programs.
Our programs exist to:
- Comply with the Canadian Official Language Act, under the direction of the Director of Official Languages (DOL) who is the Functional Authority (FA) for Second Official Language Education and Training (SOLET).
- Meet the operational requirements of the CAF at home and abroad.
- Enable MTCP member countries' joint participation in Peace Support Operations.
Second language training and testing
The delivery of second language training is delegated to the elements (CA, RCAF, RCN) and to the Canadian Forces Language School (CFLS) who are responsible for managing the different language training centers across the country, under their respective commands.
For information, contact the Coordinators of Official Languages (COL) or visit your local language training centre on the closest base.
Allies/Alliés
Autonomous Language Learning in Interaction with Elements in Synergy (ALLIES) is a second language learning application developed by the Canadian Defence Academy. It's available at all times on both the Internet and DND Intranet. Therefore, you can study when and where you wish.
You can:
- prepare for your language test
- practise reading, writing, listening, and speaking and maintain your language skills
- focus on the skills you need and skip the rest
- track your progress and success automatically, which means you can measure your own achievement
Connect to ALLIES web
If you have an account on ALLIES web, please go to the Students and Tutors login page.
To request an account in autonomous mode, go to the registration page (Intranet Only).
Foreign language training and testing
Training and testing of a foreign language ability is only available to CAF personnel identified by their Career Manager (CM) fill a role that requires a specific ability in a given foreign language. The delivery of foreign language training is delegated to the Canadian Forces Language School (CFLS).
Personnel who want to self-declare an ability in a foreign language must do so via their orderly room, for entry in Gardian.
Visit the Language Programs Portal Language Programs Portal | CAF Campus (D365 Only)