By Mission Public Affairs
Col. Gary Hausman, commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, hosted Lt. Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of the Combined Arms Center, Ft. Levenworth, Kansas, on a virtual tour of the institute May 4, 2020.
Col. Gary Hausman, commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, hosted Lt. Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of the Combined Arms Center, Ft. Levenworth, Kansas, on a virtual tour of the institute May 4, 2020.
The virtual tour was held on a video platform that DLIFLC has been using for online training for their students. While a visit in-person from Rainey was on the original schedule, events resulting from COVID-19 forced a few changes. “This is our new normal,” said Hausman during the tour, showcasing the virtual capabilities to which the teachers and students have adapted in the last several months.
As part of the tour, Hausman and Rainey dropped in virtually to two Persian Farsi online classes. Rainey asked the students their thoughts about their online training.
“It’s really crazy how quickly you learn to the alphabet and learn to speak it,” said Marine Lance Cpl. Otoniel Delgado, Jr., a Persian Farsi student in his first semester. Delgado and his classmates started their language learning after the training moved online.
After giving a presentation entirely in Persian Farsi, Navy Seaman Mariela Prieto-Torres, a third semester student, told Rainey she was thankful for the work her instructors put in to switch them to completely online training. “It was as smooth a transition as they could make it,” she said, adding in how quickly both the teachers and the students made the change.
At the end of the classroom visits, Rainey complimented the students. “I was very impressed with your competency,” he said, thanking them for stepping up to join the military. He closed it out by reminding the students that COVID-19 is a real danger. “This virus thing is no joke. Don’t be going to the beach…stay in your rooms…we need you,” he said.
