The Foreign Service Journal, September 2005

performance during the test, which makes sense because some 50 percent of those tested are not graduating FSI students, but new A-100 members, people who have been serving abroad or personnel from other agencies. When, occasionally, examinees express dissatisfaction with their test score or with the administration of the test, a rigorous test review process is implemented. Last year, 1.48 percent of 4,250 tests were reviewed; 94 per- cent of those reviewed were evaluated at the same level as the initial scores while 6 percent were upgraded. Rarely, with valid justification, tests may be re-administered. Testing is only one measure of a student’s success. Effective use of language at post depends on the indi- vidual’s willingness to immerse him- self in the language and culture of the country, to strengthen his skills in a real-life environment of working and living abroad. The new Career Development Program, the Language Continuum, and Secretary Rice’s call for transformational diplomacy all place intense emphasis on foreign lan- guage in an individual’s career. FSI’s tests play a central role, and we are pledged to uphold the highest stan- dards of fairness, reliability and accu- racy. It is hard to see how any outside organization could meet these stan- dards or perform in such an outstand- ing, consistent manner. FSI places high value on customer satisfaction, and we seek feedback reg- ularly. The many thousands of students we serve give us generally positive and constructive readouts. We periodically conduct major reviews of all our pro- grams, like the one ongoing for our area studies curriculum. AFSA’s survey is a welcome contribution to this continu- ing effort. We hope this discussion will help reinforce the importance of life- long learning, throughout the Foreign Service career, to enable us to carry out the department’s mission as effectively as possible. n Marie T. Huhtala is a career Foreign Service officer currently serving as senior adviser to the director of the Foreign Service Institute. A former ambassador to Malaysia, she is a vet- eran of FSI’s Thai and Chinese lan- guage programs. Christina Hoffman, manager of continuing training and testing within the School of Language Services at the Foreign Service Institute, also contributed to this arti- cle. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 21 S P E A K I N G O U T u Home Suite Home The next time you’re going to be in DC for an extended stay, make yourself at home at Georgetown Suites. With our discounted monthly rates and large, comfortable suites, you’ll feel right at home. Plus we’re near the State Department. Call today! Georgetown Suites the fun place to stay in DC 1-800-348-7203 www.georgetownsuites.com sales@georgetownsuites.com t ti ’r i t i f r t t , r lf t t r t it . it r i t t l r t l r , f rt l it , ’ll f l ri t t . l ’r r t t t rt t. ll t ! the f 1-800-348-7203 . r t it . l r t ites.c