Australian Defence Force Selects Tactical Language & Culture Training Systems by Alelo.

LOS ANGELES -- The Australian Defence Force is teaching its personnel the spoken languages and cultures of Iraq and the Pashtun regions of Afghanistan with the Tactical Language & Culture courses by Alelo Inc.

Robert Carpenter, Deputy Director of Simulation Development at the ADF's

Thousands of US Marines and US Army soldiers have used the Tactical Iraqi and Tactical Pashto courses since 2006. These novel PC-based "serious games" originally conceived at the University of Southern California teach not only what to say, but just as importantly how to say it and when to say it. Lessons focus on skills relevant to common, everyday situations and tasks. Cultural awareness covers non-verbal gestures and norms of politeness and etiquette that are most critical to communicate successfully.

Trainees learn while having fun by playing immersive, interactive, 3D videogames that simulate real-life social interactions involving spoken dialogs and cultural protocols. Trainees "win" the game by correctly speaking to and behaving with computer-generated "virtual humans." If the virtual humans trust the trainee, they cooperate and provide the answers needed to advance in the game. Otherwise, they become uncooperative and prevent the trainee from advancing. The game has no shooting; trainees must communicate -- not shoot -- their way to "winning" the game.

The courses are not simple entertainment videogames nor "repeat after me" training programs. They are "serious games" that combine several patent-pending, breakthrough technologies, including computational models of language, culture and learning that guide the behavior of the game's autonomous, animated characters; and a contextual, speaker-independent speech recognizer for non-native speakers.

Trainees start learning functional communications skills within a few hours of play. From the very first lesson, they listen to and speak in Arabic and Pashto using a headset microphone, getting immediate feedback and guidance. Many rate the course better than instructor-led classes.

About Alelo

Alelo is the Hawaiian word for "language," which is at the heart of the company's mission to transform how people learn to communicate. Initial emphasis is on foreign languages and culture, with plans to expand into broader markets. Alelo provides its military customers with the family of Tactical Language & Culture Training Systems, which includes courses for Iraqi Arabic, Pashto and Sub-Saharan French. The company also provides the civilian courses, Mission to World Cultures.