A few (<-- This is a lie) questions about being a CTI?

Iguana_Away · 05-17-2015, 11:52 AM

After a couple minutes of ctrl+F I found this forum. Yay me!

So I have a few questions regarding the DLI and being out in the fleet.~

1. I got a reasonably high score on my DLAB, will that impact the languages I want to take? I was hoping for something like Arabic, but I'm also a Nordic girl, which I can understand dropping me out of that category.

2. Life at the DLI, is it hard? I know the website says 2-3 hours of homework, but do they mean 2-3 hours for a quick person, or 2-3 hours for a slow person?

3. How many languages do you get to learn? Do you only get one, or can you get more?

4. When you join the fleet, I was told there's a possibility of being actively translating with a special forces group. Is this true? Do you have to qualify for something?

5. Do you bunk with someone at the DLI? If so, are they also learning your language, or is communication hopeless?

6. After you get out of your blackout phase, do you get to go off base/have your phone/laptop/whatever else?

7. So after basic, I'll go to the DLI, from my understanding, does this mean I can have my parents pack me a small backpack with my laptop/cell/whatever or would they have to mail that? Or is there some other way to get that?

jzhaun · 05-17-2015, 12:50 PM

I've been out of DLI a little less than a year now, so things might not be exactly the same, but here goes:

1. A high DLAB score will definitely help, but it's really dependent on what slots they have open. They'll also look at what other languages you have experience with, what kind of assignments you want etc.

2. It depends on the language/teaching team. Generally Chinese/Korean are the most homework intensive, but even that can vary. I'm a Chinese linguist and we had 2~3 hours of homework a night (this was 2 hours for those at the top of class and closer to 4 for the guys who were struggling) for the first year or so and then tapered off at the end of the class when we knew how to study on our own.

3. One at a time. If you re-enlist you've got a good chance of going back to DLI at some point.

4. That isn't a first term assignment. You'd have to re-enlist to get something like that. And yes, you have to qualify physically.

5. Yes, most rooms are doubles or triples. You can qualify for a single by keeping your room clean/grades up etc. 2 of my 3 roommates (to be clear, I lived in doubles with 3 other people in succession) were also Chinese, but it just happened that way, rooms are assigned without regard to language.

6. You can have cell phones/laptops etc immediately. Phase 1 is uniform, no offbase (unless in the duty vehicle for something official), 2200 curfew. Two weeks, get your watch qual, inspections etc you can get Phase 2, civies, offbase privileges, 2200 weeknights/2400 weekend curfew. Two more weeks, more inspections and training courses, phase 3 is overnight liberty.

7. My parents mailed it to me because my time at bootcamp was complicated and I didn't have a graduation. For people with graduations - you get liberty with your family and then go back to your compartment to get bussed to the airport. You can ask your family to bring it and meet you at the airport. Don't take it back to the compartment.

Iguana_Away · 05-17-2015, 12:55 PM

Thank you for answering! :D

I've never had any experience with formal learning of other languages before, so does that mean I could end up with Spanish? No offense to Spanish folks, but I'm hoping for a more interesting language.

And does talking with your family make learning harder? In my family, only my father has a working vocabulary in other languages, and of those, we could really only talk about buying things and where the bathroom is. So, I'd have to use English, is that detrimental, or does it not impact learning a language?

jzhaun · 05-17-2015, 01:05 PM

Spanish is the easiest language to qualify for (DLAB-wise), so they tend to save it for the people with the lowest DLAB scores. I have known a few Hispanic sailors who qualified for CAT IV languages but requested Spanish instead since they already knew it though.

Look, you're not going to speak your language 24/7 most of the time, and that's okay. The main thing is to not speak English to your teachers if you know how to say in your language. We sometimes reinforced our bad habits/grammar by speaking Chinese without the teachers around to correct us.

Iguana_Away · 05-17-2015, 01:08 PM

Ah, okay. Thank you very much!

What is the day-to-day life of being a CTI like? Is it all sit at a computer and work?

jzhaun · 05-17-2015, 01:15 PM

As a shore sailor, yes, you sit at a computer and work. There are also opportunities to go aircrew or dirsup (deploying on ships, but not assigned to one) straight out of DLI but it's luck of the draw most of the time.

classified9 · 07-13-2015, 11:12 PM

After a couple minutes of ctrl+F I found this forum. Yay me!

So I have a few questions regarding the DLI and being out in the fleet.~

1. I got a reasonably high score on my DLAB, will that impact the languages I want to take? I was hoping for something like Arabic, but I'm also a Nordic girl, which I can understand dropping me out of that category.

Honestly, it depends on what's available. There's almost no impact on DLAB score because the way students are placed in classes.

2. Life at the DLI, is it hard? I know the website says 2-3 hours of homework, but do they mean 2-3 hours for a quick person, or 2-3 hours for a slow person?

Yes, it is hard. Period. You're going to work a lot and have military responsibilities.

3. How many languages do you get to learn? Do you only get one, or can you get more?

If you pass the basic course and go on to do your job, you can have an opportunity to return.

4. When you join the fleet, I was told there's a possibility of being actively translating with a special forces group. Is this true? Do you have to qualify for something?

Yes and yes.

5. Do you bunk with someone at the DLI? If so, are they also learning your language, or is communication hopeless?

None of my roommates have ever had my language.

6. After you get out of your blackout phase, do you get to go off base/have your phone/laptop/whatever else?

Yes.

7. So after basic, I'll go to the DLI, from my understanding, does this mean I can have my parents pack me a small backpack with my laptop/cell/whatever or would they have to mail that? Or is there some other way to get that?

Get them to bring it to the airport the day you fly from GL.

I'm currently there right now. Finishing up class. PM me if you need anything in particular.

05-17-2015, 11:52 AM	#1
Iguana_Away Newbie Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 7	A few (<-- This is a lie) questions about being a CTI? After a couple minutes of ctrl+F I found this forum. Yay me! So I have a few questions regarding the DLI and being out in the fleet.~ 1. I got a reasonably high score on my DLAB, will that impact the languages I want to take? I was hoping for something like Arabic, but I'm also a Nordic girl, which I can understand dropping me out of that category. 2. Life at the DLI, is it hard? I know the website says 2-3 hours of homework, but do they mean 2-3 hours for a quick person, or 2-3 hours for a slow person? 3. How many languages do you get to learn? Do you only get one, or can you get more? 4. When you join the fleet, I was told there's a possibility of being actively translating with a special forces group. Is this true? Do you have to qualify for something? 5. Do you bunk with someone at the DLI? If so, are they also learning your language, or is communication hopeless? 6. After you get out of your blackout phase, do you get to go off base/have your phone/laptop/whatever else? 7. So after basic, I'll go to the DLI, from my understanding, does this mean I can have my parents pack me a small backpack with my laptop/cell/whatever or would they have to mail that? Or is there some other way to get that? __________________ Status: DEPer, shipping early July as a CTI

05-17-2015, 12:55 PM	#3
Iguana_Away Newbie Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 7	Thank you for answering! :D I've never had any experience with formal learning of other languages before, so does that mean I could end up with Spanish? No offense to Spanish folks, but I'm hoping for a more interesting language. And does talking with your family make learning harder? In my family, only my father has a working vocabulary in other languages, and of those, we could really only talk about buying things and where the bathroom is. So, I'd have to use English, is that detrimental, or does it not impact learning a language? __________________ Status: DEPer, shipping early July as a CTI

05-17-2015, 01:08 PM	#5
Iguana_Away Newbie Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 7	Ah, okay. Thank you very much! What is the day-to-day life of being a CTI like? Is it all sit at a computer and work? __________________ Status: DEPer, shipping early July as a CTI

07-13-2015, 11:12 PM	#7
classified9 Active Duty Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 297 Rep Power: 37	After a couple minutes of ctrl+F I found this forum. Yay me! So I have a few questions regarding the DLI and being out in the fleet.~ 1. I got a reasonably high score on my DLAB, will that impact the languages I want to take? I was hoping for something like Arabic, but I'm also a Nordic girl, which I can understand dropping me out of that category. Honestly, it depends on what's available. There's almost no impact on DLAB score because the way students are placed in classes. 2. Life at the DLI, is it hard? I know the website says 2-3 hours of homework, but do they mean 2-3 hours for a quick person, or 2-3 hours for a slow person? Yes, it is hard. Period. You're going to work a lot and have military responsibilities. 3. How many languages do you get to learn? Do you only get one, or can you get more? If you pass the basic course and go on to do your job, you can have an opportunity to return. 4. When you join the fleet, I was told there's a possibility of being actively translating with a special forces group. Is this true? Do you have to qualify for something? Yes and yes. 5. Do you bunk with someone at the DLI? If so, are they also learning your language, or is communication hopeless? None of my roommates have ever had my language. 6. After you get out of your blackout phase, do you get to go off base/have your phone/laptop/whatever else? Yes. 7. So after basic, I'll go to the DLI, from my understanding, does this mean I can have my parents pack me a small backpack with my laptop/cell/whatever or would they have to mail that? Or is there some other way to get that? Get them to bring it to the airport the day you fly from GL. I'm currently there right now. Finishing up class. PM me if you need anything in particular. __________________ "Don't give up. Don't ever give up." - Jimmy V

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-17-2015, 12:50 PM	#2
jzhaun Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627 Rep Power: 127	I've been out of DLI a little less than a year now, so things might not be exactly the same, but here goes: 1. A high DLAB score will definitely help, but it's really dependent on what slots they have open. They'll also look at what other languages you have experience with, what kind of assignments you want etc. 2. It depends on the language/teaching team. Generally Chinese/Korean are the most homework intensive, but even that can vary. I'm a Chinese linguist and we had 2~3 hours of homework a night (this was 2 hours for those at the top of class and closer to 4 for the guys who were struggling) for the first year or so and then tapered off at the end of the class when we knew how to study on our own. 3. One at a time. If you re-enlist you've got a good chance of going back to DLI at some point. 4. That isn't a first term assignment. You'd have to re-enlist to get something like that. And yes, you have to qualify physically. 5. Yes, most rooms are doubles or triples. You can qualify for a single by keeping your room clean/grades up etc. 2 of my 3 roommates (to be clear, I lived in doubles with 3 other people in succession) were also Chinese, but it just happened that way, rooms are assigned without regard to language. 6. You can have cell phones/laptops etc immediately. Phase 1 is uniform, no offbase (unless in the duty vehicle for something official), 2200 curfew. Two weeks, get your watch qual, inspections etc you can get Phase 2, civies, offbase privileges, 2200 weeknights/2400 weekend curfew. Two more weeks, more inspections and training courses, phase 3 is overnight liberty. 7. My parents mailed it to me because my time at bootcamp was complicated and I didn't have a graduation. For people with graduations - you get liberty with your family and then go back to your compartment to get bussed to the airport. You can ask your family to bring it and meet you at the airport. Don't take it back to the compartment.

05-17-2015, 01:05 PM	#4
jzhaun Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627 Rep Power: 127	Spanish is the easiest language to qualify for (DLAB-wise), so they tend to save it for the people with the lowest DLAB scores. I have known a few Hispanic sailors who qualified for CAT IV languages but requested Spanish instead since they already knew it though. Look, you're not going to speak your language 24/7 most of the time, and that's okay. The main thing is to not speak English to your teachers if you know how to say in your language. We sometimes reinforced our bad habits/grammar by speaking Chinese without the teachers around to correct us.

05-17-2015, 01:15 PM	#6
jzhaun Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627 Rep Power: 127	As a shore sailor, yes, you sit at a computer and work. There are also opportunities to go aircrew or dirsup (deploying on ships, but not assigned to one) straight out of DLI but it's luck of the draw most of the time.