Translators Prepare Gunston Hall Sailors for APS Mission

USS GUNSTON HALL, At Sea (NNS) -- To better prepare Gunston Hall Sailors and embarked Africa Partnership Station (APS) West staff with the challenges of different languages they will face while ashore in Africa, translators and native speakers began language classes Feb. 15.

The class is designed to educate students on the history of the language and how to properly speak it. First timers begin in what the instructors are referring to as a "survival" class, while those just needing a review take an advanced class.

"I want Gunston Hall Sailors to enjoy their liberty," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eve McAnallen, program coordinator for the classes, from Big Lake, Minn. "Knowing how to order food, shop or tell time will help with that."

A typical class consists of one or two interpreters as instructors. Each student receives a one-page handout that gives the topics to be covered during that day's 30-minute session. Sailors are encouraged to take notes, actively participate and have fun.

"I decided to go with the handout approach," said McAnallen. "It's a lot easier to carry a few folded sheets in your pocket to refer back to than a book while out on liberty."

The interpreters for each class are well-versed in the language and are finding enjoyment in helping those new to the language to feel comfortable, and those who know the basics to brush up.

"Seeing the students really get into it and speak to me in French is very rewarding," said Yeoman 3rd Class (SW) Kaitlyn Nolan, a class instructor from Bloomingdale, Ill. "Having them take the time out of their day to come learn makes me feel like I did something good."

Not all the instruction is for enjoying liberty or a way to pass the time underway; for some, such as Marine Sgt. Scott Propheter, assigned to the Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SC MAGTF), from Phoenix, the classes are a necessity.

"These classes will be a good tool for me in helping to build a good rapport with the APS students I'll be teaching," Propheter said.

"Our unit will be conducting a lot of humanitarian work while in Africa, so it's vital that I learn whatever I can," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Hilton Blount, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, from Washington, D.C. "I've always been interested in the language and wanted to come see for myself what the classes were all about."

Gunston Hall is on a scheduled deployment to West Africa in support of APS West. APS West is an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa that aims to improve maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.

For more news from USS Gunston Hall, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lsd44/.