Conversational Language Skills groups take personal language training to new levels Published Oct. 2, 2006 By 2nd Lt. George Tobias 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Cannon Library holds free Conversational Language Skills groups from 11 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Languages that are offered are Arabic on Mondays, Spanish on Tuesdays, Chinese on Wednesdays, French on Thursdays and Japanese on Fridays. Individuals who would like to attend these groups, "should at least have some kind of a basic knowledge of a language," said Clare Nieto, Cannon librarian assistant. "It doesn't matter if you are advanced," she adds, "or if you are truly, truly basic." What is important is having the basics to build on. Learning a foreign language is being pushed hugely in the Air Force, said Mrs. Nieto. In a letter to Airmen the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael W. Wynne stated that, "understanding different languages and different cultures is especially important in the Global War on Terror." The language skills program is free and is designed to help use language skills, said Mrs. Nieto. "Even if you are just sitting down listening to other people talking you are still absorbing the words that are around you and that's going to help you learn the language." Language groups are already showing signs of helping Cannon Airmen and their families develop their skills. "It has really helped me understand the difference in the formal Spanish that I was taught in school and how it is spoken in this area," said Capt. Tracy Coquat-Rives, 27th Services Squadron acting commander. "It has also helped by pointing out different ways to assist with learning, such as reading books or magazines [in the foreign language] out loud." Servicemembers, spouses and dependants are able to attend these language groups. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch. For more information, call the Cannon Library at 784-2786.