MALTA Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation

1. MALTA Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation ICAO REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIAN FEDERATION, 24-26 MAY 2011

2. LPR IMPLEMENTATION ICAO LPR Implementation did not present major difficulties in Malta. The level of English Language Proficiency in Malta is quite high because • English is one of two official languages in Malta • Students learn English for at least 11 years which is equivalent to 1500 hours of teaching of English. • Textbooks and course books in most subjects are in English • Code-switching from Maltese to English is prevalent in what can be said to be a bilingual community.

3. COMPLIANCE WITH ICAO REQUIREMENTS Malta is fully compliant with ICAO requirements • ICAO language proficiency requirements have been incorporated into national legislation. • Malta applies JAR-FCL 1 and transposed Directive 2006/23/EC • Malta met the 5 March 2008 implementation date, information was sent to ICAO and published on the ICAO website. • All controllers and practically all current pilots have been tested by a language specialist. • No exemptions are issued for language proficiency requirements.

4. COMPLIANCE WITH ICAO REQUIREMENTS Raters • As from 1st July 2011 Malta’s Language Proficiency Test will be conducted by both a language specialist and an operational expert in line with the best practice. • Operational experts are professional pilots or air traffic controllers who have been assessed as level 6 and who have completed a rater training course including practice on assessing language skills. • Language Specialists must hold a First degree (Bachelor’s) in English or a first degree in Education with English as one of the main subjects. They must complete an initial course for raters focused mainly on operational aspects including ATC visits and familiarisation flight. • Training for accreditation for raters is conducted by the Authority and all raters are employed by the Authority. • Raters have to complete initial and annual refresher training. .

5. Rater Training The Initial Course for Raters covers the following Modules: Module 1: Legal Requirments and Introduction to ICAO documentation vis-á-vis Language Proficiency Testing Module 2: Communication issues in light of aviation safety Module 3: Language Testing – purposes, principles and types Module 4: Language Proficiency Test Rationale, Structure, Design and Administration in light of ICAO Holistic Descriptors Module 5: ICAO Documentation Module 6: Aviation Terminology Module 7:R/T Phraseology Module 8: Familiarisation with ICAO Rating Scale Modules 9 and 10: Rating Training – Practical Session in standardisation and calibration using ICAO and local speech samples Module 11: Report Writing based on Actual interview and transcript Module 12: Test Observation and Test practice Module 13: Test under supervision – rater assessment There are also ATC visits and a Familiarisation Flight for the Language Specialists.

6. The Test • In Malta there is only one approved language proficiency test. It has been developed by the Authority and is regularly updated. • Part of the test is without visual cues • Phraseology is tested separately by an operational RT examiner. • Presents aviation-related prompts that can be classified into 4 broad categories: • Of a personal nature relating to the test taker’s aviation experience • On general matters in aviation • Dealing with normal situations • Dealing with emergency and abnormal situations

7. The Test • Different audios and questions are used for ab-initio pilots, professional pilots and air-traffic controllers. • Both the language specialist and the operational expert rate the test taker’s proficiency with respect to each of the six skills. • A third expert rater decides the final overall rating in the case of divergent scores when one overall rating is 4 or above and the other is less than 4. • Applicant has right of appeal. • The test is recorded and kept in a secure place.

8. The Test Transport Malta Civil Aviation Directorate Language Proficiency Test targets speaking and listening skills only • The test takes about 30 minutes. • It includes 5 audio recordings to accommodate voice-only interaction – pilot / controller. • These 5 audio files have to feature at least 3 different accents in order to fulfil the interactions skill requirements and to enhance the validity of LP test • The test focuses on aviation-related subjects/topics • It replicates as faithfully as possible test-taker’s true-to-life aviation-related demands • The language specialist and operational expert can choose to ask questions from a wide range of aviation-related topics – not possible to memorise answers for the test. • In this way there can be no “teaching for the test”.

9. Local Training • English language training packages are in place for foreign students and for locals who need to reach Level 4 proficiency or to improve their language proficiency.

10. End User Perspective • Pilots and controllers understand the need for the language proficiency requirements and in almost all cases were very cooperative.

11. Food for thought • It is true that raters/interlocutors should be consistent and provide standard instructions. However, should there be room for improvised prompts/questions to be faithful to the ICAO requirement concerning making strategic use of language during unexpected events and the use of plain English to deal with the unpredictable? • Are we all sure that the fifth Holistic Descriptor: Proficient speakers use a dialect or accent which is intelligible to the aeronautical community. offers a solid basis for reliable rating of Pronunciation? • Which balance should we strike between direct and semi-direct testing?

12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND CONSIDERATION.