Aviation English

1. Aviation English Elizabeth Mathews Aviation English Services Emathews@aeservices.net

2. What next?

3. SOME BASIC ISSUES Aviation English testing: what is required? Aviation English training: How much?

4. Language Proficiency Testing • Misleading to speak about ‘a test.’ • Testing services are required • Capability to constantly develop new test prompts • Able to maintain high level of security in administration, record keeping, scoring

5. High Stakes Testing • Careers • Safety • Economics • Airline industry health

6. Stakes are high • ‘too hard’-- a threat to airline economic health and pilot career • ‘too easy’-- a threat to airline safety standards

7. Aviation-SpecificTesting Existing general English tests not appropriate Not aviation specific Not proficiency tests Proficiency testing Actual speaking performance Not pen and paper tests

8. Needs analysis Specifications Item writing Operational experts Language testing specialists Trialing Analysis Construction Standard setting Guidance material Rater training and retraining Quality control Adminstrative Administering test Test security Record keeping On going test item development, including trials Test development

9. Aviation English Level 6 Level 5 ICAO Phraseology English Level 4 Level 3 Radiotelephony Communication Level 2 Level 1 “ATC, do you see fire?”  “Uh, who’s ahead? Us or Ryan Air?”  “There is a dog on the runway”

10. Aviation English Training

11. There is no magic bullet “Learn English while you sleep.” “Speak like a diplomat in thirty days.”

12. How long to Level 4?

13. Learner Variables • Starting point • Time • Learner style • Motivation • Personality • Environment

14. Aviation English Training • How long to Level 4? • 200 hours for measurable improvement • Immersion environments • Intensive learning • Teacher-led • Academic programs • Reading; writing, grammar, listening/speaking

15. Canadian Civil Service • “True beginner” (ICAO Level 1) • To • Canadian Civil Service Level 3 • (can describe process but not explain process. • 1300 Hours

16. Aviation English Training • 100 hours @ DLI Level 1++  Level 2 • Defense Language Institute, USA • Immersion • Intensive • Teacher led • Speaking/Listening Only • Aviation specific

17. Aviation English training: Best Practice • Teacher-led • Immersion • Intensive • TESL qualified teacher/material developer • Communicative, interactive • Learner-centered • Aviation-specific

18. STANDARD TOEFL Academia Tests Personnel Teacher Training Programs Programs Materials

19. Level 6 Level 5 English Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 100 hours 100 hours - 200 hours 100 hours - 400 hours 200 hours - 600 hours

20. Threats

21. Threats and Challenges to effective language TEACHING • …”If you are a native speaker and can fog a mirror, then you can teach English abroad.” • Recruiter for English teachers • Quoted in Time Magazine, • June 30, 2003

22. Threats and challenges in language testing • High stakes: careers versus safety • Requires specialized knowledge, beyond language teacher knowledge-base • Users usually lack awareness of professional requirements • Test development is expensive • 2008 Deadline creates urgency • Large testing and training market • Language testing is unregulated

23. Threats and challenges to language training • Perception that English teaching easy • Effective and efficient Aviation English training requires specialized knowledge • Much training required • Pilots and controllers cannot come off line easily • Not much aviation-specific English materials currently available. • Unregulated industry

24. Role of General English Basic Levels Until Aviation-specific material more available Why aviation English at low levels/ Interest Motivation Relevance

25. Practical suggestions • Document 9835 • TESL input especially for test DEVELOPMENT and curriculum development • Start early. Stay the course. • Believe it is possible!