Aviation English Elizabeth Mathews Aviation English Services Emathewsaeservices

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

What next?

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

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 4

High Stakes Testing Ø Careers Ø Safety Ø Economics Ø Airline industry health

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

Aviation-Specific Testing • Existing general English tests not appropriate • Not aviation specific • Not proficiency tests • Proficiency testing • Actual speaking performance • Not pen and paper tests

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

ICAO Phraseology Aviation English u see o y o d “ATC, n Air? ” a y fire? ” R r o ad? Us e h a s ’ o “Uh, wh unway” r e h t n a dog o There is Radiotelephony Communication “

Aviation English Training

“Le arn E ngl ish whi le y ou slee There is no magic bullet e “Sp lik k a e t a m plo i d a y t r i h in t p. ” ”. s y da 11

How long to Level 4?

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

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 14

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

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

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

STANDARD Academia TOEFL Tests Personnel Teacher Training Programs Materials

100 hours - 200 hours 100 hours - 400 hours 200 hours - 600 hours

Threats

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 21

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

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

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

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