Job Discussion Forums

[gregd75]

As you may know, all international pilots will have to complete an English exam by the end of next month. If they fail their careers will surely suffer...

I was wondering of anyone knows of any resources for teaching aviation English?

I have seen an English teacher training course, but its in the UK, and have found only one book focussing on aviation english, but it is due to be available 'in the beginning of 2008'

Looking at the IACO webpage is a great help, but if anyone has any ideas on how to help pilots practice ATC listening and speaking, specific airplane and airline language, I'd greatly appreciate it!

THANKS

[spiral78]

I suggest that you might check the FAA.com webpage.

You may also be able to find a radio frequency that transmits contacts between pilots and controllers in your area, assuming you are near an airport. - or recordings of them, possibly on the FAA site.

[spiral78]

faa.gov, sorry

I think you can google some archived listening stuff there. Will check myself, but my time's a bit limited today.

If I think of any other possible resources, will get back to you asap.

[soapdodger]

I have been doing ATC teaching for this exam. Resources are undoubtedly poor from the exam providers. This is a good site, probably the best for live ATC feed, but you will need an internet connection in the classroom as trying to copy/record off the net is a bit of a bind, I had loads of trouble with software and gave up.

The site for ATC: http://www.liveatc.net/ go to their international section, best is Amsterdam, always traffic, also that zany Dutch accent "Letsh hav shom beersh"!!!
Also found this, may be of use: http://www.aopa.org/asf/asfquiz/quizzes.cfm?SA=Quizzes&QuizId=16
http://www.eurocontrol.int/ians/public/related_links/elearning.html

This online listening test is very good practice...and very tough:

http://elpac.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=13

[Justin Trullinger]

Where ya teaching, soap? I've been on this one for a while as well!

I'll second the recommendation for www.liveatc.net

If you want to record to CD for classroom use, you can do so using a free, downloadable program called freecorder. Google it, I don't remember the address, but it allows you to save internet audio in mp3 format.

Use the ICAO website to familiarize yourself with the requirements, but mostly, think pure listening and speaking, repetition and recall. (the requirements are purely speaking and listening, no written component.) ICAO has recorded CDs of examples of the various levels- expensive, but probably worht it.

Is the book you found the one from MacMillan? It looks good from the samples I've seen, and is scheduled to be available in March.

An interesting fact- though it's an ICAO requirement, there is no ICAO approved exam. Rather, each country (the national civil aviation authority) is required to select an instrument for examination that meets ICAO requirements. (usually administered by an independent organisation, such as a university or language teaching organisation) So, though the regs are the same, different countries are going to be using different exams on this- it is probably a really good idea to find out what exam will be used in your country, and, if possible, use materials appropriate to that.

This is confusing, bureacratic, and maybe a bit screwed up. But such is life. If you'd like to discuss further, feel free to email or PM me.

Best,
justin

[biffinbridge]

There is a book called Air Speak (maybe one word) , I used it several years ago, teaching a young trainee pilot.

[phantombedwetter]

Try
http://www.pprune.org/forums/

You will have to register and find a suitable forum, but there will be someone who can help you. You could even suggest this subject as a new forum title?

BTW, I once did a three month course for a certain Far Eastern airline teaching the air hostesses. By far the best bit was in the swimming pool teaching bikini clad beauties English for emergency procedures

Tough job, but someone had to do it.

[ntropy]

I'm feeling lazy. I've perused the ICAO site but haven't found the link yet for the test requirements. Can anyone save me any time with a URL link?

THanks

[Justin Trullinger]

ICAO FAQs on English Language Proficiency requirements:

http://www.icao.int/icao/en/trivia/peltrgFAQ.htm#TOP

The ICAO resolution that lead to all this nonsense:

http://www.icao.int/icao/en/ro/apac/2004/rasmag2/ip03.pdf

Information from the UK Civil Aviation Authority about implementation, including the holistic descriptors of the 6 levels described by the ICAO as a way or rating aviation professionals:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/43/ICAO%20LPRs.pdf


Enjoy,
Justin

[gregd75]

thankyou for the advice!

I really like the ATC live feed, and will be using that in my classes.

Yes, the book I have seen is by macmillan, it look sgood, but fancy it being available the same month as the test is introduced!

Anyway, if anyone has any other advice, I'd greatly appreciate it!

[Justin Trullinger]

[ntropy]

[Dedicated]

Oxford University Press has just published a new " English for Aviation" course, in the Express series..........

This is geared towards pilots and air traffic controllers, and helps them for the language fluency test required by the ICAO as of March 5th 2008.

If you register with the Oxford website <www.oup.com> you can get some free downloads, even a sample copy.

[Justin Trullinger]

http://www.aviation-esl.com/


Another cool link.

And this is the best one I've found on aviation communication:

http://www.canairradio.com/intro.html




Justn

[Will.]

Here is another new aviation/EFl publication I received yesterday from OUP.

http://elt-marketing.oup.com/q/11aImasBcXGE/wv