Job Discussion Forums

taiwan · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 6

I am interested in finding out if the BAE contracts are for teaching ESP - Aviation English predominately or just the regular ESL/EFL conversational classes? Does BAE teach any IELTS or TOEFL?

mouse5 · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 142

BAe don't teach anything remotely like ESP Aviation English. RSAF is essentially grade school teaching. As for TOEFL and IELTS, the cadets would probably think you were talking about a new soft drink.

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

Considering your interests, you might want to check out STA the next time they post. Smile

mouse5 · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 142

STA / Coeffy are recruiters for SDT /BAe schools.

taiwan · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 6

Thanks guys. Very Happy

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Sorry for the late input.

At ther School of English Lanbguage at Dammam, the Bae staff teach a fairly basic English for Military Purposes. It starts with revision of grammar and lexis that the cadets should have been taught in their SAudi secondary schools, but very probably they weren't taught it properly. This carries of through levels 1-3. More technical lexis is added in levels 4-6, before they move on to the Academic Wing where they concentrate on what are supposed to be their trades.

Despite Mouse5's statement about Grade School, the system works - up to a point. I found the materials were well written and, had RSAF allowed the cadets to get enough sleep, the chances are that they would have done their job.

The RSAF English course is certainly far better than the Royal Air Force of Oman's Target - The Sultan's Armed Forces General English Course, which is neither flesh nor fish, but manages to be foul.

For a full account see

www.developingteachers.com/articles/tchtraining/matspf_neil.htm

or see Chapter 16 in Brian Tomlinson's latest book, English Language Learning Materials; A Critical Review (Continuum 2008)