| and air traffic controllers now have until March 2011 to | | | | out your ICAO Aviation English level now.The more |
| demonstrate ICAO Operational Level 4 proficiency. | | | | time you give yourself then the less pressure you will |
| This article is about developing strategies to optimise | | | | feel, and you are likely to enjoy your English classes |
| the English learning process. As a pilot or ATC your | | | | more. |
| time is valuable so you will want to learn English in the | | | | 5. Choose an English course carefully |
| most efficient manner possible. | | | | There are many methods of learning a language, and |
| There are hundreds of language schools offering | | | | no one has been proven to be the best. An English |
| English courses, and the market is very competitive. It | | | | course shouldn’t be just memorising words and |
| is important to realise that there are no magic | | | | vocabulary, and neither is focusing on grammar. An |
| pills or secret learning methods that will help you | | | | English course should be communicative and give you |
| climb an ICAO level overnight. A lot of English schools | | | | the opportunity to practice the language that you have |
| will over-emphasise the benefits of a particular learning | | | | learned in a realistic context. When choosing an English |
| method, this is usually just part of their sales technique. | | | | course you should ask about the qualifications and |
| Learning a language is a complex process and there is | | | | experience of the English teachers. For teaching |
| a lot about language learning that we don’t | | | | English for aviation, teachers should have a practical |
| understand. If a language school does claim miraculous | | | | teaching qualification, specifically an externally |
| progress due to their learning method you should be | | | | assessed qualification such as CELTA or Trinity Cert |
| suspicious. However, most linguistic experts will agree | | | | TESOL as a bare minimum requirement. These |
| on some principles. When choosing a language school | | | | qualifications are well regarded and involve the teacher |
| you should also ensure that all teachers should have | | | | being assessed whilst teaching in a classroom, and |
| an externally assessed teaching qualification, such as | | | | also completing a significant amount of coursework |
| CELTA or Trinity Cert TESOL and be aware of | | | | about teaching practice. Be cautious of schools |
| communicative language teaching methods. If you are | | | | employing teachers that have online TEFL or TESL |
| learning English for ICAO compliance, you should also | | | | certificates which can be completed alone in hours, |
| find out if the teachers have experience within an | | | | rather than the 4-6 weeks of observed practice |
| aviation environment or access to an SME (Subject | | | | required for a CELTA or TESOL. All teaching |
| Matter Expert). | | | | certificates are not the same. |
| Developing good learning strategies will make your | | | | Also consider the qualifications of those teachers that |
| language learning more effective. In the last article I | | | | oversee a course. Ideally this should be an MA in |
| described some techniques that will help you improve | | | | Applied Linguistics. Although you should not expect |
| your English learning. Now I’ll provide some | | | | your English teacher to be an experienced commercial |
| advice specific to pilots and air traffic controllers. | | | | pilot, a school teaching aviation English should have |
| 1. Remove limiting beliefs about learning English | | | | access to a SME (Subject Matter Expert) to advise |
| Attitude and motivation are very important to learning | | | | on technical matters. Some teachers may hold higher |
| a language, as is an open mind. Particularly consider | | | | English teaching qualifications such as DELTA and |
| limiting beliefs about age affecting ability to learn a | | | | Trinity Dip TESOL, which are usually obtained after 2-3 |
| language. There are a number of views regarding this, | | | | years teaching experience. |
| though factors such as time, effort and opportunity are | | | | 6. Focus on the skills you need. |
| likely to be more significant than age. Research show | | | | English for ICAO compliance requires effective |
| that adults actually have better language learning | | | | speaking and listening and class time should focus on |
| strategies than children — the advantage that | | | | communicative activities that require interaction |
| children and adolescents have is that they have a lot | | | | between people. Although reading and writing are |
| more opportunities and time to learn a language. There | | | | important, these activities are best used outside the |
| is some evidence to support the belief that our ability | | | | classroom as homework activities. Every second of |
| to acquire a native accent declines after adolescence | | | | classroom time is a valuable opportunity for you to |
| but our ability to learn a language does not. As a pilot | | | | practice speaking and listening — don’t |
| or controller you don’t currently need to achieve | | | | waste time on the skills that can be developed outside |
| native proficiency so don’t give your self | | | | class. A good example of an out of classroom activity |
| unnecessary pressure. | | | | is reading books and magazines graded at an |
| 2. Be realistic in your goals. | | | | appropriate level. Reading is an excellent way to |
| The current standard of English proficiency for flight | | | | improve your vocabulary and you will also pick up a lot |
| crew and controllers is ICAO Operational Level 4. The | | | | of grammatical structures naturally. There are a wide |
| requirements do not require you to be a speaker of | | | | range of aviation themed books and magazines |
| perfect English. Your goal should be to communicate | | | | available. Let us know your recommendations on our |
| safely and effectively during radiotelephony. You | | | | Facebook page. There are also a lot of aviation |
| don’t need to be able to communicate like a | | | | websites, videos and forums online that offer text and |
| native speaker, although there are obvious advantages | | | | rich multimedia that can help you develop your |
| for achieving proficiency at higher levels. Most people | | | | language skills. If you find a good aviation website |
| learn English better when they are free from external | | | | please post a link on our Facebook page discussion |
| stress and pressure, almost anyone can learn a | | | | forum. |
| language — it’s just a matter of time and | | | | 7. Choose an aviation specific English course. |
| effort. A reputable aviation English school can give you | | | | Pass the ICAO English test with ICAO Aviation English |
| feedback on how long it will take to achieve your goal. | | | | Online An aviation focused English course is likely to be |
| 3. Accept that learning English takes time. | | | | more interesting for you than a general English course. |
| Be wary of English courses that promise quick results. | | | | The course materials will be more relevant and can |
| Reliable, proven systems like ICAO Aviation English | | | | even reinforce knowledge that you will need for your |
| Online is designed to take 12 weeks for each ICAO | | | | career. Furthermore an aviation English course will be a |
| half level, eg (ICAO level 3 lower is 12 weeks, ICAO | | | | better use of your valuable time because it is |
| level 3 upper is also typically 12 weeks in duration). | | | | specifically concentrated on helping you develop the |
| Developing a strong foundation in English always | | | | language skills that your needs for ICAO compliance. |
| involves a commitment of time and effort. Improving | | | | Your teachers will be very interested in aviation and |
| your ability in English involves more than memorising | | | | keen to hear about your experiences too. |
| phrases and questions — you need to be able | | | | 8. Be responsible for your own learning. |
| to comprehend and respond appropriately. You will | | | | No matter how good they are, you shouldn’t |
| also need to be able to explain non-routine situations | | | | rely on your teacher 100%. Your English teacher is just |
| that could potentially occur during flight operations, | | | | a guide, or a facilitator. You need to be active in your |
| hence the need for specialised aviation English training. | | | | learning and take every opportunity that you can to |
| There are many factors influence the speed with | | | | practice English. Ask questions and be interested in |
| which a language can be acquired so it is very difficult | | | | people. Speak and think in English at every opportunity. |
| to say exactly how long it will take to reach ICAO | | | | Use the language that you learn in each lesson rather |
| level 4. ICAO Aviation English Online features an | | | | than letting your notes gather dust. |
| accurate placement test before starting a course and | | | | 9. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes |
| also tests and quizzes throughout each course unit so | | | | Many English learners are perfectionists that try to get |
| you can be sure that you start a course at the right | | | | everything correct first time — the result |
| level, and also ensure that you are really making | | | | — they lose their fluency. It’s ok to make |
| progress. Always be aware of magic pill | | | | mistakes, your English teacher can’t correct |
| solutions — learning a language will take time | | | | every mistake you make anyway. If they did then the |
| and it’s more likely to be several months | | | | class would be painful for the teacher. You will learn |
| between ICAO levels rather than weeks. | | | | English faster when you are relaxed and less |
| 4. Start to improve your English as soon as possible. | | | | concerned with making mistakes. The same is true for |
| When planning on taking a course it’s critical | | | | pronunciation — it’s strange that one of |
| that you take a placement test before you start. This | | | | the best ways to improve your pronunciation and |
| will give you an accurate idea of how long it will take, | | | | fluency is often
not to think about pronunciation and |
| and also ensure that the course is neither too easy nor | | | | fluency. |
| too difficult. If you have been given 12 months to reach | | | | 10. Talk to your friends and colleagues in English |
| ICAO level 4 you should start to improve your English | | | | Talking in English isn’t just limited to the |
| as soon as possible, rather than in 6 months time. Find | | | | classroom or during radio communications. |