Language issues of Brazilian pilots regarding structure: A comparative study between student pilots and SDEA test takers (original) (raw)
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Aeronautical English: Investigating the nature of this specific language in search of new heights
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Inglês aeronáutico: investigando a natureza dessa língua/linguagem em busca de novas altitudes Patrícia TOSQUI-LUCKS (USP/ICEA) 1 Ana Lígia Barbosa de Carvalho e SILVA (UNICAMP) 2 ABSTRACT Global communication for professional purposes has opened up new research avenues on English language use in aviation contexts, a growing area of interest in Applied Linguistics. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the nature of the language referred to by the terms aviation English and aeronautical English-and demonstrate how their definitions-and perceptions-can influence the language teaching and assessment for aeronautical communications between pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCOs). To this end, initially, we review the literature to identify what has been researched about the topic. Then, we discuss some problems regarding aeronautical English teaching and assessment that are still unsolved, or have been taken for granted. The expected contribution is to shed some light on what, in fact, should be taught and assessed in this scenario, for better and safer international aeronautical communications.
The Evolution of Teaching and Testing Aviation English for Brazilian Air Traffic Controllers
2018
In 2017, we celebrated 10 years of Aviation English Proficiency Requirements in Brazil. This paper will outline some interesting facts and information about a decade of air traffic controllers' training and testing in Brazil, concerning courses offered, people trained on the job, test development and test applications. There will be some information about methodology used in the courses and the Blended Learning Training Program, as well as the creation of a research group to support the practices. It will be possible to see the evolution of the processes through time. The numbers are impressive and reflect a country with the size of a continent.
Comparison of Selected Aeronautical English Tests
2020
Specialised aviation communication has been regulated by international and domestic provisions so as to standardise the language use according to the internationally accepted rules for flight safety purposes. Such rules are aimed at the simplification of global aeronautical communication to minimise language-related human factor errors. Adherence to the rules has been incorporated in the plain language (English) requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers, which are to be confirmed by a certificate for licensure purposes. The plain English requirements are proposed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) language proficiency scale. However, the challenge is the assessment system quality to meet the requirements. Currently, aviation personnel can select a test provider available on the market on condition that it is recognised by the appropriate national aviation authority. The aim of this article is to analyse three tests of Aviation English available in Euro...
" Aviation English " is not only confined to pilots and air traffic controllers (ATC), it also refers to English on general terms in aeronautical and/or aviation universities. It can be designed as integrated ESP (English for Specific Purposes) curricula for students in the fields of aeronautics and/or aviation. Learners of ESP are supposed to master the vocabulary in their specific discipline as well as the English language skills. This paper explores the possibility of establishing Aviation English as an ESP specialty in aeronautical and/or aviation colleges and universities. Needs analysis has been made and curricula designed for an integrated course of study in the Chinese context, so that learners of ESP can learn the target language more effectively and meet the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It reconsiders the ESP theories and aims to develop a possible approach to ESP teaching more suitable for the Chinese learners. Resumen El " inglés de la aviación " no se limita exclusivamente a los pilotos y a los controladores del tráfico aéreo (CTA) sino que también se aplica en términos generales a la lengua inglesa que se enseña en los centros universitarios de aeronáutica y/o aviación. Como tal, los cursos pueden diseñarse como parte integral de módulos de inglés para fines específicos cursados por alumnos de estudios aeronáuticos y/o de aviación en los que se espera alcanzar el dominio del vocabulario específico de la disciplina concreta así como las correspondientes destrezas en lengua inglesa. En este artículo se estudia la posibilidad de establecer
The Especialist, 2020
Communications between pilot and air traffic controller (ATCO) are carried out via radiotelephony, without visual contact between the interlocutors. ICAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, is responsible for the security of international civil aviation. ICAO's official documents (ICAO, 2004, 2009, 2010) mention the importance of English pronunciation in the intelligibility of pilot-ATCO communication. In 2017, Brazilian researchers analyzed the extent to which two international Aeronautical English (AE) textbooks, used in an ATCO training course in Brazil, address the pronunciation difficulties considered typical among Brazilians (CRISTÓFARO-SILVA, 2012). The analysis, based on the concepts of intelligibility, English as a Lingua Franca and the 'Lingua Franca Core' (JENKINS, 2000, 2002, 2005), showed that the analyzed books do not portray several of these difficulties. In this article, we first point out international air accidents and incidents in which pronunciation was one of the contributing factors, then, based on the Lingua Franca Core, we discuss the causes of some Brazilian pronunciation difficulties, aiming to increase teachers' and students' awareness and to contribute to pronunciation teaching in the field of AE. In addition, we problematize the non-critical use of textbooks by teachers and the inadequate training in English Language Phonology.
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes
Since the publication of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s language proficiency requirements, a number of different tests have been developed and implemented around the world to assess pilots and air traffic controllers’ proficiency in English. Meanwhile, researchers have questioned the clarity and appropriateness of the policy, and the reliability of tests (e.g., Alderson 2011; Douglas 2004; Emery 2014). ICAO has recently acknowledged that, over the years, multiple interpretations of the policy have led to practices that might undermine the meaningfulness of aviation English tests (ICAO 2022b). However, the ICAO Rating Scale remains as the instrument to be used in assessing pilots and air traffic controllers’ aeronautical language proficiency. Thus, this article explores the construct of aeronautical English listening tests stated in the comprehension descriptors of the ICAO rating scale, as well as the elements of the other descriptors that may inform the defi...
The Especialist
Treinamento de voo e o inglês como lingua franca: recomendações para o desenvolvimento de cursos de inglês para aviação na formação inicial do aviador. Markus BIESWANGER (University of Bayreuth) 1 Malila Carvalho de Almeida PRADO (FJUT) 2 Jennifer ROBERTS (ERAU) 3 ABSTRACT This paper revisits discussions on needs assessment of language courses for non-native English speakers (NNES) prior to ab initio flight training, or initial flight training, in English-speaking environments. The growing need for pilots in areas of the world where English is traditionally not the native language of the population and the fact that many of them attend flight school in English-speaking countries have increased the demand for such courses. Important questions are what communicative competencies the future flight students need and how current research on English as a lingua Franca (ELF) can inform the design of English for flight training courses. The paper presents the results of a study based on semistructured interviews with six non-native speaking professional pilots who received ab initio training in English-speaking countries. The analysis suggests that NNES ab initio flight students need to be equipped with the right mix of communicative strategies often summarized as ELF awareness and a sufficient amount of English language proficiency.
2021
This article reports the results of a study, conducted by the EPLIS (the SISCEAB Aeronautical English Language Proficiency Exam) development team, which consisted, among other things, of an analysis followed by discussion of the language tasks listed in Appendix B of the Manual on the Implementation of Language Proficiency Requirements (Doc 9835, ICAO, 2010). Although those language tasks supposedly represented language used by air traffic controllers, they were considered too vague to be used to improve the exam or to develop teaching and assessment materials. The study was carried out by a team of five experienced and proficient air traffic controllers from different facilities and a language expert with experience in teaching and assessing English for specific purposes using a focus group methodology. The results have shown that the most frequently used language tasks are related to traffic management, mostly covered by phraseology. On the other hand, language tasks involving exp...
The Critical Components of Aviation English
Aviation safety depends on accurate pilot-controller dialogue. Both must be able to negotiate meaning through language at all times. Communicative competence in aviation English means that airmen have common and standardized proficiency levels in their use of the English language. This paper defines the critical components of aviation English as air traffic control (ATC) phraseology, English for Special Purposes (ESP) and English for General Purposes (EGP). The Aviation English Model is also introduced to serve as a framework for subsequent discussions on language issues as they relate to the global aviation context.