PRICESG Member

The new ICAO English proficiency standard requires that pilots and air traffic controllers on international routes be able to speak and understand English in a mutually intelligible way. The standard affects both native and non-native speakers of English in that all are expected to be able to modify their speech in such a way that communication is made as easy and seamless as possible. In some instances this means that some form of further English training will be required for the professional’s ability for clear communication to develop. As both individual aviators and companies wrestle with training issues, it is important to understand a few basic principles about language learning and teaching. Language Learning: Children learn their first language subconsciously with relative ease and little if any stress. When all circumstances are normal, most children learn the basic structures and vocabulary of their first language within the first four years of their life. The language continues to develop through life in sophistication and complexity depending primarily on the child’s eventual level of education and use of the language in question. Generally speaking, all people are successful in the acquisition of their first language, and their speech tends to be marked by the accent and regional expressions of the area where they grow up. Although people are capable of learning any number of languages during their lifetime, many experienc