© EUROCONTROL 2010 ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 Testing Air Traffic Controllers for language proficiency Adrian Enright EUROCONTROL

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL ► ICAO Assembly 32 nd Session Sept ► PRICE study Group 2000 – 2006 ► SARPs adopted by ICAO Council March 2003 ► ICAO Assembly resolution A36-11 (Oct 2006) extends deadline to March 5 th 2011 ► March 2010: how much further to go? ► Only 17/56 States indicate compliance …

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 ICAO Support ► Action Plan for Implementation, regularly updated ► Checklist for regulators / service providers ► LPRI workshops – 7th since Sept ► Language samples ► Doc 9835, Circular 318

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Basics of test design ► Assess speaking and listening proficiency  ICAO Rating scale  Holistic Descriptors ► Tests must demonstrate validity, reliability and practicality

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Language testing as seen by the air traffic controller … START FINISH

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Holistic Descriptors ► A test should demonstrate:  visual and non-visual communication  communication in the context of the job ► And the ability of the candidate to:  check, confirm and clarify information  handle an unexpected turn of events  use an accent or dialect intelligible to the aviation community

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Survey on tests (Professor Charles Alderson of Lancaster University) ► Survey conducted in 2008 and sent to numerous organisations using tests for pilots and controllers ► Only 22 responses ► Additionally, all ICAO States contacted  17/190 responded ► Very little evidence attesting to the quality of tests ► Unclear whether CAAs have the knowledge to judge the quality of tests

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Report concludes ► “We can have very little confidence in the meaningfulness, reliability and validity of the aviation language tests currently available for licensure”. ► “The consequences of inadequate language tests being used in licensing pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation personnel are almost too frightening to contemplate”.

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 But, if I can say that my … ► test specifications and test content match the needs of test takers ► test examiners (raters and interlocutors) are appropriately trained and accredited ► tests have been adequately trialled ► test takers are aware of how and on what they will be tested and how their performance will be rated ► the reliability of marking is monitored

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Then I’m on final for a safe landing …

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 But I must ask myself … ► Am I confident that my test is fully compliant with ICAO LPRs? ► Are my controllers adequately prepared for the test? ► What actions am I taking to reassure my controllers, especially the older ones, if they fail to get level 4? ► Would I accept a controller with a level 4 in Test “XYZ”?

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Beyond 2011? ► Programmes to maintain language proficiency ► Review and audit of testing systems ► At least 1 LPR Workshop per year  exchange experience  education assistance  maintain standards of testing

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Food for thought … ► What is your organisation doing to prepare controllers for the language proficiency test? ► Why are we seeing a negative approach to language testing from some of our controllers? And what are we doing about it? ► Whose responsibility is it to find answers to these and other questions?

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Ensuring that student controllers have at least level 4 proficiency will lay the foundation for the future.

ICAO – Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Rome, March 3 rd to 5 th 2010 © EUROCONTROL 2010 Thank you