English Language Proficiency Training and testing of ATM personnel in France ENAC - DGAC

Current regulatory context ICAO SARPs Annex 1 Annex 10 Annex 11 Eurocontrol ESARR5 EU Directive (late 2005) ATC Licence National regulations initial - ENAC progression requirements minimum exit level 4 continuation - DGAC placement testing training requirements

Objectives Acquire ICAO level 4 Develop learner autonomy develop general language skills focus on specific topics/functions/skills for aviation R/T teach specific aviation language Develop learner autonomy strategies resources Maintain ICAO level 4 regular practice refresher training

Recruitment National competitive entrance exams annual academic 2 populations trained exclusively at ENAC: TSEEAC (ATC in small aerodromes) high-school diploma (baccalauréat) + 1 year ENAC minimum level (oral): 3,5 ICNA (ATC in 79 large aerodromes and 5 ACC) high-school diploma + 2 years advanced maths

ENAC Language Department 14,000 hours of training per year (2004) Teaching staff 50 teachers, mixed nationalities aviation specialisation Facilities dedicated rooms (multimedia, discussion, self-access) books, audio, video, satellite TV/radio

Historical background 1948: ENAC founded, Paris English training 1968: ENAC moves to Toulouse aviation English materials (Y Rengade) 1990: new ATC basic course 3 years, 520 hours of ELT, alternate school/OJT, 6 weeks immersion UK/USA 1990 - present: introduction of national rating scale (8 levels) development of continuation training provisions on local basis publication of “syllabus checklist” (reprinted in ICAO Doc 9835) development (with Eurocontrol) and implementation of PELA test member of PRICESG (ICAO language proficiency SARPs)

Initial training - general Phraseology (ATC staff) bilingual (French/English) DGAC standard computer-based training simulation training Plain language (ELT staff) small groups(8) tutorials(1-4) methodologies/materials communicative/formal simplified/authentic extensive general + aviation 4-6 hours/week intensive/immersion general only 2 weeks/ 6 weeks

Initial training (ICNA) ENAC ENTRANCE FULL QUALIFICATION POST ASIGNMENT POST CONFIRMATION MOD1 ENAC 8 months MOD2 MIXED 4 MOD3 ENAC 3 MOD4 CTRE 3,5 MOD5 ENAC 3 MOD6 CTRE 6 MOD7 IMM 1,5 MOD8 ENAC 1 MOD9 MOD10 CTRE From 3 to 18 months ENAC MANAGEMENT CENTRE MANAGEMENT From 3 to 4,5 years ENGLISH TESTS (ENAC) ENGLISH TESTS (PELA+ENAC)

Training strategies Direct Indirect Language training Learner training extensive/intensive immersion class groups tutorials self-study school intranet multi-media rooms course documents Indirect Learner training self-study guide teacher-student relationship Human factors training theory observation debrief

Continuation training a national policy (DGAC) regular working groups regional linguistic co-ordinators language trainers at each facility ACC TWR/APP minimum national requirement individual English training plans (PIFA)

Language Testing initial continuation progress/achievement testing (in-house) proficiency testing (PELA) continuation benchmarking/diagnostic testing (TNP) proficiency testing (???)

Problems encountered initial continuation learner attitudes conditioned by previous schooling motivation of students with levels higher than 4 resources for development of specific training materials continuation training for all on a voluntary basis older populations test acceptance for benchmarking

Future perspectives initial continuation multimedia technologies facilitate learning outside the classroom increase overall training effort (knowledge, listening skills) focus classroom activities on speaking content instruction in English (human factors,…) closer collaboration between language and ATC instructors continuation stronger requirements to undergo training national coordination