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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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
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)

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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)

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

12. 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

13. 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