Doc 9835AN/453Manual on theImplementation of ICAOLanguage ProficiencyRequirementsApproved by the Secretary Generaland published under his authorityFirst Edition — 2004International Civil Aviation OrganizationAMENDMENTSThe issue of amendments is announced regularly in the ICAO Journal and in themonthly Supplement to the Catalogue of ICAO Publications and Audio-visualTraining Aids, which holders of this publication should consult. The space belowis provided to keep a record of such amendments.RECORD OF AMENDMENTS AND CORRIGENDAAMENDMENTSNo.DateCORRIGENDAEntered byNo.(ii)DateEntered byTABLE OF CONTENTSPageForeword ...............................................................................................................................................(vii)Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................(ix)Chapter 1.Introduction.....................................................................................................................1-11.1 Background to strengthened ICAO language proficiency requirements...................................1.2 Review of provisions prior to adoption of amendments containinglanguage proficiency requirements ...........................................................................................1.3 Call for close international cooperation .....................................................................................1-11-31-4Chapter 2. ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) concerningLanguage Proficiency Requirements.................................................................................................2-12.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.82.9Introduction................................................................................................................................Annex 10 SARPs related to proficiency requirements ..............................................................ICAO Phraseology.....................................................................................................................Use of plain language................................................................................................................Language to be used.................................................................................................................The ICAO language proficiency requirements in Annex 1, Appendix A ...................................Radiotelephone communications .............................................................................................ICAO Rating Scale ....................................................................................................................Annexes 6 and 11 .....................................................................................................................Chapter 3.3.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.83.92-12-22-32-32-32-52-62-82-9Linguistic Awareness.....................................................................................................3-1General......................................................................................................................................Native and non-native speakers................................................................................................ICAO phraseology .....................................................................................................................Concurrent need for careful use of plain language ...................................................................Slang, jargon and idioms...........................................................................................................Function and register.................................................................................................................Pronunciation, dialect and accent .............................................................................................Cross-cultural communication...................................................................................................Summary ...................................................................................................................................3-13-23-33-43-53-53-63-73-8Chapter 4.Language Training and Radiotelephony Communications .......................................4-14.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................4.2 Language learning.....................................................................................................................4-14-2(iii)Manual on the Implementation ofICAO Language Proficiency Requirements(iv)Page4.34.44.54.64.74.84.9Language training programme developer and instructor qualifications ....................................Content: General and aviation-specific English language training ...........................................Basic principles of language learning........................................................................................Role of computer-based programmes.......................................................................................Programme standards: Wide variety in programme quality ......................................................Additional factors.......................................................................................................................Summary of best practice in aviation language training ...........................................................Chapter 5.5.15.25.35.44-34-84-114-124-134-134-13Compliance with ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements ...................................5-1Introduction................................................................................................................................Compliance with Annex 1 Standards 1.2.9.1 and 1.2.9.2 .........................................................Demonstration of proficiency at the Expert level.......................................................................Demonstration of proficiency at Levels 4 and 5 ........................................................................5-15-25-25-2Chapter 6.Aviation Language Testing............................................................................................6-16.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................6.2 Test overview ............................................................................................................................6.3 High stakes................................................................................................................................6.4 The solution: Ethics and a code of practice ..............................................................................6.5 Best practice for language testing in aviation ...........................................................................6.6 Testing services ........................................................................................................................6.7 Testing oral proficiency and the ICAO language proficiency rating scale.................................6.8 General-purpose and specific-purpose language testing .........................................................6.9 Computer-assisted language testing.........................................................................................6.10 Summary ...................................................................................................................................6-16-26-26-36-36-56-66-106-126-12Chapter 7. Aviation Language and Aeronautical RadiotelephonyCommunicative Language Functions ................................................................................................7-17.17.27.37.47.57.6Introduction................................................................................................................................Language as a factor in aviation incidents and accidents.........................................................Aeronautical communicative language functions......................................................................Specific-purpose language teaching .........................................................................................Aeronautical language functions, events, domains and tasks ..................................................Communicative functions in radiotelephony communications ..................................................Chapter 8.7-17-17-47-57-57-6Additional Support for Teaching and Learning...........................................................8-18.1 To the teacher ...........................................................................................................................8.2 To the material developer — Aviation-specific materials ..........................................................8.3 To pilots and air traffic controllers: Strategies for successful English language learning .........8-18-38-4Table of Contents(v)APPENDICESPageAppendix A.Part I.Part II.Part III.Appendix B.Part I.Part II.Part III.Part IV.Part V.Appendix C.1.2.Appendix D.1.2.3.Appendix E.Part I.Part II.ICAO SARPs ................................................................................................................A-1Extracts from ICAO Annexes 1, 6, 10 and 11 ..................................................................ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale........................................................................Explanation of rating scale ...............................................................................................A-1A-7A-10Aviation Language ......................................................................................................B-1Communicative Language Functions, Events, Domains andTasks Associated with Aviation ........................................................................................Events and Domains ........................................................................................................Priority Lexical Domains ...................................................................................................Language Tasks of Air Traffic Controllers ........................................................................Four-Word Clusters in Spoken English ............................................................................B-1B-5B-10B-11B-18Case Studies in Aviation Language Testing ............................................................C-1Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) Testing ..........................................................................PELA — Proficiency in English Language for Air Traffic Control .....................................C-1C-1Standards for Language Training and Testing ........................................................D-1Training Programme Standards .......................................................................................Language Testing Standards — The International Language TestingAssociation (ILTA) Code of Ethics....................................................................................Language Testing Standards — The Japan Language TestingAssociation (JLTA) Code of Practice................................................................................D-1D-8Additional References ................................................................................................E-1References .......................................................................................................................What is not Standard in Real Radiotelephony?................................................................E-1E-5___________________D-1FOREWORDSafety experts are constantly seeking to identify means of improving safety in order to reducethe already low accident rates. With mechanical failures featuring less prominently in aircraft accidents,more attention has been focussed in recent years on human factors that contribute to accidents.Communication is one human element that is receiving renewed attention.In 1998, the ICAO Assembly, taking note of several accidents and incidents where the languageproficiency of pilot and air traffic controller were causal or contributory factors, formulated AssemblyResolution A32-16 in which the ICAO Council was urged to direct the Air Navigation Commission toconsider, with a high level of priority, the matter of English language proficiency and to complete the task ofstrengthening the relevant provisions of Annex 1 — Personnel Licensing and Annex 10 — AeronauticalTelecommunications, with a view to obligating Contracting States to take steps to ensure that air trafficcontrol personnel and flight crews involved in flight operations in airspace where the use of the Englishlanguage is required are proficient in conducting and comprehending radiotelephony communications in theEnglish language.Subsequently, the Air Navigation Commission established the Proficiency Requirements inCommon English Study Group (PRICESG) to assist the Secretariat in carrying out a comprehensive reviewof the existing provisions concerning all aspects of air-ground and ground-ground voice communications andto develop new provisions as necessary. In March 2003, the Council adopted amendments to Annex 1,Annex 6 — Operation of Aircraft, Annex 10, Annex 11 — Air Traffic Services, and the Procedures for AirNavigation Services — Air Traffic Management (PANS-ATM, Doc 4444) relating to language proficiency ininternational civil aviation.In order to support States’ efforts to comply with the strengthened provisions for languageproficiency, the development and publication of guidance material compiling comprehensive information ona range of aspects related to language proficiency training and testing were seen as necessary. While theICAO Language Proficiency Requirements were developed for use in assessing language proficiency in alllanguages used for radiotelephony communications, not just in the English language, much of the focus ofthis manual is on English language training issues, as this is the area in which most States and aircraftoperators require specific guidance. The principles, however, are largely transferable to other languagetraining programmes as well.The purpose of this manual is not to provide a comprehensive language learning education tolanguage instructors or training programme developers, nor to provide a curriculum — tasks well beyond thescope of this document given the breadth of language training and testing activities required — but rather toserve as a guide. The target audience for this manual includes the training managers of civil aviationadministrations, the airline industry, and training organizations. The material contained in this manual isdrawn from a number of sources and is expressed in ways designed to be accessible to laypersons outsidethe field of applied linguistics and language teaching. This guidance material is of special interest to aviationspecialists who oversee the implementation of appropriate language training and testing programmes.___________________(vii)EXECUTIVE SUMMARYChapter 1.Introduction1. Inadequate language proficiency has played a role in accidents and incidents and led to a review ofICAO language requirements.Assembly Resolution A32-16 urged the Council to direct the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) toconsider this matter with a high level of priority, and complete the task of strengthening provisionsrelated to the use of the English language for radiotelephony communications.2. Both ICAO phraseologies and plain language are required for safe radiotelephony communications.3. ICAO has adoptedcommunications.strengthenedlanguageproficiencyrequirementsforradiotelephony4. All States and organizations have a role to play in improving communications.Chapter 2.Chapter 2.ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) concerning LanguageProficiency Requirements1. The ICAO language proficiency requirements:a) strengthen the provisions related to language use in radiotelephony communications, both for thelanguage of the station on the ground and, in airspace where it is required, for English, from thelevel of Recommendations to Standards;b) establish minimum skill level requirements for language proficiency for flight crews and air trafficcontrollers;c) introduce an ICAO language proficiency rating scale applicable to both native and non-nativespeakers;d) clarify the requirement for the use of both plain language and phraseologies;e) standardize on the use of ICAO phraseologies;f) recommend a testing schedule to demonstrate language proficiency; andg) provide for service provider oversight of personnel compliance.2. Annex 10 SARPs clarify that ICAO phraseologies shall be used whenever possible.3. Annex 1 SARPs describe how language should be used for radiotelephony communication.4. The language proficiency requirements in Annex 1 apply equally to native and non-native speakers.(ix)