Our intensive one week rater training courses are designed for those who wish to advance their professional knowledge and skills in order to assess English as a second language for aviation personnel. This unique, intensive course has two modules.
Module A: Aviation English language assessment
Module A focuses on a detailed analysis and exploration of English language assessment in the aviation industry, and the use of the ICAO rating scale for assessing pilots and air traffic controllers. In Module A, trainees practise applying the scale to speech samples of pilots and air traffic controllers from around the world, before undergoing an assessment of their ability to rate. Trainees who successfully pass the assessment will receive a certificate stating that the trainee has demonstrated their ability to rate according to the standard set by OAA and emery-roberts. Module A culminates in workshop sessions covering the key issues of test design and development and quality assurance, including rater training and standardisation. These sessions also cover current initiatives for promoting standards in aviation language testing such as the ICAO test endorsement mechanism and the ICAO / ICAEA rated speech samples training aid.
Module B: Aviation familiarisation (optional)
Module B is taught by OAA subject matter experts and is designed specifically for those without a professional background in aviation. The purpose of Module B is to further trainees’ understanding of aviation operations and the interface between language and the professional domain. Module B includes 7.5 hours of classroom instruction in which the instructors guide trainees through the course of a hypothetical commercial airline flight covering all aspects of gate-to-gate operations, from flight planning to shut down. Classroom training also covers a range of common hazards to flight operations, such as engine failure, depressurisation and landing gear failure. Module B also includes a flight in a 737 simulator observing pilots undergoing multi crew cooperation training and a visit to the ATC tower at the airport. Although Module B is optional, we encourage all our trainees to undergo this training.
Pre-course reading and research
Before the course begins, each trainee is provided with a series of papers relating to aviation English language testing in order to introduce some of the key themes explored during the course itself. The pre course research task requires trainees to research and evaluate a number of aviation English language tests currently available using a framework developed by ICAO in order to deliver a summary of their findings to the group during the course.
Course details
Download course information here.
| Duration | 1 week / 35 hours + 10 hours pre course |
| Entry level | ICAO Level 6 or equivalent |
| Maximum number of students per group | 10 |
| Course cost | £995.00 including all course materials |
| Accommodation | Local hotel and bed and breakfast. Home stay accommodation available on request |
Courses in 2012:
- Monday 30th July – Friday 3rd August
- Monday 26th – Friday 30th November
For bookings and further information, email contact@emery-roberts.co.uk
