Supporting International Ab Initio Flight Students Through English Language Training

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Effective communication between ab initio flight students and their instructors is critical for efficient flight training; additionally, clear radio communications between student pilots and air traffic controllers is imperative for smooth and incident-free airport operations. During the Fall 2019 semester, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) at Daytona Beach implemented a new semi-intensive eight-week course to improve the communicative skills of its international students who speak English as a second language. This presentation describes the cross-campus and cross-departmental collaboration that took place to implement this new course. The stages that will be described include (a) the pre-screening of the students using ERAU’s online, remotely administered English for Flight Training Assessment (EFTA)™, a project initiated by Daytona Beach’s Applied Aviation Sciences Department and the Embry-Riddle Language Institute, and (b) the employment of a curriculum specifically designed for ab-initio flight students based on flight training materials created by the Aviation English Specialists at ERAU, Worldwide. The presenters will describe the teaching approaches used during the course and provide insights about the challenges faced and lessons learned throughout the eight weeks. The topic of aviation-familiarity for English language instructors will be discussed along with plans for improving the course. The audience will leave with insights about how to directly support international ab initio flight students and understand how ERAU’s approach to effective English language training can serve as an exemplar for the industry.

Authors

• Byrnes, Ken, Ph.D. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Lynch, Jena, M.A. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Mathews, Elizabeth, M.A. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Orr, Alan, M.A. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Roberts, Jennifer, M.A. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• ab initio flight training
• English language proficiency
• international students
• Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Educational Methods