Inglish Proficcincey Exam???

[Troubled_Coffee]

Perhaps someone out there has a little more info on the new TC english proficiency exam.

All I know is that as of March, all newly liscenced pilots will undergo an exam for their english proficiency. Is it a verbal or written? And what is the purpose of instituting this? Who admisisters the exams and how would we keep it unbiased?

[MichaelP]

I had an e-mail from an examiner who's approved to do this test.
I believe it's done through conversation.

I passed my English proficiency exam in China, but probably failed two of the questions as these were written in Chinese characters... I'm somewhat illiterate in Chinese

[Wacko]

Do a search, someone already answered most of your questions. From the post (if I remember right) it's a phone call... you're judged on a scale of 5-1 I think... where 5 is fluent. If you get a 4 you need to retest every 2 years and 3 is every 1 year... I think. I just got my IFR and the first line in the "this license is valid for.. " it says "Language Proficiency - English". I think that if you went through the Canadian education system you're automatically assumed fluent... At least I didn't do any tests.

[Wacko]

Oh yeah.. and the purpose of this, from my understanding, is that all ATC&Pilots dealing with International flights must have the proficiency. You're still going to have to watch out for guys while flying through Quebec but at least you're guaranteed to understand the controllers at YUL. I think ICAO is implementing the changes mid year sometime and are absolute so if you're below the... say lvl 3, you can't deal with international flights.


.... or so I've been told.

[carholme]

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=301125

Pprune has a 4 page active thread going on this subject from ICAO. See under Rumours and News.

carholme

[TC Guy]

The Facts regarding the Aviation Language Proficiency Test

As of March 5th, 2008, all licensed pilots in Canada (excluding permits, glider, gyroplane and ornithopter) will be required to meet a minimum language proficiency. Although this will be an ICAO requirement, every jurisdiction (country) has had the freedom to decide how their pilots will meet it. So -- this means that Canada and the USA (for example) will have different ways of assessing this proficiency. How language proficiency will be recognized when converting licenses from one country to another has not yet (that I am aware of) been decided.

The Aviation Language Proficiency Test (hereafter called ALPT) is a 20 question oral examination that is administered either over the phone or in person without the "Test Taker" and "Examiner" having direct visual contact (divider or back-to-back). It is not a test of aviation knowledge, but a test of the candidate's ability to understand and speak english in an aviation context. It can be taken prior to having any flight experience, prior to solo, etc. -- it just must be completed before the license is issued.

It has been decided that Pilot Examiners that test PPL candidates will be offered the opportunity to become ALPT Examiners. They will be required to attend a workshop put on by Transport Canada, and provide an example of 3 examinations (in person or recorded) in order to be delegated. Transport Canada Inspectors will NOT be conducting the examinations, just the initial and recurrent training for the Examiners.

The test can be administered in English or French, depending on the delegation of the examiner and the requirement of the candidate.

Although the ICAO standards has 6 levels of language proficiency, in order to simplify matters, Canada only recognizes 3 of them:

"Expert" - ICAO Level 6
"Operational" - ICAO Level 4
"Below Operational" - Less than ICAO Level 4

In Canada, you must have a minimum assessment of "Operational" (ICAO level 4) in order to hold a Canadian license.

They are scored on each of these 20 questions, and evaluated the following way:

-not more than 6 questions assessed at level 4 and no question assessed below level 4, they are awarded "Expert" ICAO level 6, and never have to take the test again.

-not more than 6 questions assessed at below level 4, they are awarded "Operational" ICAO level 4, and have to take the test again in 5 years.

-if they get more than 6 questions below level 4, they cannot hold an aviation license in Canada.

Regarding re-tests:
Re-tests may be done after a mandatory minimum waiting time, as defined by CARS 400.03 the same as the written examinations.

Regarding all current pilots:
Most (all?) current Canadian license holders have been assessed using their pilot file -- providing there was enough information (what language did they do their written exam in? Flight test? Last medical? Written correspondence?). Licenses issued after mid-November will have a language proficiency statement on them (example "Language Proficiency - English"). Transport Canada should be re-issuing all of the older, outstanding licenses to meet this requirement until the new "Passport Style" licenses are issued sometime later this year.

I hope this clears up some of the confusion.

-TC Guy

[Cat Driver]

Written correspondence?)

In that case I must be at level 10, considering I managed to out do the best legal minds that Merlin Preuss could find in TCCA..

Then again maybe I should not get to excited...they were government lawyers..

And Preuss is not exactly a Menza candidate.

[aero220]

The basics of what this test will consist of is generally decided by the transport delegate. A general layout of what the test could consist of has been sent out by transport to local schools to get basic feedback on this issue.

The test are all oral, and can be done over the phone. They may consist of a picture or a map, and the delegate will ask them questions like "so if tower tells you to follow the power lines to a moon shaped lake, where would you fly?" This asses understanding of landmarks and basic vocabulary like shapes, ect. Another exercise may have the candidate explain a maintenance related issue to the examiner.

[TC Guy]

The basics of what this test will consist of is generally decided by the transport delegate.

I am sorry, this is incorrect. The test is essentially a "script" that should be followed as closely as possible. The ALPT Examiners are encouraged NOT to deviate from it.

A general layout of what the test could consist of has been sent out by transport to local schools to get basic feedback on this issue.

Again, incorrect. We are LONG past the initial planning process -- most regions have their Examiners trained and ready to go. In 2006, a company was hired by Transport Canada to design to exams. They were Linguists, not pilots. The exams we will be using after March 5th (there are four different ones) are almost exactly what they originally designed.

The delegates will be trained by Transport Canada, and will provide you with any details you and your students need to know.

I am encouraging schools to hand out the "Aviation Language Proficiency Test -Test Taker Guide" out in the groundschool kit when a student signs up.

Final note: These exams themselves are considered "confidential" information, and no one except the Examiner will have access to it.

I hope this helps.

-TC Guy

[fougapilot]

-if they get more than 6 questions below level 4, they cannot hold an aviation license in Canada.

-TC Guy

TC,

Thanks for the info.

However, I would hope that one must be proficient in either official language to hold a license in Canada.

F

[Cat Driver]

However, I would hope that one must be proficient in either official language to hold a license in Canada.

I hear that if you are not proficient in French you will not be allowed to fly in Quebec airspace, but you will be allowed to fly in the rest of Canada once you are determined to be proficient in English.

[TC Guy]

TC,

Thanks for the info.

However, I would hope that one must be proficient in either official language to hold a license in Canada.

F

As I posted in my original response:

The test can be administered in English or French, depending on the delegation of the examiner and the requirement of the candidate.

In short, you have to be assesed as either English or French Language Proficient (or both, I suppose!) to hold a Canadian License.

I hope that makes it a bit more clear!

-TC Guy

[Ref Plus 10]

I hear that if you are not proficient in French you will not be allowed to fly in Quebec airspace, but you will be allowed to fly in the rest of Canada once you are determined to be proficient in English.

I guess this means the end of flights from YOW to YFB?

[MichaelP]

The problem with the above is that if you are proficient in French then no-one could understand you in Quebec if you spoke it!

I could never understand Quebecois, yet I could understand clear 'Parisian' French to a large extent.
I never knew I could speak French until I went to France and found out I could to a very tolerable degree.
In Montreal I had to pass exams in French to get out of High School. I was taught French and not the local Quebecois dialect....

Learning French has limited use in this World where learning an Asian language is probably more worthwhile.
Like learning Welsh in Britain, learning French is probably a waste of time for most of us.

[North Shore]

Darn, it looks like I'll be deemed to have passed the test and my English will be considered good enough. I'd love to fail that test, and have to re-do it every few years! Then I'd get some return on the $100 I have to give to TC for my medical every year...

[Airtids]

...except that we'll be charging you to take this test! There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Tids

[Louis]

Does that mean that every pilot who's file with TC is checked as "French" will have to pay to add English proficiency to its licence?!?
(Say, in the "unlikely" case that I would like to fly outside of Quebec and the Ottawa region in something other than a NORDO plane...)

Does anyone know? TC Guy?

Goodbye,

Louis

[TC Guy]

Does that mean that every pilot who's file with TC is checked as "French" will have to pay to add English proficiency to its licence?!?
(Say, in the "unlikely" case that I would like to fly outside of Quebec and the Ottawa region in something other than a NORDO plane...)

Does anyone know? TC Guy?

Goodbye,

Louis

Very good question, Louis.

As far as I am aware, you may fly anywhere in this great country that you like... there will be no restrictions on your license. You must meet the language proficiency standards for English or French to hold a license in Canada. I have seen nothing that would indicate that you would not be allowed to fly anywhere in Canada provided you have been assessed in one of these languages.

I do not see this as being an issue.

-Guy

[sky's the limit]

Looking at some of posts around here, perhaps Joe can institute a similar program???


stl

[Wacko]

Very good question, Louis.

As far as I am aware, you may fly anywhere in this great country that you like... there will be no restrictions on your license. You must meet the language proficiency standards for English or French to hold a license in Canada. I have seen nothing that would indicate that you would not be allowed to fly anywhere in Canada provided you have been assessed in one of these languages.

I do not see this as being an issue.

-Guy[/quote]

I thought the whole purpose of this was so that pilots can communicate in ONE language no matter where they go? Isn't this an ICAO standard that is implimented across the whole world? What good is having "French" on your license when 90% of the population doesn't speak it?

[Cat Driver]

What would Transports position be on French speaking pilot who understands no English be if said pilot were living and flying in say Edmonton or Calgary?

[MichaelP]

I have seen nothing that would indicate that you would not be allowed to fly anywhere in Canada provided you have been assessed in one of these languages.
I do not see this as being an issue.

I see it as being a huge issue...
You are saying that someone who may have very poor English skills can be allowed to fly throughout Canada because he is Quebecois!
This country has had inequality since the early 70's when the rights of so many Canadians were taken away in Quebec, and now since the distinct Quebeceurs are so damned privileged they can fly around willy nilly without a proper understanding of the English language.

No, where-ever you are on this planet you will have to speak English on the radio while flying.
There should be no Quebec exception...

[Cat Driver]

You must meet the language proficiency standards for English or French to hold a license in Canada.

Therefore you can hold a pilots license in Canada and not understand one word of English, but you can legally fly anywhere you want in Canada.

Great system.

[Louis]

What would Transports position be on French speaking pilot who understands no English be if said pilot were living and flying in say Edmonton or Calgary?

You must meet the language proficiency standards for English or French to hold a license in Canada.

Therefore you can hold a pilots license in Canada and not understand one word of English, but you can legally fly anywhere you want in Canada.

Great system.

What I take TC Guy to mean when he does not see it to be an issue is that the language proficiency rules won't remove me the right I currently have to fly where I see fit in Canada, and wouldn't need to pay for a test. Which almost completely solves my problem. What about if I want to fly internationally?

Cat Driver: The position of TC with regards to your unilingual francophone pilot in Alberta would, rightfully so, be that he can either fly NORDO/RONLY (according to the rules applicable in such a situation), or fly elsewhere.

Now, last time I checked, most of us were French, not stupid, unlike what some red necks on here like to think.

The worry I have about this language proficiency testing is that it opens up a door for discrimination against all French-Canadians (in this case of having to take, and likely pay for, tests that English-speakers will not generally need.) I understand ICAO's need to ensure crews and ATC can communicate on a worldwide basis, which is responded to by establishing a standard of English-language ATC services anywhere you go. ICAO has *six* official languages, and places no restriction on what language you can or have to speak on the radio.

Goodbye,

Louis

[Ref Plus 10]

I'm pretty sure nobody is implicating stupidity, simply the lack of logic found in a non-English speaking pilot (be it from Quebec or any other place in the world) trying to communicate effectively in an English only environment. It just doesn't happen.