Originally Posted by
Ronf9393
Hi guys, I’m a student pilot in Australia, and one thing I’ve been struggling with during flights is understanding and responding to ATC. Acknowledgements and readback messages sometimes feel like a complete blackout the moment I receive them. English isn’t my first language, which probably makes it a bit more challenging. I was recently advised to practice using a flight simulator (VATSIM), and I was wondering if anyone here has been in the same situation. Did using a sim actually help improve your ATC communication skills and confidence? Thanks!
Yeah, VATSIM helped a ton. Not because controllers talk exactly like real life every time, but because it trains your brain to stop freezing when instructions come fast. One day you suddenly realize you're listening for meaning instead of translating every word individually.