Experience I’ve had of English as a Second Language has been predominantly from a CFIs point of view.
It is a PROBLEM, and as usual CASA has dropped the parcel in the lap of the CFIs and industry, as it was too hot for them to handle.
E2L is more of a problem for the smaller schools, as they tend to have more self sponsored students who have less funds (and are less willing to spend) to devote to English Courses.
When it comes to a CFI accessing a students English for the issue of a SPL we have a problem. Mainly that the assessment is a PERSONAL OPINION of the students ability. I don’t feel it is fair on either party for an opinion to be used, it must be a hard and fast reproducible criteria.
If the student is able to communicate (ie, good morning, how are you, what did you have for breakfast etc) should he/she not be issued with a SPL because I don’t think they’ll handle a cramped, hot, noisy, aircraft environment with over worked ATC at the end of a shift, with radios that are less than perfect ?
At present economics do come into play, I have an instructor breathing down my neck to keep his student flying, management and aircraft owners wanting to know why the flying has dropped off, management wanting to know why am I being an obstructionist (perhaps they need another CFI). Remember this is all over my OPINION of the students English.
The students at my school would arrive in Oz without being able to speak a word of English, attend a 6 month English course, and arrive on my doorstep wanting to learn to fly with 50k in his hand. Yes he can pass with the usual pleasantries of good morning etc, but will he handle being taught in technical language with words and phrases that are difficult for a native speaker ? Yes they do handle it, but it may take another 9 to 12 months, close to when they should be taking a CPL or CIR flight test.
I don’t know what the answer is, we CANNOT afford to turn these people away, but we need to start with a minimum testable standard which is not based on opinion. For this to happen CASA needs to take a leading role (for a change), so that a CFI does not have to worry about not issuing a SPL due to an English problem only for the school next door to issue the license and with it take the student. The other risk of losing 1 student is that the rest of his mates may follow him as their allegiances lie with each other not with your school.
Whiskey Hotel Delta I’d be happy to help out, though I’m no longer CFI with that school (YSBK) as it went under last year.