Circa il pre-test mi riferisco ad una simulazione di test fatta con l'esaminatore. Si paga, ( io ho pagato 30 euro), è molto simile a quella che trovi sul sito ( proprio quella del controllore, come hai detto). Se facendo quella del sito, capisci che "fattibile", allora non penso serva il pre-test con l'esaminatore.
Di seguito incollo dei consigli che ritengo molto utili:
LANGUAGE TESTING ADVICE FOR
AOPA MEMBERS
.
This is the reason I write you today; to
give advice on how to approach
language proficiency testing to help
you excel instead of simply “pass”. I
have taken examples from real testing
experiences I have had. I have seen
quite proficient language speakers do
poorly on their Test of English for
Aviation (TEA) exam due simply to the
fact that they weren’t prepared for
language proficiency testing.
Foremost to help pilots prepare, ICAO
has mandated that any test wishing to
satisfy the Language Proficiency
Requirements (LPRs) must have a
sample version “readily available to
the public” (ICAO DOC. 9835). This
means that there must be a version,
preferably free, easily accessible to
candidates for preparation. This is
imperative. Italy’s test has such
sample readily available. FREE! A
complete sample test can be found on
the website of the school which
developed the test itself.
(http://www.maycoll.co.uk/aviationenglish/
tea.html).
Before sitting the exam here are some
guidelines and tips that if followed are
guaranteed to help you perform at
your best in this type of testing new to
the aviation world.
Listen carefully to the sample test.
Make sure you are in a setting that
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you will not be disturbed by
telephones, emails or people.
Listen and re-listen.
Listen carefully to the questions the
examiner asks.
Tests of proficiency follow a system.
The aspect (tense of the verb) asked
is the aspect you should respond with.
i.e. If the examiner asks a question
using the future tense, you should
respond in the future tense. If the
conditional is asked, respond with the
conditional.
Take note of the amount of time the
candidate on the sample uses to
respond. The test is timed so your
responses should be informative but
not too lengthy never too brief (never
one or two words).
Notice the format. There are three
parts to the test.
• The first part has a few questions
regarding you and your role in
aviation. Simple answers about
yourself and how you fit in the
aviation world.
• The second part is listening
comprehension subdivided into
two parts. It has a structure that
must be followed. If you are
prepared for this, your test will go
more smoothly because you will
be more relaxed knowing what is
next.
• The third part requires you to
comment on two pictures. Then
you will be guided into a
controlled conversation regarding
a subject or topic pre-announced
by the examiner.
Do not interrupt the examiner. Listen
to entire question. WAIT UNTIL THE
EXAMINER HAS FINISHED THE
QUESTION BEOFRE RESPONDING
Some people respond to what they
think the examiner wants to know and
respond incorrectly. The
appropriateness of the answer is
graded in the subcategory of
“interactions”. Regardless if your
answer is said fluently, grammatically
correct and annunciated perfectly,
stating your telephone number is not
an appropriate answer to “Tell me
your full name.”
Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t
understand. Miscommunications
happen in conversations every day. It
is our ability to handle these
misunderstandings that state our
capacity for managing dialogue.
Miscommunication happens to
speakers of the same language even
when it is their native tongue. It is not
a failure if you say “I’m sorry, I didn’t
understand you” nor “Can you tell me
what ‘vehicle’ means”.
The ICAO rating scale states that if
the person is able to “Deal adequately
with apparent misunderstandings by
checking, confirming or clarifying”
he/she is at an operational level.
(ICAO Appendix to DOC. 9835) If a
candidate states “sorry” or shakes
their head, the examiner must infer
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that the candidate is unable to deal
adequately with apparent
misunderstandings and therefore a
level below operational level 4.
On Part 2, listening comprehension: if
you don’t understand the audio, say
so. Ask to hear it again; this won’t
have detrimental effects on your
overall score. It will however hurt your
score if you answer without really
understanding. You must state that
you want to hear the audio track again
or else the examiner cannot replay it.
Hand gestures or any non verbal cues
are not enough to make the examiner
play the track again.
Part
Part 2 of section A paraphrase what is
happening in the audio. There are two
pieces of information in each track.
You must state those two pieces of
information. You only have twenty
seconds to respond so give the
answer briefly but completely.
In Part 2 section B, if the candidate is
not prepared it can cause real
confusion which can lead to poor
performance. The objective of this
part is for the candidate to ask
questions and then give advice; both
are requirements of the LPRs.
Don’t forget that in English questions
are formulated with the auxiliary and
main verbs separated by the subject.
Use the -WH- auxiliaries to begin
Examples:
• What did the instructor say?
• When did you perform your first
solo?
• Why did you turn left?
• Who is on the radio?
• How does this knob work?
• Also, advice is given by using
certain number of formulae only.
Examples:
• I don't think you should turn yet.
Our speed is too low.
• You ought to call the tower and
confirm taxiway A.
• If I were you, I'd check the tire
pressure.
• You should keep those wings
straight and level.
• You had better give power; we are
close to the threshold.
• You shouldn't be at this level.
• Whatever you do, don’t forget to
look out the window for other
traffic.
• You’d best turn left. I see some
weather over to the right.
Part 3 is the section where your
language is really given opportunity to
emerge. Part three requires you to
describe two pictures. You should use
the present simple or present
continuous for the most part. i.e. “I
see an airplane parked on the
taxiway.” or “I can see an airplane
taxiing because it has its lights on.”
etc. If you want to speculate on what
causal factors are involved you should
use modal verbs of possibility. “It
might be taxiing”. “It could have been
a fire on board.” etc.
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Know what you are being tested on.
Read the ICAO rating scale. It is the
objective. For example, you will see
the difference between structure at
level 4 and level 5 proficiency. It
includes the ability to attempt complex
structures. They don’t always have to
be correct to be a level 5; you just
have to attempt them. Complex
structures are conditionals sentences,
fronting (moving clauses from the end
of the sentence to the beginning);
gerund and infinitive usages, sentence
structure and adverbial clauses (not
an exhaustive list).
Pronunciation
Be aware of your rate of speech.
Speak slowly and clearly. Speaking
fast is not an indication of proficiency.
Word Stress. This is where you “put
the accent on the syllable within a
word”. A rule of thumb for
pronunciation (in American English at
least):
MAINtain (two syllables-stress the
first)
MAINtenence (three syllables-stress
the first)
mainTAINable (four syllables-stress
the second)
Behavior. How you speak to the
examiner and your body language is
important. Do not make small talk
with the examiner. Don’t cover your
mouth with your hands, mumble or
whisper. Do not ask the examiner
your score or about your performance
when the test is over.
Examiners have signed a contract
saying that they will not speculate on
outcomes with the candidate. This is
because, while examiners are
performing the interlocution part of the
test, it is quite difficult to rate the
language. Tests are actually rated
while re-listening to the recording, long
after the actual examination has
ended. Also, exams are screened for
accuracy by senior raters in England.
This is for quality control and
monitoring of interlocutors’
performance.
Lastly, if you practice this format with
a friend or colleague or even a
teacher, it will put you more at ease
with the format and render more
positive results.
Testing in such a high stakes arena is
difficult.
Pilots know that preparation is vital in
aviation. Communication is also
important. Preparation for the test of
communication abilities is key.
Smooth testing and happy landings to
all,
Melanie Quillen
(AOPA US N° 05798899)