Qantas - language speakers
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Qantas - language speakers
Hi guys,
I'm hoping to go to a MAM recruitment day later in the year and have just received my language proficiency kit from UNSW Institute of Languages. I speak basic Mandarin so I have a bit to go before I pass with flying colours! I just have two questions:
1) Are they strict about the standard of pass for the test? Obviously I'll try to score above the minimum, but if I test lower than the Advanced Pass, is it considered a bit more of an advantage than no language at all?
2) Part 2 of the test is Reading Aloud and it says:
" You will be required to read aloud a public announcement or text of a general nature (about 100 words) in the language to be tested. You can practice reading aloud from a magazine or newspaper. "
It doesn't give an example text due to "confidentiality and security" but this is very annoying! How am I supposed to know what it will even look like - or what to expect - if they don't give an example. For everything else there are examples.
Just wondering if anybody has any sample public announcements in language or even in english for me to translate as I want to practice in the correct context. Even if it's "We will be landing soon.. please fasten your seatbelts bla bla bla" - I don't see how that's a security risk!
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated guys!!
I'm hoping to go to a MAM recruitment day later in the year and have just received my language proficiency kit from UNSW Institute of Languages. I speak basic Mandarin so I have a bit to go before I pass with flying colours! I just have two questions:
1) Are they strict about the standard of pass for the test? Obviously I'll try to score above the minimum, but if I test lower than the Advanced Pass, is it considered a bit more of an advantage than no language at all?
2) Part 2 of the test is Reading Aloud and it says:
" You will be required to read aloud a public announcement or text of a general nature (about 100 words) in the language to be tested. You can practice reading aloud from a magazine or newspaper. "
It doesn't give an example text due to "confidentiality and security" but this is very annoying! How am I supposed to know what it will even look like - or what to expect - if they don't give an example. For everything else there are examples.
Just wondering if anybody has any sample public announcements in language or even in english for me to translate as I want to practice in the correct context. Even if it's "We will be landing soon.. please fasten your seatbelts bla bla bla" - I don't see how that's a security risk!
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated guys!!
Shouldnt be a problem, mate. If can read chinese, then youll be able to read what they give you.
The purpose of their test is to test your actual ability in the language. It defeats the purpose if you can practise it first - they want to see where your actual level is.
Ive been a language teacher, and seeing someone read a passage aloud the first time theyve seen it is a VERY good indicator of how well they understand the language. Anyone can read something and sound like a native if they practise it enough first - and believe me - you WILL practise PA announcements until you sound good... the hard part is when SLF talk to you in the other language, and you need to be able to converse with them.
Any language ability is better than no language ability - but dont try and boost your own score in any way - they want to know your actual ability, not your 'pre-test enhanced' ability. You wont have the chance to practise over and over before passengers talk to you.
送我一个PM,如果你想要更多的资料.
The purpose of their test is to test your actual ability in the language. It defeats the purpose if you can practise it first - they want to see where your actual level is.
Ive been a language teacher, and seeing someone read a passage aloud the first time theyve seen it is a VERY good indicator of how well they understand the language. Anyone can read something and sound like a native if they practise it enough first - and believe me - you WILL practise PA announcements until you sound good... the hard part is when SLF talk to you in the other language, and you need to be able to converse with them.
Any language ability is better than no language ability - but dont try and boost your own score in any way - they want to know your actual ability, not your 'pre-test enhanced' ability. You wont have the chance to practise over and over before passengers talk to you.
送我一个PM,如果你想要更多的资料.
Last edited by Lasiorhinus; 25th May 2007 at 15:01.
Don't go spending your money unless you are pretty sure you will achieve the minimum Level 4, which is fluent (considering 6 is native speaker). Qantas are not interested in levels 1-3 as they need to know you are certified to the minimum requirement so that you can be rostered to fly to PEK, PVG and HKG as the Language Speaker which you get paid an allowance for.
Yes, a basic to conversational ability is a good talking point in your interview and shows you have cultural awareness but a certificate demonstrating so would be a waste of money. You may as well just mention your skills during the interview
Yes, a basic to conversational ability is a good talking point in your interview and shows you have cultural awareness but a certificate demonstrating so would be a waste of money. You may as well just mention your skills during the interview
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Thanks for the reply Lasiorhinus & flitegirl,
I'm wanting to learn more and do the certificate because I want to see how good I am. I highly doubt QF would hire me as I am of Asian appearance if I can't speak the language fluently
Anyway with regards to reading the public announcements: I have limited understanding of Chinese characters (though I understood what you wrote, Lasiorhinus) so I would probably rely on romanised pinyin (which they provide). But I don't know how they would punctuate that -- that's why I want to practice it first (even if it's not what they'll give me in the exam)
Thanks for your thoughts!
I'm wanting to learn more and do the certificate because I want to see how good I am. I highly doubt QF would hire me as I am of Asian appearance if I can't speak the language fluently
Anyway with regards to reading the public announcements: I have limited understanding of Chinese characters (though I understood what you wrote, Lasiorhinus) so I would probably rely on romanised pinyin (which they provide). But I don't know how they would punctuate that -- that's why I want to practice it first (even if it's not what they'll give me in the exam)
Thanks for your thoughts!
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It's not easy
Being fluent in Mandarin and getting the tone right are no easy tasks if you don't live there and have no exposure to the speaking environment. Being a native, a langauge teacher from my previous life and accredited NAATI Mandarin-English interpreter, I now fly as a language speaker with QF. I didn't find the test too hard, but have doubts in how non-natives would manage to pass. All too often I see non-native speakers (regardless of the language) struggling with PA or worried about non-standard PA(unexpected situations), they just don't seem to cope very well, even they scored level 4 (or above) in the test.
Think about it really hard, being a language speaker on board is a lot more of responsibilities than other crew, the unhappy pax, medical and emergency situations, are you proficient enough in coming up with equivalent Mandarin to converse and command your pax in that split second? I know a lot of speakers want to drop their flags because of the pressure. Not trying to discourage you in any ways, it's always great to see Aussies trying to learn Mandarin. The actual test will also involve on-the-spot interperting of paragraphs into Mandarin (captain's PA etc), as well as service language and dealing with difficult pax in the target language.
Only use your language skill as an advantage if you have near native level of proficiency, otherwise make sure your personalities and friendliness shine throughout the interview. All the best.
Think about it really hard, being a language speaker on board is a lot more of responsibilities than other crew, the unhappy pax, medical and emergency situations, are you proficient enough in coming up with equivalent Mandarin to converse and command your pax in that split second? I know a lot of speakers want to drop their flags because of the pressure. Not trying to discourage you in any ways, it's always great to see Aussies trying to learn Mandarin. The actual test will also involve on-the-spot interperting of paragraphs into Mandarin (captain's PA etc), as well as service language and dealing with difficult pax in the target language.
Only use your language skill as an advantage if you have near native level of proficiency, otherwise make sure your personalities and friendliness shine throughout the interview. All the best.
Qantas will not NOT hire you because of your Asian appearance, regardless of your language ability. That's rather serious discrimination in Australia. Also, think of the people you know, friends, otherwise, who are of Asian appearance but grew up in Australia. In this day and age, appearance has no correlation with language proficiency at all, and discriminating against someone who doesnt speak an Asian language is not something the GWR or any major company is going to touch.
flugbegleiter68; ist das ein Name gerecht, oder sind Sie auch dreisprachig?
flugbegleiter68; ist das ein Name gerecht, oder sind Sie auch dreisprachig?
