Understanding Aviation English: Challenges and Opportunities in NLP Applications for Indian Languages

English is a language that is understood, spoken and used by citizens of a diverse array of countries. The speakers include both native and non-native speakers of English. NLP or Natural Language Processing on the other hand is a branch of computer science that deals with one of the most challenging aspect that a machine can process: dealing with Natural Languages. Natural languages which have evolved over centuries are complete, diverse and highly complex and thus are challenging for a computer system to understand and process. MT or Machine Translation is a more specific part of NLP that translates one natural language to another (English being one of the major researched and sought after languages among them). Though research in the field of NLP and MT has come a long way and many efficient translators are available, still Translation and other NLP applications in specialized domains such as aeronautics are still today a challenge for NLP researchers and developers to achieve. NLP applications are often used in education of English Language, and are therefore a continuous process for Non-Native speakers of English. Non-native English speakers take help of various NLP tools such as E-Dictionary, MT applications and others to better understand the English language and thus learn it better and faster. Aviation English poses a challenge to MT systems and understanding it as a whole requires specialized handling as it has own phonetic pronunciations and terminologies and constituent Out-Of-Vocabulary words. Dealing with Aviation English calls for teaming up of experts from Applied Linguistics, NLP and AI. As a result it becomes a cross-research discipline that covers situations that demand real time use of proper language, e.g. ATC communications. This Paper aims to discuss most recent research methodologies that deals with the Aviation English and reviews the problems posed by it. Being a specialized and structured form of English, the problems are faced by both native and non-native speakers of English Language. Discussion is carried out in the relevant and recent advances of methods in dealing with aviation English language challenges from both, the Human (ICAO/DGCA/AAI) as well as NLP angle. Lastly we have a look at how these challenges are linked to scope for development of applied technologies. Research in experiential Aviation English situations deals with both English for Specific Purposes - ESP (Aeronautics in our case) as well as situations in English as a Foreign Language i.e. EFL (English-Indian language pair).

Formation of competitiveness of graduates of military aviation universities by means of integral teaching technology

The article considers the content and structure of the competitiveness of a military pilot as the purpose of studding Aviation English at a military aviation university. The analysis of the literature on the competitiveness of a specialist allowed us to form our own idea of its components. The article shows the stages of implementation of the Integral technology of studding Aviation English as the most effective technology, its pedagogical principles and components of this training technology. Practical results of experimental training are presented.

PECULIARITIES OF AVIATION ENGLISH TRAINING AT UNIVERSITY

This article describes the peculiarities of teaching aviationEnglish for aviation specialists in a higher educational institution.The significance of the aviation English language in theprofessional activities of the aviation professionals is explained,the role and place of the discipline «Aviation English language»among other disciplines of specialists of «Aviation transport»training is determined. The purpose, tasks, contents of thediscipline «Aircraft English Language», the peculiarity of formingother communication competence of these specialists weredescribed. An analysis of the documents was carried out andit stated the necessity of learning aviation English language.Attention was paid to the recommendations of the InternationalCivil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which insist on the use ofcommunicative approach in the process of aviation Englishtraining to ensure the effective achievement of the goals ofthe discipline. It is proved that the communicative approach andcommunicative technologies contribute to the formation ofdifferent communicative competence of the graduates at ahigh level. A distinction was made between the terms: «radiocommunication phraseology», «aviation English language»and «general English language». The focus is on the fact thatthe full-fledged teaching of aviation English language mustinclude activities and exercises that ensure the formation of sixaspects of skills, formulated in the ICAO qualification scale andskill descriptors: pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, fluency,comprehension and interactions. A part of a practical class ofthe discipline «Aviation English Language» is demonstrated,which includes tasks for the formation of communicative skills.The article describes the stages of role-playing games, givesexamples of communicative tasks, which are aimed at formingrelevant skills and abilities: phonetic, grammatical and lexicalcompetence of the aviation English language.

INTEGRATING QUIZLET INTO AVIATION ENGLISH COURSE

The research aims to study and experimentally verify the effectiveness of the use of the Quizlet computer-based flashcard program for teaching future air traffic controllers (ATCs) profession-related vocabulary. In this research, we applied a mixed-method research design. The sample of the experiment participants was 57 first-year students majoring in “Aviation transport”. To evaluate the efficiency of Quizlet incorporation into aviation English learning, we used tests, speaking activities, observations, and questionnaires (the former two to assess passive and active vocabulary knowledge and the latter to evaluate the students` engagement and motivation). The empirical data proved Quizlet to be an effective vocabulary learning tool that positively influences students` proficiency in speaking skills and interest in learning aviation English. Based on the obtained findings, we claim vocabulary acquisition to be the basis for foreign language learners` general language proficiency contributing to the development of voice communication skills. An important conclusion is made on the need to include in aviation English courses the intentional vocabulary learning component implying explicit vocabulary teaching, which then should be complemented with speaking practice and incidental vocabulary acquisition techniques. The research findings can be implied in aviation English and foreign language teaching presenting an experimental verification of computer-based flashcard program efficiency in the language learning process.

INTRODUCTORY TRAINING FOR AVIATION ENGLISH TEACHERS

The article raises the issue of creating a system of introductory training for Aviation English teachers for successful realization of teaching in military and civilian institutions of higher education in the aviation industry. A new scientific and pedagogical concept is introduced and argued, as «introductory training for teachers». Such training is necessary for teachers of higher educational establishments when transferring to higher positions into the institutions with another specialization, like transition from a civilian to a military institution to continue teaching career while teaching a foreign language for professional purposes. It was stressed in the article that in the context of transformation processes in Ukraine's transition to NATO and ICAO standards it is necessary firstly to train qualified teaching and instructional staff for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ensure high quality of future specialists training. The article considers the requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for teachers who teach Aviation English to pilots and air traffic controllers in higher education institutions or on the basis of accredited training organizations. The conclusion on expediency and necessity to use these requirements to implement into the system of introductory training of Aviation English teachers in higher education establishments of Ukraine is made. There is also an approximate content of introductory training program for Aviation English teachers, as a result of which teachers will have an opportunity to acquire necessary knowledge and skills to teach Aviation English. Key words: introductory teacher training; Aviation English teacher; teacher qualification; international requirements; ICAO; educational process; International Civil Aviation Organization; pilot; ATC; air traffic control; radio exchange.

The Pragmatics of Aeronautical English: an investigation through Corpus Linguistics / A Pragmática do inglês aeronáutico: uma investigação pela Linguística de Corpus

The ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale offers parameters for aeronautical English teaching and assessment focused on oral skills. It assists governments worldwide in assessing pilots and air traffic controllers’ English proficiency, licensing them for international operations. This paper addresses two of the six linguistic areas listed in the Rating Scale, namely fluency and interaction, to understand what conversational elements are present in pilot-controller communications with a view to informing pedagogical material. The analysis is based on a corpus of pilot-controller radio communications in abnormal situations, revealing a more spontaneous code as opposed to the documented Standard Phraseology mandated for routine situations. Corpus Linguistics is the methodology chosen for this investigation, concentrated on the top frequent three-word clusters extracted from the corpus. Investigation of these clusters reveals that fluency and interaction are interconnected and should be considered in a broader perspective that takes into account language in use. To illustrate, ‘we’d like’ and ‘if you can’ are commonly employed as requests in this specific register. The paper concludes by suggesting that learners’ awareness of pragmatic aspects of language is pivotal in the aviation English classroom.Keywords: Plain Aviation English; fluency; interaction; Corpus Linguistics; Pragmatics.Resumo: A Escala de Proficiência Linguística da ICAO oferece parâmetros para o ensino e a avaliação do inglês aeronáutico focado nas habilidades orais. Serve para os governos em todo o mundo avaliarem a proficiência em inglês de pilotos e controladores de tráfego aéreo, licenciando-os para operações internacionais. Este estudo aborda duas das seis áreas linguísticas elencadas na Escala, quais sejam, fluência e interação, para compreender quais elementos conversacionais estão presentes nas comunicações entre pilotos e controladores com o objetivo de subsidiar materiais pedagógicos. A análise se baseia em um corpus de comunicações via rádio entre pilotos e controladores em situações anormais, revelando um código mais espontâneo, diferentemente da Fraseologia Padrão oficial mandatória nas situações rotineiras. A Linguística de Corpus é a metodologia utilizada nesta investigação, concentrada nos mais frequentes blocos de linguagem de três palavras evidenciados no corpus de estudo. A investigação desses blocos de linguagem revela que fluência e interação são interconectadas e deveriam ser consideradas a partir da perspectiva da língua em uso. Para ilustrar, ‘we’d like’ e ‘if you can’ são normalmente empregados como solicitações. Conclui-se sugerindo que a conscientização dos aprendizes sobre aspectos pragmáticos da língua é fundamental na sala de aula do inglês aeronáutico.Palavras-chave: Plain Aviation English; fluência; interação; Linguística de Corpus; Pragmática.