EALT Test of SpeakingGeneral descriptionThe EALT Test of Speaking assesses a candidate’s use of spoken English by means of a series of authentic, operationally relevant exchanges in a direct face-to-face interview. From the language samples produced by the candidates, certified examiners are able to: 1) directly assess the language proficiency demonstrated against the criterion contained in the ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale and 2) indirectly draw inferences relating to communicative competence in the context of operational aeronautical communications in both routine and non-routine situations against the criteria contained in the ICAO Holistic Descriptors of operational language proficiency. Candidates typically take the EALT Test of Speaking in pairs, and whenever possible, this will be the form in which the EALT Test of Speaking is administered. The paired candidates may know each other, or they may never have met before. If there are an uneven number of candidates sitting the test in any one session, one test interview will be with a single candidate. There are two examiners present at the interview: an interlocutor and an assessor. Following a standardised interlocutor frame, the interlocutor facilitates the interaction, instructing candidates and setting the test tasks. 1 The assessor does not take part in the interaction. The interview is recorded for further subsequent assessment. 2 The EALT Test of Speaking assesses the language proficiency of the candidate across distinct test stages and includes elements of both face-to-face and voice-only interaction. 3 The EALT Test of Speaking is highly flexible in its content and delivery, allowing for adaptation and customisation appropriate to the aviation operational environments of individual test-takers. There are adaptations for flight crew and air traffic controllers, with further adaptations for pilots of fixed- and rotary-wing and heavy and light aircraft and for ground and tower, approach and en route controllers. These adaptations should not be seen as specialised tests of distinct varieties of language proficiency in themselves, but as adaptations in the interest of the comfort of the test-taker. Typically, the candidate may be asked to demonstrate English language proficiency in any of the following: initiating interaction in an aviation context and responding appropriately to the same; giving information, both general and detailed; comprehending both standard ICAO phraseology and plain English and interacting in plain English; negotiating meaning and understanding; indicating comprehension; indicating non-comprehension; repairing communication; resolving misunderstandings by checking, correcting, clarifying and confirming; making a verbal report in plain English; initiating and responding to situations requiring action; producing extended speech in an aviation context; managing the speaker/listener relationship. During the EALT Test of Speaking, as candidates engage in and manage interaction and dialogue, the functional language they may be required to understand and/or produce or is in relation to the following:
1 c.f. ICAO 9835 Ch.6 Aviation Language Testing 6.7.11 and ICAO Doc. AUD001 Forward Interlocutor Consistency & Interlocutor Intervention 2 c.f. ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.2 Test Administration and Security 4.3 Record Keeping 3 c.f. ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.2 Test Design and Construct 1.1.6 |