Proficiency in English is an essential skill for airport service providers. This is a foundation course in English for learners starting from A2. The course will help members of airport staff, from a wide range of roles, achieve CEFR B1. The course is built on the AEROSTA Framework and delivers measurable improvements in proficiency.
CLASS SIZE: 2-8 learners in a small group
LEARNER PROFILE: Airport staff in various service and safety roles who score A1 in the AEROSTA Framework Service Language Test.
COURSE TIME: The course can be scheduled as required, delivered over a period from 2 days to 15 weeks
COURSE LOCATION: Airport premises throughout Asia, eg Hong Kong International Aviation Academy.
COURSE FEE: $2000 HKD for 10 x 60 minute units. This course will soon be MATF reimburseable for learners who are both (1) Hong Kong residents (2) employed by an airline or aviation company.
Benefits of Elementary English
- Learn to read and write in English
- Learn basic vowel and consonant sounds
- Learn basic structures
- Have simple conversations with passengers, colleagues and crew members.
- Course complements airport internal training.
Course structure
The Elementary English course is 10 hours in total, and is focused on language development in an airport context. They are suitable for both pre-professionals and for those who are working at an airport. Learners will develop their vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
Extension modules are available
Features of Elementary English (CEFR A2-B1)
The course is built on the AEROSTA Framework which ensures that in each unit learners have meaningful practice of a range of language skills relevant to an aviation career. The course is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference and the topics on the course lead to proficiency in the AEROSTA Framework Service Language Test.
| Unit | Vocabulary | Structure | Communicative Functions |
| The course is divided into 10 units, each a relevant topic for airport service providers | Each unit contains vocabulary (oral and written form) frequently used in that topic | Each unit contains a range of basic structures, and activities to improve learners' grammatical accuracy of those structures in context. | Each unit contains role play exercises to practice using those structures in a meaningful airport customer service context, to achieve a satisfactory outcome. |
Topics include:
- Travelling
- World destinations
- Airport locations and infrastructure
- Airport jobs
- Giving directions
- Numbers, time and date
- Passenger flow
- Timetables, facts and routines
- Weather
- Flight information
Language Assessment
At the end of the course, learners are assessed by the AEROSTA Framework Service Language Test, the international standard for determining English proficiency in aviation service roles.
The AEROSTA Framework Service Language Test is an accurate test of language proficiency for airline and airport customer service staff. The AEROSTA Framework Service Language Test measures the specific reading, listening, and oral proficiency skills required to successfully perform frontline duties in English. The test is concerned with determining genuine language proficiency through appropriate responses, regardless of whether a response is factually or grammatically correct.
General and Academic English tests such as TOEFL, IELTS and TOEIC are inappropriate for testing language proficiency of airline/airport customer service staff as they do not test important skills within the context of aviation service, so the results are less meaningful as a measure of language proficiency. They do not measure the skills that are required for interaction with colleagues and air passengers.
OPTIONAL EXTRA PRACTICE
For staff that require additional English language practice, they should consider attending optional weekend Supplementary Classes. We typically offer workshops for non-technical airline staff such as Customer Service Officers, Cabin Crew and Airport Security Officers on alternating Saturday and Sunday mornings 10-12pm. A two hour Supplementary Class costs $300HKD per person if more than 8 people attend, or $500HKD if less than 8 people attend.
TEACHING STAFF All teaching staff are certified by the Aviation English Organisation. All teachers have aviation and language teaching experience.
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