A study on radiotelephony English test design

Abstract

Radiotelephony English is taught in college for the learners whose future professions are mainly pilots and air traffic controllers. The present study is to analyse the radiotelephony English test design in a university to see the extent of which it evaluates learners’ communicative competence in aviation scope. Theoretical frameworks on communicative competence, modern test theory and ICAO language proficiency requirements for the learners of radiotelephony communication are presented. The study reveals that learners’ communicative competence which includes both radiotelephony and everyday communication skills are important components in radiotelephony test design. The study points out that the application of modern test theory in designing radiotelephony test in college is vital in meeting the validity and reliability of the test and the students’ individual needs in English language learning for future career needs to be reflected in the test design.

Keywords

• communicative competence
• radiotelephony
• civil aviation