Understanding air traffic control English curriculum in Vietnam

Research in the post-secondary field about special-purpose English suggests its importance and exposes both problems and potential in planning curriculum for it. However, little research exists regarding aviation English, particularly how stakeholders view such curricula in specific national contexts. It was the purpose of this mixed method study to understand the relationship between an aviation English policy framework, curiculum alignment and stakeholder perceptions, through policy analysis prior to survey of 104 Air Traffic Controllers; and interviews with 4 administrators, 2 subject teachers, 2 English teachers, 9 Air Traffic Controllers, and 9 students. Findings reveal that: (a) Policy operates at the Macro, 2 distinct Meso and the Micro levels, each overseen by different institution(s); (b) Policy treatment of standards, curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and outcomes varies across levels. Perhaps unsurprisingly, in light of such misalignment: (c) Air Traffic Controller survey responses were generally critical of their training, with those who claimed a higher level of English being more satisfied; (d) Interviews with various stakeholders generally supported the ATC responses, although teachers and administrators were progressively more satisfied. Comparison of the data sources suggests the importance of: (e) Teacher qualifications and experience; (f) Alignment of assessment with external standards and professional expectations; (g) English level of entering students; (h) Alignment of pedagogy and teaching materials with professional expectations. The implications of this study are significant because stakeholder perceptions seem rooted in their experiences of preparing for controlling air traffic through the use of English, when the language in general is foreign to them and its specialist style must be used in communication with other professionals for whom it may be a first, second, or third language, spoken with a variety of accents and accuracy. Such communication has proved to be crucial for the safety of the travelling public.