ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

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Pre-operational Level 3
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, Accent at this Pre- Basic grammatical A weak command of Vocabulary range and Gaps in vocabulary Produces stretches of The slowness of speech
rhythm and intonation operational Level 3 is so structures and sentence basic grammatical accuracy are often knowledge and/or language, but phrasing flow at this level is such
are influenced by the strong as to render patterns associated with structures at this level sufficient to choice of wrong or non- and pausing are often that communication
first language or comprehension by an predictable situations will limit available range communicate on existent words are inappropriate. lacks concision and
regional variation and international community are not always well of expression or result common, concrete or apparent at this level. Hesitations or slowness efficiency. Long silent
frequently interfere with of aeronautical controlled. Errors in errors which could work-related topics, but This has a negative in language processing pauses frequently
ease of understanding. radiotelephony users frequently interfere with lead to range is limited and the impact on fluency or may prevent effective interrupt the speech
very difficult or meaning. misunderstandings. word choice often results in errors which communication. Fillers flow. Speakers at this
impossible. It should be inappropriate. Is often could lead to are sometimes level will fail to obtain
noted that native or unable to paraphrase misunderstandings. The distracting. the professional
second language successfully when frequent inability to confidence of their
speakers may be lacking vocabulary. paraphrase unknown interlocutors.
assessed at this level in words or in the process
cases where a regional of clarification makes
variety of the language accurate
has not been sufficiently communication
attenuated. impossible.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition
 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

Operational Level 4
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, Operational Level 4 Basic grammatical Operational Level 4 Vocabulary range and An Operational Level 4 Produces stretches of Speech rate at this level
rhythm and intonation speakers demonstrate a structures and sentence speakers have good accuracy are usually speaker will likely not language at an may be slowed by the
are influenced by the marked accent, or patterns are used command of basic sufficient to have a well-developed appropriate tempo. requirements of
first language or localized regional creatively and are grammatical structures. communicate effectively sensitivity to register There may be language processing,
regional variation, but variety of English. usually well controlled. They do not merely on common, concrete (see glossary on page occasional loss of but remains fairly
only sometimes Occasionally, a Errors may occur, have a memorized set and work related topics. (ix)). A speaker at this fluency on transition constant and does not
interfere with ease of proficient listener may particularly in unusual of words or phrases on Can often paraphrase level will usually be able from rehearsed or negatively affect the
understanding. have to pay close or unexpected which they rely but have successfully when to manage formulaic speech to speaker’s involvement
attention to understand circumstances, but sufficient command of lacking vocabulary in communication on spontaneous in communication. The
or may have to clarify rarely interfere with basic grammar to create unusual or unexpected work-related topics, but interaction, but this speaker has the
something from time to meaning. new meaning as circumstances. may sometimes need does not prevent possibility of speaking a
time. Operational Level appropriate. clarification. effective little faster than the
4 is certainly not a They demonstrate local When faced with a communication. Can ICAO
perfect level of errors and infrequent communication make limited use of recommended rate of
proficiency; it is the global errors and breakdown, an discourse 100 words per minute if
minimum level of communication is Operational Level 4 markers or connectors. the situation requires
proficiency determined effective overall. Level 4 speaker can paraphrase Fillers are not (Annex 10, Volume II,
to be safe for air traffic speakers will not usually and negotiate meaning distracting. 5.2.1.5.3 b).
control communications. attempt complex so that the message is
While it is not an Expert structures, and when understood. The ability
level, it is important to they do, quite a lot of to paraphrase includes
keep in mind that errors would be appropriate choices of
pronunciation plays the expected resulting in simple vocabulary and
critical role in aiding less effective considerate use of
comprehension communication. speech rate and
between two non-native pronunciation.
speakers of English.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition
 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

Extended Level 5
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, Extended Level 5 Basic grammatical Extended Level 5 Vocabulary range and Extended Level 5 Able to speak at length Rate of speech and
rhythm and intonation, speakers demonstrate a structures and sentence speakers demonstrate accuracy are sufficient speakers may display with relative ease on organization of
though influenced by marked accent, or patterns are greater control of to communicate some sensitivity to familiar topics but may discourse at this level
the first language or localized regional consistently well complex grammatical effectively on common, register, with a lexical not vary speech flow as approach natural
regional variation, rarely variety of English, but controlled. Complex structures than do concrete and work- range which may not be a stylistic device. Can fluency. Under
interfere with ease of one which rarely structures are Operational Level 4 related topics. sufficient to make use of appropriate appropriate
understanding. interferes with how attempted but with speakers and may Paraphrases communicate effectively discourse markers or circumstances, rates
easily understood their errors which sometimes commit global errors consistently and in as broad a range of connectors. significantly higher than
speech is. They are interferes with meaning. from time to time when successfully. topics as an Expert the ICAO recommended
always clear and using complex Vocabulary is Level 6 speaker, but a rate of 100 words per
understandable, structures. The critical sometimes idiomatic. speaker with Extended minute can be achieved
although, only difference between the proficiency will have no without negatively
occasionally, a Level 4 and Level 5 trouble paraphrasing affecting intelligibility.
proficient listener may requirements concerns whenever necessary.
have to pay close the use of basic
attention. grammatical structures
and sentence patterns
compared to the use of
complex structures (see
the glossary of basic
and complex structures
in Appendix B, Part IV).
At Level 5, the structure
descriptors refer to
consistent control of
basic structure, with
errors possibly
occurring when complex
structures and language
are used. There is
actually a big jump
between Level 4 and
Level 5. Level 5
speakers will have a
more sophisticated use
of English overall, but
will exhibit some errors
in their
use of complex
language structures, but
not in their basic
structure patterns.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition
 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

Expert 6
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, An Expert Level 6 Both basic and complex Expert Level 6 speakers Vocabulary range and Level 6 speakers Able to speak at length Fluency at this level is
rhythm and intonation, speaker may be a grammatical structures do not demonstrate accuracy are sufficient demonstrate a strong with a natural, effortless nativelike or near
though possibly speaker of English as a and sentence patterns consistent global to communicate sensitivity to register. flow. Varies speech flow native-like. It is notably
influenced by the first first language with a are consistently well structural or effectively on a wide Another marker of for stylistic effect, e.g. to characterized by a high
language or regional widely understood controlled. grammatical errors but variety of familiar and strong proficiency emphasize a point. degree of flexibility in
variation, almost never dialect or may be a very may exhibit some local unfamiliar topics. seems to be the Uses appropriate producing language and
interfere with ease of proficient second- errors. Vocabulary is idiomatic, acquisition of, and discourse markers and in adapting the speech
understanding. language speaker, nuanced and sensitive facility with, idiomatic connectors rate to the context of
again with a widely to register. expressions and the spontaneously. communication and the
used or understood ability to communicate purposes of the
accent and/or dialect. nuanced ideas. As speaker.
The speakers’ accent or such, use of idioms may
dialect may or may not be taken into
identify them as second account in assessment
language users, but the procedures designed to
pronunciation patterns identify Level 6 users in
or any difficulties or a non-radiotelephony
“mistakes” almost never context. This is not
interfere with the ease however intended to
with which they are imply that idiomatic
understood. Expert usages are a desirable
speakers are always feature of aeronautical
clear and radiotelephony
understandable. communications. On the
contrary, use of idioms
is an obstacle to
intelligibility and mutual
understanding between
non-expert users and
should therefore be
avoided by all users in
this environment.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition