Cleared For Takeoff is a standout ESL Aviation curriculum. When
I started teaching two years ago at Scandinavian Aviation Academy,
I took on the task of creating an ESL program from scratch. If
you are an ESL professional with no aviation background like
I was, you will find this curriculum an excellent starting point
for building your program. The student books are clearly
laid out, introduce new topics in a step-by-step process that
makes sense, and always include multiple activities for applying
the new vocabulary in a “real” setting. What
really makes this curriculum outstanding is the Teacher’s
Supplement. The books and CDs themselves offer plenty of
pre-made listening and speaking activities. But the Teacher’s
Supplement provides creative ways to give additional practice
for the students without requiring the teacher to bend over backwards
to create his or her own materials. Another benefit is
the pre-made written exams. I use these as part of series
of tasks that my students must pass before they are permitted
to begin actual flight lessons with instructors. Paired
with a solid Oral Exam, the written exams are a good indication
of whether or not a student has a solid enough grasp on the basics
to interact properly with the instructor.
Cleared For Takeoff is a basic introduction to aviation vocabulary and topics. Our
students are on a high-paced program that requires them to accomplish Private
Pilot, Instrument Pilot, and Commercial Pilot licenses in just 10 months. If
you are in a similar program, you will need to expand your lessons and materials,
adapting “spin-off” lessons that utilize materials that are specific
to your school and flight training area. The curriculum also does not
provide enough foundation for the challenges of actual ground school, so you’ll
need to incorporate some other facets to your syllabus that help students prepare
for the high-level English required to understand standard Aviation textbooks
and working with publications like the FAR/AIM.
Overall, Cleared For Takeoff is an excellent base to a good ESL program. Compared
to the other Aviation ESL materials on the market, I believe Cleared For Takeoff
is by far the best option out there.
Janna Rice
Aviation English Instructor
Scandinavian Aviation Academy, San Diego, CA
www.scanavia.com |