English Is the Language of Communication

Exercise 2.3.1 Read and translate the text.

Today, when English is one of the major languages in the world, it requires an effort of the imagination to realize that in the year of 1600 in Shakespeare’s time, for example, only a few million people spoke English, and the language was not thought to be very important by the other nations of Europe, and was unknown to the rest of the world. English was a “provincial” language, while French was the leading foreign language. Three centuries later 260 million people spoke English and now about one billion people speak English.

It has become one of the world’s most important languages. It is the official language of the United Kindom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand.

It is used as one of the official languages in Canada and South Africa and in the Irish Republic. It is also spoken as a second language by many people in India, Pakistan, numerous countries in Africa. There are many different languages and people use English as an “official” or “second” language for government, business and education.

Nowdays it is especially important to know foreign languages. Some people learn languages because they need them for their work, others travel abroad, for the third studying languages is a hobby.

Everyone, who knows foreign languages can speak to people from other countries, read foreign writers in the original, which makes his outlook wider.

It is not surprising that many intellectuals and well-educated people are polyglots.

English is very important to find a good job. People, who know foreign languages, are necessary for the development of the techniques, economy and arts in the modern society. For example, a good engineer should be able to read some technical papers for the imported equipment. Most of scientific magazines in the world are published in English. It is impossible to be a good scientist without knowing this language.

A person, who learns a foreign language, at the same time gets acquainted with the culture of the country, its literature, history and geography.

Besides, a foreign language helps to know the native language better. The great German poet Goethe once said, “He, who knows no foreign language, does not know his own one”.

It helps us to develop friendship and understanding among people.

Air Traffic Control Officers should have good knowledge and skills in the English language, both general and aviation English.

There are four major skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing and the first two are very important for ATC Officers. Particular attention should be paid to the accuracy of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and fluency.

Controllers can reinforce their skills in operational environments (often under stressful emergency conditions) provided by realistic simulators.

There are a lot oflanguage problems in aviation. Many aviation people in the world have only limited vocabulary in English.

Those of us who make international telephone calls know how difficult it can be to communicate, especially when the other party makes little allowance for linguistic weaknesses. Face to face with the speaker, facial or bodily gestures aid comprehension. Over the telephone this para-linguistic crutch is missing. This is the situation air traffic controllers and pilots find themselves in.

During the telephone call it does not matter how often one stops to pause for thought. When aircraft are travelling at high speed it does matter. Pauses are time-wasting and dangerous and can be understood as the end of a message. Fluency and accuracy are important.

Why are these ideals not easily achieved in the everyday aviation world? The answer is that both pilots and controllers are faced with several problems, involving accent, mispronunciation, inaccurate grammar, speed of delivery, and the use of non-standard radio telephony (R/T) phraseology, poor technical equipment and the wrong mental attitude.

Speed of delivery is one of the most frequently heard complaints, especially about aerodrome terminal information services (ATIS) and meteorological broadcasts to aircraft in flight (VOLMET). The Italians, Greeks and Spaniards speaks like a machine-gun. The Italians, for example, do not appreciate that the naturally even Italian intonation, stress and rhythm, when transposed to English, makes the message far harder to comprehend (understand). At a slower speed it would be clearer.

Every controller wants to improve his English communications skills. They all realize language deficiencies and misunderstanding between pilot and controller are a major cause of accidents.

But learning a foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and effort. First of all, one must work hard to learn any foreign language. It is well known that doing a lot of grammar exercises will improve your language skill and habits. Reading English books, newspapers and magazines in English will enrich your vocabulary. Listening to the BBC News, the broadcast of the radio and TV language programmes will help you a lot. And, there is no doubt, one of the most efficient ways of learning foreign languages is attending lessons in a language laboratory. Listening to different cassetes, imitating the sounds and intonation of native speakers of English will improve your pronunciation. It can be very useful for a language learner to communicate with native speakers of English, visiting your country or, if it is possible, to go abroad to study at the language courses.

Exercise 2.3.2 Answer the questions.

1. Why is English one of the major languages in the world?

2. Why wasn’t English very known to the rest of the world many centuries ago?

3. In what countries is English considered to be the official language?

4. Why is it especially important to know foreign languages nowdays?

5. Why do people study foreign languages?

6. Does knowledge of a foreign language help you to find good job?

7. Why does knowledge of a foreign language help to know and understand the native language better?

8. Why do air traffic controllers have to know English?

9. Name the four major skills in knowing English.

10. How can controllers reinforce their skills?

11. Why are there many language problems in aviation?

12. Have you ever made international telephone calls?

13. Why is it difficult to communicate when you are not face to face with the speaker?

14. What problems do you experience when you communicate with people?

15. What problems do both pilots and controllers face with?

16. Do you always use standard phraseology?

17. Non-standard phraseology. What is it?

18. Why does every controller want to improve his English communications skills?

19. What can cause problems between a pilot and a controller?

20. Why is learning English a difficult thing?

21. Do you know the most effective way(s) to master English?

22. What do you do to improve your language skills?

23. Have you ever spoken to native speakers in English?

24. Can English be a factor in aviation incidents and accidents?

25. ICAO phraseologies and plain language are required for safe radiotelephony communications. Do you agree?

Exercise 2.3.3 What do the following abbreviations stand for.

ATC; R/ T; ATIS; VOLMET; BBC.

Exercise 2.3.4 Write T if the sentence is true and F if the sentence is false.

1. Today English is one of the major languages in the world.

2. It is not used as the official language in South Africa.

3. Nowadays it is not used necessary to know foreign languages.

4. It’s not surprising that many intellectuals and well-educated people are polyglots.

5. If you know English, you can find a good job.

6. Most of the scientific magazines in the world are published in English.

7. If you study English, you get acquainted with the culture of the country, its literature, history and geography.

8. Air traffic controllers should have good knowledge and skills in the English language, both general and aviation English.

9. There are four major skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing.

10. Controllers can reinforce their skills in operational environment provided by realistic simulators.

11. There are not many languages problems in aviation.

12. Face to face with the speaker, facial or bodily gestures aid comprehension.

13. Fluency and accuracy aren’t very important.

14. Not very controller wants to improve his English communication skills.

15. Learning a foreign language is an easy thing.

16. You must work hard to learn any foreign languages.

17. Reading books, newspapers and magazines in English will enrich your vocabulary.

18. It can be very useful for a language leaner to communicate with native speakers of English.

Exercise 2.3.5 Give the English equivalents for the following.

Один из самых основных языков; осознавать; например; иностранный язык; официальный язык; Объединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии; США; Австралия; Новая Зеландия; многочисленные страны в Африке; язык бизнеса и образования; очень важно знать иностранные языки; в оригинале; делать мировоззрение шире; очень важно найти хорошую работу; современное общество; импортное оборудование; научные журналы; научные журналы; не зная иностранного языка; в тоже время; развить дружбу и понимание среди людей; общий авиационный английский; уделять особое внимание; грамматика; произношение; беглость; словарный запас слов; умения и навыки; языковые проблемы в авиации; ограниченный (лимитированный) запас слов; международные телефонные звонки; столкнуться с проблемами; передача метеорологической информации; главная причина авиационных происшествий; недопонимание между пилотом и диспетчером; сложная задача; длительный (долгий) и медленный процесс; грамматические упражнения; без сомнения; самый эффективный способ; интонация; улучшать произношение; носители языка; если возможно.

Exercise 2.3.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and word combinations.

The essential (key) language; to request; to understand; some million people; viewpoint; intelligent people; a nice job; to study foreign languages; to be familiar with (to know); to strengthen; to master English; it is very often heard; a reason.

Exercise 2.3.7 State what part of speech the following words belong to.

1. communication

a) verb b) conjunction c) noun d) article

2. official

a) verb b) adjective c) numeral d) participle

3. reinforce

a) preposition b) pronoun c) verb d) noun

4. fluency

a) verb b) adverb c) adjective d) noun

5. foreign

a) exclamation b) adverb c) adjective d) verb

Exercise 2.3.8 Match the words and word combinations in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. major language	a. понимать
2. modern society	b. ограниченный словарный запас
3. friendship and understanding	c. жалоба, недовольство
4. to comprehend	d. мимика, жестикулирование
5. to improve skills and habits	e. тренажер
6. limited vocabulary	f. современное общество
7. complaint	g. обращать внимание на …
8. facial gesture	h. главный язык
9. simulator	i. улучшать навыки и умения
10. to pay attention to	j. дружба и понимание

Exercise 2.3.9 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. Today English is one of the ____________ (essential, main, major) languages in the world.

2. It is _____________ (notably, principally, especially) important to know foreign languages.

3. Everyone, who knows foreign languages can _____________ (talk, speak, communicate) to people from other countries.

4. English is very important to _____________ (get, find, obtain) a good job.

5. English helps us to _____________ (progress, advance, develop) friendship and understanding among people.

6. There are four ___________ (key, essential, major) skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing.

7. There are a lot of ____________ (problems, difficulties, questions) in aviation.

8. Controllers can ______________ (strengthen, increase, reinforce) their skills in operational environment _____________ (supplied, provided, presented) by realistic simulators.

9. Many people in aviation in the world have only ____________ (restricted, confined, limited) vocabulary in English.

10. Both pilots and controllers are _______________ (met, faced, dealt) with several problems, involving accent, mispronunciation, ______________ (incorrect, wrong, inaccurate) grammar and speed of delivery.

11. Speed of delivery is one of the most _______________ (repeatedly, commonly, frequently) heard complaints.

12. Every controller wants _____________ (to master, develop, improve) his English communication skills.

13. ___________ (Special, Peculiar, Particular) attention should be paid to the ___________ (precision, exactness, accuracy) of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and fluency.

14. There are a lot of _____________ (effective, productive, efficient) ways of learning foreign languages.

15. You have to do your best to _____________ (improve, develop, enrich) the vocabulary.

Exercise 2.3.10 Fill in the gaps with the related words.

1. Many people use English as an “official” or “second” language for ___________ (GOVERN), business and education.

2. It is not ___________ (SURPRISE) that many ____________ (INTELLECT) and well-educated people are polyglots.

3. Foreign languages are necessary for the _______________ (DEVELOP) of the techniques, economy and art in the modern society.

4. Most of the ___________ (SCIENCE) magazines in the world are published in English.

5. It is impossible to be a good specialist without ___________ (KNOW) foreign languages.

6. Foreign languages help us to develop ___________ (FRIEND) and __________ (UNDERSTAND) among people.

7. Air traffic controllers should have good __________ (KNOW) and skills in English language, both general and aviation English.

8. There are four major skills - ___________ (LISTEN), ___________ (SPEAK), _____________ (READ) and ____________(WRITE).

9. Particular attention should be ___________ (PAY) to the accuracy of (PRONOUNCE), grammar, vocabulary and fluency.

10. Every controller wants to improve his English ____________ (COMMUNICATE) skills.

Exercise 2.3.11 Fill in the prepositions if necessary.

1. English is one ____ the major languages _____ the world.

2. English is used ____ one of the official languages ____ many countries ____ the world.

3. Many people learn languages because they need them _____ their work.

4. People who know foreign languages can speak ______ people ____ other countries.

5. Many people read foreign writers ____ the original.

6. Most ____ scientific magazines ____ the world are published ____ English.

7. It is impossible to be a good specialist _____ knowing foreign languages.

8. A person, who learns a foreign language, _____ the same time gets acquainted _____ the culture _____ the country, its literature, history and geography.

9. Air traffic controllers should have good knowledge and skills _____ the English language, _____ general and aviation English.

10. Controllers can reinforce their skills _____ operational environments provided _____ realistic simulators.

11. Language deficiencies and misunderstanding _____ a pilot and a controller are a major cause _____ accidents.

12. It can be very useful ____ a language learner to communicate ____ native speakers _____ English.

Exercise 2.3.12 Make up sentences using the given words.

1. English / of / is / major / the / languages / world / the / in / one.

2. English / the / official / many / in / countries / language / is.

3. It / especially / to / is / important / languages / know / foreign / nowadays.

4. Many / need / work / for / languages / their / foreign / people.

5. English / important / a / find / is / good / to / job / very.

6. There / lot / a / problems / aviation / is / are / of / in / nowadays.

7. Every / wants / English / to / controller / improve / skills / his / communications.

8. Learning / is / foreign / an / thing / language / not / easy / a.

9. ATC / controllers / good / knowledge / have / should / and / the / in / English.

10. Safety / is / objective / primary / the / flights / of / aviation / in.

Exercise 2.3.13 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Английский язык сегодня один из самых главных языков мира.

2. Трудно представить, что во времена Шекспира, например всего несколько миллионов человек разговаривали на английском.

3. В давние времена английский язык не считался очень важным и многие народы Европы не знали его.

4. Сейчас многие миллионы людей говорят по-английски.

5. Английский язык стал самым главным языком мира.

6. Английский язык - официальный язык Объединенного Королевства Великобритании и Северной Ирландии, Соединенных штатов Америки, Австралии и Новой Зеландии.

7. Как второй государственный язык, английский используется во многих странах, таких как Канада, Южная Африка, Индия, Пакистан и многих других странах.

8. Сегодня очень важно знать иностранные языки.

9. Некоторые люди изучают иностранные языки потому что они нужны им для работы, другие для поездок заграницу, а третьи изучают языки для удовольствия и считают своим хобби.

10. Изучение иностранного языка - не простое дело.

11. Английский очень важен, если ты хочешь найти хорошую работу.

12. Изучение языка - это долгий и медленный процесс.

13. Большинство научной литературы в настоящее время публикуется на английском языке.

14. В наше время невозможно быть настоящим ученым без знания иностранного языка.

15. Человек, который изучает иностранный язык, знакомится в то же время с культурой страны изучаемого языка, ее литературой, историей, географией, обычаями и традициями.

16. Кроме того, иностранный язык помогает вам изучать и знать лучше свой родной язык.

17. Великий немецкий поэт Гете сказал однажды: «Тот, кто не знает ни одного иностранного языка, не знает и своего родного».

18. Иностранные языки помогают нам развить дружбу и понимание между людьми всех стран во всем мире.

19. Диспетчеры и пилоты должны иметь хорошие знания по английскому языку, должны знать общий английский, так и авиационный.

20. Аудирование, говорение, чтение и письмо - являются самыми главными основными частями в изучении иностранных языков.

21. Аудирование и говорение для диспетчеров являются самым главным и основным в их работе.

22. Особое внимание должно быть уделено точности произношения, грамматике, словарному запасу и беглости речи.

23. Диспетчеры отрабатывают свои навыки и умения при работе на тренажерах и задания приближены к реальным.

24. И все же в авиации сегодня имеется много языковых проблем.

25. Многие люди, работающие в авиационной сфере, имеют очень ограниченный словарный запас английского языка.

26. Когда ты общаешься с человеком лицом к лицу - это конечно, помогает понимать друг друга лучше, так как здесь помогают мимика и жестикуляция, жесты и многое другое.

27. Очень трудно понять друг друга при общении по телефону, да еще когда ты не совсем хорошо знаешь язык.

28. Как пилоты, так и диспетчеры сталкиваются со многими языковыми проблемами, связанные с произношением, неправильным произношением слов, неточной и неправильной грамматикой, скоростью выдачи информации, использованием нестандартной фразеологии и многими другими проблемами, влияющими на четкое понимание.

29. Каждый диспетчер хочет улучшить свои знания в английском.

30. Всем понятно, что языковые проблемы, трудности и недопонимание между пилотом и диспетчером являются очень серьезными причинами авиационных происшествий.

31. Изучение иностранного языка - это очень нелегкая, а трудная работа, которую нужно делать каждый день.

32. Чтобы хорошо знать английский нужно выполнять много грамматических упражнений, которые помогут улучшить языковые навыки и умения.

33. Чтение английских книг, газет и журналов поможет вам обогатить свой словарный запас.

34. Чтобы хорошо знать английский, вам необходимо смотреть и слушать новости, различные программы по радио и телевидению.

35. Если хотите улучшить свое произношение, то вам необходимо слушать различные кассеты и диски, повторять, проговаривать и следовать интонации и произношению носителей языка.

36. Если есть возможность, очень хорошо поехать на языковые курсы в страну изучаемого языка.

37. Без знания английского языка в настоящее время невозможно работать диспетчером.

38. В каждом авиационном предприятии в нашей стране организованы курсы по изучению английского языка.

39. В наше время очень нетрудно найти любую литературу по изучению иностранных языков: книги, журналы, газеты, учебные пособия и многое другое.

40. Диспетчеры нашей страны часто ездят во многие страны на языковые курсы по английскому языку для поднятия своего уровня владения языком.

Exercise 2.3.14 Make up your own sentences using the words and word combinations.

One of the major languages; to realize; in the world; to speak English; the official language; it is important; to learn a foreign language; a hobby; to find a good job; to make one’s outlook wider; to travel abroad; well-educated people; the development of the techniques, economy and art; the modern society; scientific literature; friendship and understanding among people; to pay attention to smth; pronunciation; grammar; vocabulary; fluency; both general and aviation English; realistic simulators; language problems; limited vocabulary in English; to face with problems; (non) standard radio telephony phraseology; to improve communication skills, a long and slow process; to work hard.

Exercise 2.3.15 Retell the text.

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