TEXT III

        A new Aviation English Test Speaks of Pilots’ voices and aviation safety

In addition ___(1) the development ___(2) various tests ___(3) response ___(4) the ICAO’s language proficiency requirement, a new test has been designed using flight simulators, ___(5) consideration of both the test takers and the ICAO’s fundamental focus ___(6) aviation safety. The test provides a familiar and work-related testing environment ___ (7) pilots, an efficient and cost-effective test system ___(8) airlines, and international credibility and valid evaluation tools to states, while fully covering both aviation and plain English Assessment needs.

                         (Jason Park and Tyler Kong ALTEON Training Asia LLC Seoul, Korea.) 

                                                     TEXT II

                                      LANGUAGE TEACHING

Languages are taught and learned in various places, some in informal settings, others in formal contexts, such as classrooms. It is common knowledge that regardless of the method used, second language learners achieve mastery of the target language to varying degrees. Although 10 individuals may be in the same language class for a year, their eventual proficiency level and profile will be different from one another. This is the result of a combination of the factors briefly mentioned above, compounded with the pedagogical methods that the learner has encountered. Generally speaking, it can be stated that most individuals learn to communicate basic information through a conversation in the target language in the first few years of active language study (provided that there are opportunities to use the language to create personal meaning). It is important to note that mere exposure or contact with the target language in most cases is not sufficient to result in productive language skills.

                                  (http://www.aeservices.net/English/newsletters/Oct2007.html#B2)  

Traveling can be a fun adventure for children. And for the little ones to really have a pleasant trip, parents should prepare themselves. Take in carry-on a coat ( it’s usually chilly on board), extra clothes (including socks), solid and easy-to-store food, games and toys that they are used to and that don’t make noise. During take-off and landing, keep the children awake and offer them, according to their age, breast milk if they are still breastfeeding, a pacifier, a bottle with water or gum to avoid the discomfort of pressurization.

GLOSSARY:

carry-on = bagagem de mão

chilly = frio

easy-to-store= de fácil armazenamento

breastfeeding = amamentando

pacifier = chupeta 

He had felt terrible for three days, so Bob finally called his doctor’s office.

“The doctor can see you in three weeks”, he was told. An outraged Bob bellowed, “Three weeks? The doctor can’t see me for three weeks? I could be dead by then!”

Calmly the voice at the other end of the line replied, “If so, be sure to have someone call to cancel the appointment.”

GLOSSARY:

outraged – ofendido, injuriado

bellow – gritar, berrar 

                           NATO ships, helicopters hunt down 7 pirates

      NAIROBI, Kenya - NATO warships and helicopters pursued Somali pirates for seven hours after they attacked a Norwegian tanker, NATO spokesmen said Sunday, and the high-speed chase only ended when warning shots were fired at the pirates' skiff. Seven pirates attempted to attack the Norwegian-flagged MV Front Ardenne late Saturday but fled after crew took evasive maneuvers and alerted warships in the area, said Portuguese Lt. Cmdr. Alexandre Santos Fernandes, aboard a warship in the Gulf of Aden, and Cmdr. Chris Davies, of NATais maritime headquarters in England.

      "How the attack was thwarted is unclear, it appears to have been the actions of the tanker," Davies said. Fernandes said no shots were fired at the tanker.

      Davies said the pirates sailed into the path of the Canadian warship Winnipeg, which was escorting a World Food Program delivery ship through the Gulf of Aden. The American ship USS Halyburton was also in the area and joined the chase. 

      "There was a lengthy pursuit, over seven hours," Davies said. The pirates hurled weapons into the dark seas as the Canadian and U.S. warships closed in. The ships are part of NATais anti-piracy mission.

      "The skiff abandoned the scene and tried to escape to Somali territory," Fernandes said. "It was heading toward Bossaso but we managed to track them. Warning shots have been made after several attempts to stop the vessel."

      Both ships deployed helicopters, and naval officers hailed the pirates over loudspeakers and finally fired warning shots to stop them, Fernandes said, but not before the pirates had dumped most of their weapons overboard. NATO forces boarded the skiff, where they found a rocketpropelled grenade, and interrogated, disarmed and released the pirates.

      The pirates cannot be prosecuted under Canadian law because they did not attack Canadian citizens or interests and the crime was not committed on Canadian territory.

      "When a ship is part of NATO, the detention of a person is a matter for the national authorities," Fernandes said. "It stops being a NATO issue and starts being a national issue." 

      The pirates' release underscores the difficulties navies have in fighting rampant piracy off the coast of lawless Somalia. Most of the time, foreign navies simply disarm and release the pirates they catch due to legal complications and logistical difficulties in transporting pirates and witnesses to court.

      Pirates have attacked more than 80 boats this year alone, four times the number assaulted in 2003, according to the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau. They now hold at least 18 ships - including a Belgian tanker seized Saturday with 10 crew aboard - and over 310 crew hostage, according to an Associated Press count.

                                                                                 (Adapted from: www.ap.org, 04/19/09)