Strange English for Ecuador ATC

I teach an unusual English for my students. It is more technical, with an emphasis on listening comprehension and pronunciation/enunciation. This is important because the ATC’s main communication in English is with pilots on the radio. So my course has a lot to do with basic language forms, as well as terminology, official and unofficial, used by pilots.

Listening comprehension is so vital. Many of the ATC’s in Guayaquil, Ecuador, were taught English by other Ecuadorians. They have big problems speaking with rough accents and understanding the accents of native speakers.

For instance, I came into the radar installation to assist with some English. A plane had taken off, headed to the United States. The pilot contacted Guayaquil and stated he needed to return, because there was a problem with a passenger. The Air Traffic Controller couldn’t understand what the pilot was saying. I listened and could easily tell the pilot was reporting that a doctor on board had diagnosed the passenger with an acute attack of appendicitis and required immediate emergency care. The phrase, “Acute attack of appendicitis” absolutely flummoxed the Guayaquil staff.

Fortunately, my translation cleared it up, and the plane came in with the necessary emergency medical personnel ready. But it does illustrate the difficulties. The non-native speaking controllers can easily handle the average, day-to-day English needed. They are trained in it and use it every day. It is when something unusual happens that go outside their normal English where they encounter problems.