Get Involved
The official launch of the new Maritime English Tests (MarTEL) is due to take place
at the start of the New Year (2010) in a number of MET institutions across Europe.
To be part of the first international standards for Maritime English and become
a MarTEL test centre, then contact us at martel@c4ff.co.uk.
MarTEL was instigated by Professor Ziarati after the 2006 IMO MSC 82, where he was
representing Turkey and IMarEST. At the IMO MSC 82 one of the main issues was a
much needed international set of maritime English standards. MarTEL is the response
to this identified need. With half of the 80% of accidents taking place at sea due
to poor communication, it is hoped that the creation of these new maritime English
standards will not only help to save lives but also reduce material and financial
losses.
The new MarTEL standards and accompanying tests have been designed by both scholars
in Maritime English teaching and senior captains in the merchant Navy in order to
ensure the tests are meeting the needs of English language and the profession. Each
test examines the five main language skills: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking
and Grammar. The tests also include integrated questions where candidates are tested
on more than one of these skills at the same time. This allows the candidate to
experience a simulation of the sorts of situations he/she will face in real life.
The tests focus specifically on maritime knowledge and vocabulary in order to ensure
the tests are vocation specific.
MarTEL is at the forefront of research in the Maritime English field. The tests
have been created with the existing research findings in mind. Issues such as pronunciation
that proved to be a large obstacle for seafarers have been incorporated into the
test design. For more information on the research already carried out, please see
our research section.
The MarTEL team consists of nine major players in the maritime and training community
as well as several external consultants, examiners and verifiers, including Edexcel.
They have many years of experience in European Union project developments and work
very closely with the rest of the International maritime network. For example eight
of the nine major MarTEL partners have worked on other European Union funded projects
such as SOS and EGMDSS. The partners also have exceptional experience and understanding
of the maritime training and maritime English fields. For further information please
consult our website (www.c4ff.co.uk).
All of the tests have now been evaluated and are currently being piloted in MET
institutions across Europe. These institutions include many of the original project
partners as well as a large number of partners from outside the original partnership
who have been supportive of the development of the MarTEL standards. These tests
are due to be completed in the next couple of months to allow time for the appropriate
adjustments to be made before the launch at the start of 2010. Initially the test
will be available quarterly and then on a monthly basis. If you would like to implement
MarTEL in your institution please contact us at martel@c4ff.co.uk.
MarTEL tests all five main language skills – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
as well as grammar.