RACHEL SHIEFF
Curriculum Vitae
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Objectives
• To reliably design and deliver effective and thought-provoking English
Communication Skills Training Programmes that meet the
recommendations set out in ICAO doc 9835.
• To engage a culturally diverse community of learners and raise their standards of
Aviation English Communication
Attributes
The strength to initiate projects, and with exceptional time management skills; lead them to
completion. Rachel is very comfortable working in a team environment, sharing ideas and
nurturing the skills of individuals.
She has had the privilege of working with individuals of different generations and from
culturally diverse backgrounds, and this, paired with her love for personal development, has
built her knowledge and expertise in the Aviation sector.
Just like a trusted friend, Rachel wants and expects the best from her clients and challenges
them to perform at their best.
Experience and Expertise
August 2017 to present
Director - Sky No Limits Limited
www.sky-nolimits.com
• Aviation English Communication Skills Courses
• Communication Enhancement Training
• Bespoke Aviation English ELearning Courses
• Intensive ICAO Test Preparation Course – for aviation professionals
• Consulting on ICAO Test Design and Development
• Transformative coaching for peak performance
• Practice ICAO English Testing – in preparation for the test for licensing purposes
Jan 2015 to August 2017
Aviation Communication Specialist – Training
• Design and development of ICAO Aviation English course materials and training
for CX, KA and AHK pilots, to support them in preparation for their ICAO English
Assessment.
• Organise Air Traffic Control Command Centre sharing sessions and tours to enhance
mutual understanding of communication issues and strive to resolve them
• Annual audit of the ICAO English Assessment providers, ASPEQ and IAE
• Ongoing support and management of the ICAO English Assessment process.
July 2012 – Jan 2015
Aviation Communication Specialist – ICAO English Testing
• Conducted ICAO Language Proficiency Assessments and Rated pilots for licensing
purposes
• Provided detailed feedback and recommended course of action for improvement.
• Managed the process for outsourcing the ICAO English Assessment
February 2011 – Present ‘PracticeICAOEnglish.com’
Co-founder
• Design and development of materials for a fully interactive online ICAO English course
for pilots and controllers worldwide. The course now runs itself and I address client
enquiries. See the course demo here: http://www.practiceicaoenglish.com/demo/
• I was also involved in the ICAO / ICAEA Rated Speech Samples Training Aid (RSSTA)
project – a project to standardise raters internationally and provide speech samples
for the ICAO website.
January 2008 – February 2011 FTE Jerez Spain
Head of Aviation English
• Responsible for setting up the Aviation English Department, enabling the
flight training school to offer English language development to non-native English
speakers. As a result of this initiative FTE was able to attract new clients from Qatar
Airways and Emirates.
• I wrote the Aviation English Department Operations Manual in alignment with the
UKCAA requirements.
• The design and development of an in-house ICAO English proficiency test. This test
was the first of its kind to be approved by the UKCAA.
• I designed a 3 day intensive ICAO test preparation course for line pilots.
• I developed material for a 3 month Aviation English course, preparing abinitio students
for ground school training
• Design and development of abinitio pilot selection English tests
• Abinitio pilot selection at Qatar Airways – giving valuable feedback to airline
management and FTO regarding the English ability of candidates
• Responsible for the English testing at Qatar Airways 2nd officer selection
• Mentoring team members, including their certification to be ICAO test interlocutors
and raters.
• Maintaining strict control of ICAO English test records of both FTE abinitio pilots and
external clients – to meet the strict requirements of UKCAA and Spain DGAC
April 1999-Feb 2006 Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd Hong Kong
English Language Training Specialist
• Initiated and co-designed the CX English Language Proficiency Test for
pilots. The focus of this test was on communication skills . The test was
designed to measure the components specified in the ICAO Language
Proficiency Descriptors.
• Developed and delivered Frontline English Language training of a high
standard to cabin crew and Airport Customer Service officers
• Developed and conducted assessments to measure the language
proficiency of different levels and categories of staff, which involved
research and comparisons of recognized test materials . I tested the
assessments on target groups before validating them .
• Conducted general English Language courses - which involved testing
candidates to assess their levels so they could be assigned appropriate
classes; developing materials focusing on communication skills,
• Peer observation and feedback to ensure that all teaching and skills were aligned .
• Provided facilitation skills training, creative thinking and team building
workshops to develop communication techniques within the organization.
"Rachel is always positive and friendly ." "Facilitation is an area of strength for
Rachel." "Trainees are motivated to learn . You will never be bored in
her classes! It is always so much fun, with a lot of learning activities ."
•
Scheduling training -"I complement Rachel on being our master
timetabler. She readily takes in schedules/revisions from other
departments and is able to quickly and flexibly incorporate it into the
English activity schedule ." – Karen Mak (Assistant Manager)
Dec 1997-March 1999 Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd . Hong Kong
English as a Foreign Language Instructor
•
•
Designed and delivered intensive English Language courses to
prospective employees of the airline - 100% success rate
Provided English pronunciation training to Frontline staff and pilots to
aid communication skills
Applicable Qualifications
• Transformative Coach certification 2018 – endorsed by the Coaching Federation of
Hong Kong
• NLP Practitioner and Coach certification 2014
• Time Line Therapy Practitioner Certification 2014
• ICAEA (International Civil Aviation English Association) approved Rater for ICAO English
“Of the 76 raters that participated in the first wave of rating, you have been identified
as being one of the most reliable. Statistically speaking, you achieved a high rater 'infit'
value which means that the ratings you awarded to the various samples were very
consistent. This is a rare and yet essential quality in language rating. In short, the data
show that you are one of the most reliable aviation English raters in the world.” –
Henry Emery ICAEA.
You may see a recommendation from Henry on my Linkedin profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelshieffskynolimits/
• Certified Rater for ICAO Proficiency Test' for Pilots - 2005 Mayflower College Plymouth,
endorsed by HKCAD and Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
• Diploma in TEFL - 2004 English Language Centre London
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - 2001 Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
• Certificate in TEFL - 1997 British Council Kuala Lumpur
Interests
Nutrician, ELearning, exercise, personal development
