What do you think about the state of Brazilian offshore language training?

Brazil is experiencing a boom in offshore language training.  The Brazilian offshore industry, involving such sectors as shipping and oil extraction, needs a high standard of language training to function effectively.  With many multinational crews and multinational companies operating in the area, it is ineffective and very unsafe for every vessel to be a tower of Babel.  Vessels need to be able to use English as the common language for operations, while foreigners also need to at least understand some basic Portuguese for better integration and functioning of crews.  However, is the current format of offshore language training effective?

Currently, much of the offshore language training being carried out is inefficient, ineffective, and often irrelevant.  Typically, crew members are obliged to attend language courses but have little motivation to progress.  The alternation between offshore working periods and shore leave means that students have language classes for weeks at a time typically followed by weeks of inactivity.  Furthermore, much of the teaching material is irrelevant; standard English courses will carry out training of typical language issues such as asking for directions in town and talking about families, but do not prepare students for the day-to-day tasks on board.

We believe that onboard language training has to be done differently.  Instead of transplanting typical one-size-fits-all language courses from schools on land into offshore vessels, offshore language training should be tailored to the needs and realities of the offshore industry.

First, offshore language training should be relevant to offshore duties from the start - starting with such simple issues as integrating maritime terminology into lessons from the start.

Second, offshore training should be tailored to the needs and circumstances of the students.  This also means taking shore leave periods into consideration, and providing the opportunity and motivation for students to continue their training while not on board to avoid extended periods of inactivity.

Third, training has to be efficient and effective.  This means setting clear and attainable goals and measurable standards of progress.  Goals, as well as methods and content, should also be adapted to the student - the language requirements of a mechanic are different from those of a radio operator, for example.

Maersk Training Brasil has developed its On-Board Language Training (OBLT) programme in accordance with the above views.  What do you think?  Is this a better way of carrying out language training?