Team Research and Presentations

Our team members are Aviation English professionals. All teachers possess master’s degrees in Applied Linguistics or Teaching English as a Second Language, and many have authored research or presentations that contribute to improved Aviation English instruction worldwide. 

The following publications and presentations are examples (not a complete list) of the research and presentations authored or co-authored by our faculty.

Conference Presentations

• Roberts, J. (2025). “Language and Communication as a Human Factor in Aviation Safety.” ALTA Aviation Safety, Flight Ops, and Training Summit, Mexico City, Mexico.
• Ellingburg, L. (2025). “Ready or Not? Instructor’s Knowledge, Competencies, and Skills for Online Teaching.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Long Beach, CA, USA.
• Lee, R. (2025). “Enhancing English for Specific Purposes with Technology: Best Practices and Strategies.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Long Beach, CA, USA.
• Roberts, J. (2024). “English for Air Traffic Control – Development and Implementation.” International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Language Proficiency Requirements Workshop, Lima, Peru.
• Ellingburg, L. (2024). “Informing Language Teaching Through Instructional Design Principles.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Tampa, FL, USA.
• Roberts, J. (2024). “Cultural Influences on Aviation Safety.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Tampa, FL, USA.
• Lee, R. (2023). “Considering Communicative Competency in Aviation English Course Development for Aircraft Maintenance Personnel.” International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA) Conference, Hong Kong, China.
• Lynch, J. Roberts, J. (2023). “Making Use of Both Operational and Linguistic Knowledge and Skills.” Aviation English Study Group of Brazil (GEIA) Seminar, Brazil.
• Ellingburg, L., von Merveldt, M. (2023). “Feedforward for Student Success.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Portland, OR, USA.
• Lee, R., Roberts, J. (2023). “Overcoming Obstacles in Collaborating with Subject Matter Experts.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Portland, OR, USA
• Lynch, J. (2023). “Using Linguistic Data in ESP Assessment and Curriculum Design.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Portland, OR, USA
• Roberts, J. Schneider, A (2022). “Cultural Influences on Aviation Safety.” Aviation English Study Group of Brazil (GEIA) Online Conference.
• Roberts, J. (2022). “Assessment Driven by Policy: The Case of Aviation English.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• Herman, R. Roberts, J. (2022). “Connecting from Afar: Managing a Virtual Conversation Partner Program.” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• Ellingburg, E., von Merveldt, M. (2022) “Delayed Corrective Feedback brought to Life via Screencasting” Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• Roberts, J. (2022). "Cultural Influences on Aviation Safety." Philippine Aviation Research Conference (PARC).
• Ellingburg, L, Herman, R, von Merveldt, M., Roberts, J. (2021). "Being Present in the Asynchronous Aviation English Classroom." Aviation English Study Group of Brazil (GEIA) Online Conference. 
• Byrnes, K., Lynch, J., Mathews, E., Orr, A., Roberts, J. (2020). "Supporting International Ab Initio Flight Students Through English Language Training." National Training Aircraft Symposium, Daytona Beach, Florida.
• Zhang, G., Friginal, E., Roberts, J. (2019). "Understanding Aircraft Maintenance Manuals: Applications for TESOL." Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA.
• Roberts, J. (2019). "The Local-Global Problem: Making Skies Safer by Teaching Aviation English." World Aviation Training Summit (WATS), Orlando, FL, USA.
• Roberts, J., Friginal, E. (2019). "Training Solutions for Ab Initio Pilots: Content and Language Integrated Learning." International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA) 2019 Conference, Tokyo, Japan.
• Roberts, J. (2018). "Language Proficiency and Flight Training." ICAEA Research Group Meeting, 2018 Conference, Daytona Beach, FL, USA.
• Mathews, E. (2018). "A Linguistic Review of Aviation Accidents." ICAEA Workshop 2018.

Webinars

• Lee, R., Dux Speltz, E. (2025). “Leveraging technological resources to develop Aviation English reading materials.” International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA).
• Lee, R., von Merveldt M., Roberts, J. (2025) “Assessing Vocabulary for Aeronautical Communication.” ILAS Talks Season 3, Philippines.
• Roberts, J. (2024) “Teaching Vocabulary for Aeronautical Communication.” ILAS Talks Season 2, Philippines.
• von Merveldt, M., Orr, A. (2022). "Rediscovering the Aviation English Student and Redefining the Aviation English Specialist." ICAEA Webinar Series. International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA).
• Lynch, J., Orr, A., Toups, D. (2021). "Designing Productive Exchanges Between Aviation English Learners and Instructors in an Online Asynchronous Setting – A Case Study." ICAEA Webinar Series. International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA).
• Lynch, J., Orr, A., Roberts, J. (2020). "Re-Routing Aviation English: Strategies for Teaching Online." ICAEA Webinar Series. International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA).
• Fowler, B., Lynch, J., Roberts, J. (2020). "Aviation English Proficiency and Flight Training Performance." University Aviation Association (UAA) Virtual Seminar.

Journal Articles

• Mathews, E., Carson, J., Singleton, S., Valdes, E., and Williams, D. (2022) “Investigating Language Factors in Aviation Accidents.” Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors. Vol. 12, Issue 2.
• Fowler, R., Lynch, J., Mathews, E., Roberts, J. (2021). “Aviation English Assessment and Training.” Collegiate Aviation Review International, 39(2), 26-42.
• Lynch, J., & Porcellato, A. (2020). “The Case for an Aviation English Screening Tool for US Flight Schools.” The ESPecialist, 41(4). 
• Bieswanger, M., Prado, M., Roberts, J. (2020). "Pilot Training and English as a Lingua Franca: Some Implications for the Design of Aviation English for Ab Initio Flight Training Courses." The ESPecialist, 41(4). 
• Mathews, E. (2020) “Incomplete Language Standards Threaten Aviation.” Aviation Week and Space Technology. February.
• Mathews, E. (2019 ) “Overlooked: Poor Language Skills.” AeroSafety World (Flight Safety Foundation).
• Mathews, E. (2018). “The State of Aviation English." ESP News.
• Mathews, E. (2017) “Language in Aviation Accident Investigations.” The Investigator Magazine (United Arab Emirates DGAC publication).  Spring 2017. 
• Mathews, E. (2004). “The Role of Language in Aviation Communications." Proceedings from ICAO Aviation Language Symposium.
• Mathews, E. (2003) “ICAO Annex Amendments Strengthen Requirements for Language Proficiency.” ICAO Journal. 58 (4), 7-9. 
• Mathews, E. (1999) “Aviation English Language Training and Assessment — The Scope of the Issue.” FAA Journal of Applied Aviation Sciences.

Books and Book Chapters

• Friginal, E., Prado, M., Roberts, J. (Eds). (2025).  Teaching and Assessment in Global Aviation English, Bloomsbury
• Ellingburg, E., von Merveldt, M. (2025). “Increasing Aviation English Learner Awareness” in E. Friginal, M. Prado, and J. Roberts (Eds), Teaching and Assessment in Global Aviation English, Bloomsbury
• Lynch, J., Toups, D., Orr, A. (2025). “The benefits of a partnership approach to aviation English training” in E. Friginal, M. Prado, and J. Roberts (Eds), Teaching and Assessment in Global Aviation English, Bloomsbury.
• Friginal, E., Prado, M., Roberts, J. (Eds). (2024). Global Aviation English Research, Bloomsbury
• Mathews, E., Brickhouse, A., Carson, J., Valdes, E. (2022). “Language as a Factor in Aviation Accidents and Serious Incidents: A Handbook for Accident Investigators Ed. 2.” Language as a Human Factor in Aviation Resource Center, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 
• Friginal, E., Mathews, E., Roberts, J. (2020). "English in Global Aviation: Context, Research and Pedagogy." Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Roberts, J., Orr, A. (2020). “Language Education for Ab Initio Flight Training: A Plan Going Forward.” In S. Kearns, T. Mavin and S. Hodge (Eds.), "Engaging the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals." Routledge.