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matter of life and death. Spot On Learning's Maritime Communication program helps professionals in the maritime industry
communicate better in English and across cultures. Ultimate goal: prevent misunderstandings that are often at the root of accidents
and other issues.
The program starts with an online test and then helps maritime professionals reach the required level of General English. Then they
can work on their maritime English. Videos recorded on board of ships and in ports helps seafarers and office workers master the
English they need to work safely and efficiently in the maritime industry. Words from IMO's SMCP list are part of the vocabulary
Spot On Learning teaches.
Learning program for seafarers and other professionals in the maritime business
Spot On Learning has developed business English courses for the shipping industry and other maritime sectors. These courses help
professionals with different nationalities and cultural backgrounds communicate effectively and with ease. This is important for
safety reasons but it also helps companies that employ people from all over the world maintain high quality standards in a very
dynamic and competitive environment.
1. The client provides us with names of the professionals that are to enter the program and have time to work on their English
several times a week for at least half an hour to an hour during a certain period (normally two or three months).
2. Participants are invited to access their personal my.spotonlearning.eu learning environment.They go through a short
online introduction. In an interactive way they are introduced to the program they are about to start. This introduction
program can be customised to match specific requirements of regular clients (or their principals).
3. Participants plan their first 'CEFR level test', on the video learning platform EnglishCentral. De test is done via Skype. It is a
20-minute conversation that results in a CEFR score, some subscores (grammar & vocabulary, pronunciation, speaking,
fluency, listening). Everything is explained in a personalised report. We have some more information about CEFR
levels online.
4. Block 1: General English courses. If the proficiency level of a participant is lower than required he will start with general
English courses that matches their current level and helps improve pronunciation, fluency, understanding and vocabulary.
In practice we see that especially pronunciation and fluency improve quickly. The innovative EnglishCentral platform, the
speech technology behind it, the automated feedback and personal online coaching by a SOL-coach have been shown to be
very effective. The required level differs, depending on for instance company standards, regulations, or job title of the
participant.
5. For particapants that are more than 1 CEFR level below the required level Spot On Learning has developed General English
Acceleration Courses. In these courses the participants receive personal online coaching by a teacher. The client can choose
if it wants participants that are at low levels of English proficiency should take these courses.
6. Progress and results are monitored closely by Spot On Learning, all the while feedback is given to the participant in several
ways. Spot On Learning progress coaches monitor all learning activities (or lack of it!), they guide participants towards their
learning goals. Participants receive personal feedback from the system and by email. Technical assistance is available for
who needs it. Progress information and results are shared with the support network (HR, crewing dept. or agent). At Spot
On Learning we call this our ‘all on the same screen’ support network (see below).
7. After a first block of 2 months working on the General English courses measurable progress has been made in most cases.
8. Block 2: Maritime English courses. When the general English of the participant is on the required level a next block
of 'maritime courses' is scheduled for the participant. In this block specific vocabulary for the industry is taught. Spot On
Learning has developed a list of words and phrases, based on the well-known SMCP list by the IMO, a UN maritime
organisation.
9. Block 3: Intercultural Communication in the Maritime World course (optional). Besides language, cultural differences can
lead to misunderstandings and social problems. This is not surprising as it has become quite common to work with mixed
crews. Overcoming the language barrier is one thing, but understanding each other having very different (cultural)
backgrounds is also difficult, even if you speak the same language. Spot On Learning has developed a course to develop
intercultural competences and in that way improve cross-cultural communication.
Learning made fun and easy + personal coaching = progress in English language proficiency
Shipping companies and other organisations active in the maritime industry want their workers to speak English at a certain level.
They want them to keep practicing, in order to retain their language skills on the required level, or, even better, to keep improving
their proficiency. Seafarers and other workers need to make an effort but their work is already very demanding. The Spot On
Maritime Learning courses are designed to make learning easy and fun. Also learning can be done when and where the participants
want. Many participants in our programmes let us know that they like watching the videos and listening to them. Getting immediate
feedback when speaking and typing keeps the students motivated. The social networking elements are designed to persuade them
to keep on learning. The Spot On Learning monitors progress of participants closely and offers support where and when it is needed.
We ourselves learn everyday about what motivates most and helps our participants leverage their efforts.
Communication refers to the exchange of thoughts and ideas with the intention of conveying information.
Communication can be defined as sharing of thoughts, information and intelligence. All the activities that a
person performs when he wishes to convey his message to others are nothing but the ways to achieve
communication. The effective ways of communication are clarity of message, completeness of message,
individual’s facial expressions, eye contact, body postures, and external physical appearance.