The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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10 The Linguist Vol/56 No/2 2017 as it confuses me". Already fairly confident in spoken Chinese, he recently started learning the Chinese characters and is aiming to achieve level B1 in writing. Along with all ESA staff, his language training began at the Bochum Language Institute, close to the ESA centre in Cologne. The courses are not designed exclusively for astronauts, but after intensive training of 7-10 weeks, they begin one-on-one classes at ESA, which cover the specific vocabulary required. For Chinese, he describes himself as a "guinea pig", following a new methodology of learning through pinyin. "In seven weeks we had a language level for oral capacity that was almost good enough – very close to the B2 level," he says. "The course is really intensive, really quick, really efficient. But then you need to master the language. It's quickly learnt but also quickly forgotten." By contrast, the Russian programme is well established, with 3-4 weeks training in St Petersburg following the intensive language course, and further in-country training on the Soyuz aircraft once astronauts are assigned a flight. At first this is done through an interpreter, but as astronauts gain confidence in Russian they are expected to study without interpretation. At this stage, it is important that the crew works closely together, as well as with the other crews they will live with on the ISS. There are always two crews at the space station, each for a six-month period, with one crew arriving to relieve another every three months. "You train with the other crews to make sure that the six people really understand each other," says Maurer. "In an emergency, there needs to be a common action and if you don't understand each other you will not be effective. That's a safety issue and an absolute no-go criteria, so you must master at least enough of the language to be able to do a proper job in an emergency." He continues: "It's highly important to achieve the mission objectives and therefore the team needs to work efficiently, and that requires good social dynamics, so you need language skills." As Maurer's Chinese develops, helping to foster trust and understanding between the two agencies, he may be edging closer to becoming the first European to fly with the CNSA. The new cooperation with China will be a pioneering venture, and one that will put the international space agencies' understanding of language and cultural differences and needs to the test. Maurer is certainly up for the challenge. PREPARING FOR SPACE Clockwise from top left: A photo, taken by Tim Peake, of astronauts at the ISS preparing for a space walk; Matthias Maurer; Maurer at ESA's Natural Buoyancy Facility; and Peake arrives at the ISS FEATURES © ESA/NASA/ ©ESA-P HILIPPESEBIROT/ © ESA-S ABINEGROTHUES/ ESA/H UBBLE& NASA