Narrative:

The captain informed us (cabin crew) via interphone we were returning to dfw because an indicator light for #2 engine valve was not working. I am a brand new french speaker and turned to irregular operations in my PA card for something to tell my french passenger. I would feel better with a little more in-depth PA (am making one up on my own) because when we are nervous it is hard to think in another language and I made a couple of mistakes with my PA. I did not know words for engine, wing, etc. (I do now!) I told passenger we had a minor mechanical problem and as well as I could, the problem. (I am not a mechanic!) it would be great if someone could make up a comprehensive list of airplane parts and more detailed PA's in different languages. When one gets nervous it is easier to look and read what is written. If one is native it is easier, but if you aren't it is hard. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that she has not followed up with the company or the union at this point. She may do so now. The flight attendants know the normal commands quite well in french, but have little knowledge of the mechanical terms sometimes needed. She and some of the others are making their own lists of some words to use in the future if necessary. Reporter was advised of the FAA hotline.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CABIN ATTENDANT IS INFORMED THAT THE FLT WILL BE RETURNING TO DEP ARPT DUE TO MECHANICAL PROB. IN MAKING THE PA TO THE PAX SHE HAS DIFFICULTY TRANSLATING THE MECHANICAL PROB INTO FRENCH.

Narrative: THE CAPT INFORMED US (CABIN CREW) VIA INTERPHONE WE WERE RETURNING TO DFW BECAUSE AN INDICATOR LIGHT FOR #2 ENG VALVE WAS NOT WORKING. I AM A BRAND NEW FRENCH SPEAKER AND TURNED TO IRREGULAR OPS IN MY PA CARD FOR SOMETHING TO TELL MY FRENCH PAX. I WOULD FEEL BETTER WITH A LITTLE MORE IN-DEPTH PA (AM MAKING ONE UP ON MY OWN) BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE NERVOUS IT IS HARD TO THINK IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE AND I MADE A COUPLE OF MISTAKES WITH MY PA. I DID NOT KNOW WORDS FOR ENG, WING, ETC. (I DO NOW!) I TOLD PAX WE HAD A MINOR MECHANICAL PROB AND AS WELL AS I COULD, THE PROB. (I AM NOT A MECH!) IT WOULD BE GREAT IF SOMEONE COULD MAKE UP A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF AIRPLANE PARTS AND MORE DETAILED PA'S IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WHEN ONE GETS NERVOUS IT IS EASIER TO LOOK AND READ WHAT IS WRITTEN. IF ONE IS NATIVE IT IS EASIER, BUT IF YOU AREN'T IT IS HARD. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT SHE HAS NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH THE COMPANY OR THE UNION AT THIS POINT. SHE MAY DO SO NOW. THE FLT ATTENDANTS KNOW THE NORMAL COMMANDS QUITE WELL IN FRENCH, BUT HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MECHANICAL TERMS SOMETIMES NEEDED. SHE AND SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE MAKING THEIR OWN LISTS OF SOME WORDS TO USE IN THE FUTURE IF NECESSARY. RPTR WAS ADVISED OF THE FAA HOTLINE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.