Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Radar 14; Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 11
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
Cessna departed the airport and requested VFR flight following. Due to a language barrier; it was very difficult to understand the call sign. The airplane was eastbound at approximately 6;500 MSL. Looking ahead at traffic; and understanding the language barrier; I in plain language told the pilot the aircraft needed to be at appropriate VFR cruising altitudes. There was an opposite direction target at 6;400 MSL the exact altitude. I called traffic. The pilot acknowledged. As they continued to get closer and obviously merging; I again warned the pilot to climb. We then found the call sign was incorrect; but the pilot was answering the calls. At four miles; the targets looked very likely to merge I told the pilot to deviate right and maintain VFR. The aircraft did not turn. At two miles I again told the pilot to turn right; at a brief pause another pilot from the frequency said over the frequency 'turn right!' The pilot did and said thank you; the targets got very close.Radios may have been an issue; however the D-Side and I were both hearing different call signs. Language barrier was the biggest issue.
Language barrier between VFR pilot and Controller delayed an airborne conflict resolution with another VFR aircraft.