PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Procedure; Human Factors
Issued a control instruction to a PA28 to cross Runway 11R; he was slow to cross the runway so I asked him to expedite. I received no response I then instructed him again to expedite to the ramp due to traffic now becoming a factor on Taxiway Charlie. The pilot stated he did not understand. I asked him if he knew what the word expedite meant and he did not know what the word meant. Have student pilots be proficient in English before they are issued their medical certificate. These foreign students are not able to speak or understand basic (air traffic) English and this creates a safety hazard that will kill people someday.
Tower Controller voiced concern regarding some foreign student pilots that do not understand certain control instructions such as 'expedite'; the reporter noting this lack of language understanding creates a safety hazard.