TECHNICAL ENGLISH FOR ENGINEERING
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
There are no prerequisites
Students will demonstrate the achievement of the knowledge and skills illustrated above through one of the following methods:
• by submitting to the Student Secretariat a certificate proving the passing of a ≥ B2 level test. The certificate must not be older than 5 calendar years, with the exception of the IGCSE, IELTS and TOEFL certifications, which are valid for only 2 calendar years.
In addition to the presentation of the certificate, students will also have to take an additional interview with the teacher aimed at assessing their knowledge of the technical terminology specific to the engineering field.
• passing the exam at the end of the course, which will consist in: a) a written part of comprehension / analysis of a short technical-scientific text and elaboration of a short technical-scientific text and b) an oral part of presentation of a technical-scientific project.
AIM OF THE COURSE
The course aims at providing students with the knowledge of the English language necessary to comprehend, analyze and write short technical documents pertaining to the environmental engineering sector as well to present reports or research projects orally.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, the students will be able to:
- communicate in English at B2 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages);
- understand and analyze short technical-scientific texts relating to the environmental engineering sector;
- manage the content of a research project in English;
- write a short text on a technical-scientific topic relating to the environmental engineering sector:
- present orally a project or an engineering report with the appropriate terminology.
The course will focus on the analysis of scientific articles and technical-scientific texts provided by the teacher and will cover:
- Features of the technical-scientific literature, textual typologies and purpose; manuals, technical-scientific articles, abstracts. Main vocabulary-grammatical characteristics. Formal academic scientific English. Specific terminology and linguistic functions: formulating definitions; research and development; measurements, reporting data, describing processes, risk assessment and prevention. (16 hours)
- Abstract analysis: Moves structure (Introduction, purpose, methods and marterials, results, conclusion and implications). Syntax: Noun phrases and compound nouns, nominalization. Word formation and affixation. Reducing clauses. Hedging language. Passive voice. Exercises. Guided reading and comprehension exercises and analysis aimed at acquiring linguistic awareness and writing short texts. Exercises. (8 hours)
- Oral presentation of technical reports or scientific projects: content, structure, audience, use of slides, purpose. Illustration of images, tables and graphs. (8 hours).
32 hours of lectures and workshop tasks in the classroom.
Mandatory texts:
Course slides available on the e-learning platform. Scientific articles and environmental engineering texts in English selected by the teacher and available on the e-learning platform.
Recommended reading:
Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak, Abstracts and the Writing of Abstracts, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 2009.
Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak, Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills, 3rd ed. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 2012.
Brieger, Nick and Alison Pohl, Technical English. Vocabulary and Grammar, Summertown Publishing, Oxford, 2002.
Murphy, R., English Grammar in Use 5th Ed. Book with Answers. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2019.
The teacher is available in the classroom before or after lessons, or in Microsoft Teams by e-mail appointment.
e-mail: francesca.cuojati@uninsubria.it