English for Engineers

Vocabulary is of paramount importance when using English in a technical environment. A focus is placed on using specialised technical terms and expressions, including abbreviations and colloquial expressions specific to the energy industries. Semi-technical terms are also given clear focus to ensure their use in the correct context.

Speaking skills development activities simulate real-life communication, such as describing and giving information about equipment and jobs, giving instructions, warnings and discussing workplace problems. These are practiced using role-play and information gap tasks that involve finding out information from a partner.

Written tasks aim to motivate students by developing their knowledge of useful language phrases and chunks for different text types such as accident report forms and written notices and instructions. Written exercises are used to reinforce vocabulary and grammatical structures.

Grammatical structures are introduced and reviewed according to the needs of the students. Areas such as imperatives and instruction-giving are introduced to prepare learners for real-life situations. Discovery learning activities are favoured where students are encouraged to notice and work out structural patterns rather than learn rules that have little or no practical application.

Reading and listening skills are developed through tasks that involve studying authentic and simplified authentic-type texts. Listening texts prepare students for communication with native speakers and non-native speakers by using recordings that contain different accents and regional variation.