LV EN RU DE FR

Professional English I

Course developer

Course abstract

The course is aimed at the acquisition of knowledge and skills in professional foreign languages with the express purpose of extending the students` professional qualification and improving the students` communication skills with foreign students and specialists (including work placement abroad, participation in guest lectures, work in joint venture companies, etc.). The study course envisages the mastering of language skills in various forms and levels of communication – reading, speaking, listening, and writing focusing on the terminology of civil engineering.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students know terms from the field of construction and civil engineering. Students are able to apply professional terminology and skills.
Evaluation: test (pass/fail)

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Faculty of Environment and Civil Engineering.4h
2. University studies. Curriculum vitae and cover letter writing.4h
3. Construction engineering. Types of buildings. Construction projects and their supervision. Job interview.4h
4. Architecture. Architectural styles. Building elements. 4h
5. Building site. Building machinery and equipment.4h
6. Structural mechanics and geometry basics. Technical description.4h
7. Interior and exterior works. Tools. Instructions.4h
8. Materials. Classification and basic characteristics. Materials technology. Tips on business letter writing.4h
9. Metals: ferrous and non-ferrous. Compounds and alloys. Non-metals.4h
10. Steel and steel structures. Corrosion.4h
11. Masonry work. Stone and brickwork. Gravel, cement, mortar.4h
12. Concrete types. Mixtures, aggregates, batching. Describing technological process.4h
13. Reinforced concrete. Reinforcement. Recycling concrete. Inquiry letter writing.4h
14. Polymers. Natural and synthetic polymers. Thermoplastics and thermosets. Tensile strength.4h
15. Minerals, ceramics and glass. Metallic and non-metallic minerāls. Types of glass. Laminating.4h
16. Timberwork. Tree species. Softwood and Hardwood. Timber production.4h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Test (pass / fail).

Successfully written 2 tests, the glossary of terms for each topic, timely completed home works, completed individual work (reading of professional texts, presentation on a selected topic). Tests and home works are with a positive evaluation. The number of the missed classes shall not exceed 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Individual work:
1. Reading of the independently chosen professional texts (the amount: 10 000 characters);
2. Prepared PPoint presentation and oral presentation (5-10 minutes) in front of the class;
Submitted glossary of terms.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Cumulative assessment (pass / fail) is composed of the grades in tests, home assignments, assessment during classes and a presentation of the individual work.

Compulsory reading

1. Bonamy D. Technical English 2 (Pre-inter). ISBN 13: 9781405845540 ISBN 10: 1405845546 Pearson Education Ltd, 2008. 124 p.
2. Ibbotson M. Cambridge English for Engineering. ISBN-10: 0521715180. Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2008. 112 p.
3. Ibbotson M. Professional English in Use. Engineering. ISBN-10: 0521734886 | ISBN-13: 978-0521734882 Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2009. 144 p.
4. Killers V.K. Latviešu – angļu, angļu - latviešu ilustrētā būvniecības terminu vārdnīca. ISBN10: 5401010583, ISBN13: 9785401010582 . Rīga: Avots, 1999. 203 lpp.

Further reading

1. Graham P. Building Ecology: first principles for a sustainable built environment. ISBN-10: 0632064137 | ISBN-13: 978-0632064137. Oxford: Blackwell Science, 2003. 290 p.
2. Badger I., Pedley S. Everyday Business Writing. ISBN: 0582539722 Harlow : Longman, 2003. 95 p.
3. Love T. W. Construction manual: concrete and form work. ISBN 10: 0910460035 / ISBN 13: 9780910460033. Craftsman Book Company, 2005. 158 p.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Building Design and Construction. ISSN 0007-3407
2. Latvijas būvniecība : ceļvedis būvniecības nozares virzītājiem. Rīga: Lilita. ISSN 1691-4058.
3. Civil Engineering. Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers. ISSN 0885-7024 [skatīts 10.03.2021.]. Pieejams EBSCO MasterFILE Premier: http://search.ebscohost.com/

Notes

The course is designed for civil engineering students and is included in the compulsory course programme