LV EN RU DE FR

Professional English I

Course developer

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the development of students’ foreign language (English) knowledge and skills necessary for comprehending, interpreting and evaluating professional information, explaining and comparing processes, participating in discussions, giving presentations in professional and academic environments as well as for communication with foreign students, specialists and academic staff. The focus is on the terminology related to mechanical engineering. The English language proficiency level corresponds at least to level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for foreign languages.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge and understanding of terminology in the following fields:
- university education, studies at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, the Faculty of Engineering; all-purpose tractor, its main systems and functions; ploughs, cultivators, harrows; sowing and planting machines; harvesting machines; farm equipment (Test No 1);
- machine design, computer aided design system; machine manufacturing, lean manufacturing, rapid prototyping; materials: ferrous and nonferrous metals, polymers, glass, wood, composite materials; mechanical properties of materials (Test No 2).
Skills: students are able to define terms, select professional information, think critically, participate in discussions applying professional terminology and communication skills: evaluation - written assignments - descriptions, summaries, business letters; oral assignments - discussions, dialogues, giving a presentation.

Competence of professional and academic English language in order to apply it creatively in spoken and written communication for student mobility, professional and academic activities in international environment: evaluation takes place in each lesson, regularly checking the completed tasks.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction to professional English. English dictionaries and glossaries related to mechanical engineering. 2h
2. The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. The Faculty of Engineering. 2h
3. Engineering, mechanical engineering. Invention of the automobile. History and innovations of automobile building. Classification of automobiles. 2h
4. Main branches of agriculture. Farmstead. Research and training farm Vecauce. 2h
5. Agricultural machinery and implements. Classification of tractors. Main parts of an all-purpose tractor. 2h
6. Cultivation machinery and implements. Sowing and planting machinery.2h
7. Harvesting machinery. Combine harvester. 2h
8. Milking machinery. Milking robots. Farm equipment. 2h
9. Test 1. Types, classification, history, structure, innovations of machines. 2h
10. Basic principles and types of machine design. 2h
11. Machine manufacturing. The most up-to-date and popular types of machine manufacturing. Up-to-date manufacturing possibilities and advantages. Description of a manufacturing process. 2h
12. Materials used in machine manufacturing and their mechanical properties. Selection of appropriate materials. Defining terms. 2h
13. Testing of manufacturing materials. 2h
14. Impact of load on various materials. Stress, tension and the analysis of their curves. 2h
15. Test 2. Basic principles of making presentations. 2h

16. Students` presentation of independent work. 2h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Formal test.
It is made up of cumulative assessment.
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, the glossary of terms, summary). Tests and home works shall have 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: 20 000 characters);
2. A written summary (the amount – 2000 characters);
3. Prepared PPoint presentation and oral presentation (8-10 minutes) in front of the class;

4. Submitted glossary of terms (30 translations, 20 definitions).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in2 tests and a presentation of the individual work.The grade in tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct. All home works should receive a successful grade.

Compulsory reading

1. Astley P., Lansford P. Oxford English for Careers: Engineering 1: Student`s Book 1. OUP, 2013, 135 p. ISBN 978-0-19-457949-0
2. Dearholt J.D. Career Paths: Mechanics. Books 1-3. Express Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-1-78098-621-0
3. Ibbotson M. Professional English in Use: Engineering. Technical English for Professionals. CUP, 2009, 144 p. ISBN 978-0-521-73488-2

4. Kalpakjian S. Manufacturing engineering and technology / Serope Kalpakjian, Steven R. Schmid; SI conversion by Hamidon Musa. - 6th ed. in SI units. - Jurong: Prentice Hall/Pearson, 2010, 1180 p. ISBN 13: 978-0136081685

Further reading

1. A brief illustrated history of machines and mechanisms / Emilio Bautista Paz. [et al.]. Dordrecht ; Heidelberg ; London ; New York: Springer, 2010, 217 p. ISBN 9048125111
2. Grussendorf M. English for Presentations. OUP, 2007, 80 p. ISBN 0194579360
3. Mehānikas terminoloģijas vārdnīca. [tiešsaiste] [Skatīts 25.08.2020.] Pieejams:
https://termini.gov.lv/kolekcijas/70

4. Stanišić, Michael M. Mechanisms and machines: kinematics, dynamics, and synthesis / Michael Stanišić. - Si edition. - Mason, OH: Cengage Learning, 2015, 407p. ISBN - 13: 978-1133943914

Periodicals and other sources

1. International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture. [tiešsaiste] ISSN: 0890-6955. [Skatīts 25.08.2020.] Pieejams ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/international-journal-of-machine-tools-and-manufacture
2. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. [tiešsaiste] ISSN 0021-8634. [Skatīts 25.08.2020.] Pieejams ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-agricultural-engineering-research
3. Journal of Mechanical Design. [tiešsaiste] ISSN 1050-0472. [Skatīts 25.08.2020.] Pieejams: http://mechanicaldesign.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/journal.aspx?journalid=126

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the professional Bachelor’s degree programme Machine Design and Manufacturing