Professional English I

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation17.03.2021

Responsible UnitLanguage Centre

Course developer

lect.

Irina Orlova

Mg. philol.

Replaced course

ValoB008 [GVALB008] Professional English for Civil Engineering

Course abstract

The course is aimed at the acquisition of knowledge and skills in professional English language 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.
The assessment according to the 10 point scale.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Faculty of Environment and Civil Engineering.2h
2. University studies. Curriculum vitae and cover letter writing.2h
3. Construction engineering. Types of buildings. Construction projects and their supervision. Job interview.2h
4. Architecture. Architectural styles. Building elements. 2h
5. Building site. Building machinery and equipment.2h
6. Structural mechanics and geometry basics. Technical description.2h
7. Interior and exterior works. Tools. Instructions.2h
8. Materials. Classification and basic characteristics. Materials technology. Tips on business letter writing.2h
9. Metals: ferrous and non-ferrous. Compounds and alloys. Non-metals.2h
10. Steel and steel structures. Corrosion.2h
11. Masonry work. Stone and brickwork. Gravel, cement, mortar.2h
12. Concrete types. Mixtures, aggregates, batching. Describing technological process.2h
13. Reinforced concrete. Reinforcement. Recycling concrete. Inquiry letter writing2h
14. Polymers. Natural and synthetic polymers. Thermoplastics and thermosets. Tensile strength.2h
15. Minerals, ceramics and glass. Metallic and non-metallic minerāls. Types of glass. Laminating.2h
16. Timberwork. Tree species. Softwood and Hardwood. Timber production.2h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Productive classwork, homeworks, sucessfully passed tests and topic presentation.

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 (30 terms, 30 translations, 20 definitions).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Based on successful course requirements completion.

Compulsory reading

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

Periodicals and other sources

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

Notes

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

Atsauksmes