LV EN RU DE FR

Professional German for Civil Engineering

Course developers

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the of development of students’ foreign language (German) 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 building and civil engineering. The German language proficiency level corresponds at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for foreign languages.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge and understanding field terminology.
Students know terms from the field of:
- building materials, working materials, (Test No. 1),
- building construction, systems, finishing works, design development and design drawings (Test No. 2).
Skills:
students are able to define terms, select professional information, explain procedures in relation to building and construction engineering, think critically, participate in discussions applying professional terminology and communication skills: in written form - writing descriptions of procedures, business letters; orally - in discussions, dialogues, giving a presentation.
Competence of professional and academic German language in order to apply it creatively in spoken and written communication for student mobility, professional and academic activities in international environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

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

16. Materials working. Machining. Fasteners and joints. 2h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Formal test with a grade.
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). Tests and home works are with a positive evaluation. The number of the missed classes do 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;
3. Submitted glossary of terms

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in two 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. Holschemacher, K., Peters, K., Peterson, L. (2016): Konstruktiver Ingenieurbau kompakt (Formelsammlung und Bemessungshilfen nach Eurocode). 5. Aufl. Beuth Verlag GmbH. 384 S. ISBN:978-3-410-25773-8.
2. Kindmann, R., Stracke, M. (2012): Verbindungen im Stahl- und Verbundbau. 3. Aufl. Verlag für Architekten und technische Wissenschaften. 456 S. ISBN:978-3-433-03020-2.
3. (Hrsg.) Zilch, K., Diederichs, C.J., Katzenbach, R. (2012): Handbuch für Bauingenieure (Technik, Organisation und Wirtschaftlichkeit). 2. Aufl. Springer-Verlag. 116 S. ISBN:978-3-642-1449-3.
4. Stöffler, J., Samberg, S., Maier, C. (2011): Tragwerksentwurf für Architekten und Bauingenieure. 2. Aufl. Beuth-Verlag GmbH. 176 S. ISBN:978-3-410-21746-6.
5. (Hrsg.) Bundesingenieurkammer (2018): Ingenieurbaukunst 2019. 1. Aufl. Verlag: Erst&Sohn. 190 S. ISBN-13:978-3433032596.
6. Zech, D., Schulz, M., Laborgne, P. (2012): Eine technische, soziale und ökonomische Herausforderung. 1.Aufl. Verlag: Vieweg+Teubner. 223 S. ISBN-10:3-8348-1864-X.

Further reading

1. Steinle, A., Bachmann, H., Tillmann, M. (2018): Bauen mit Betonfertigteilen im Hochbau (Bauingenieur-Praxis). 3. Aufl. Verlag: Erst&Sohn. 336 S. ISBN-13:978-3433032244.
2. Menden, St. (2015): Das Insider-Dossier. Brainteaser im Bewerbungsgespräch. 140 Übungsaufgaben für den Einstellungstest. 6. Aufl. Verlag Squeaker.net GmbH. 136 S. ISBN:978-3-940345-80-6.
3. Simmendinger, H. (2009): Praxisleitfaden für Ingenieure und Architekten. Baurecht für Bauingenieure. inkl. Gesetzestext. 1. Aufl.Verlag: Ernst W. + Sohn Verlag. 233 S. ISBN-10:3-433-02958-X.
4. Schmidbauer, A. (2009): Nachhaltigkeit im Bauwesen-Prototyp oder Unikat. VDM Verlag. 140 S. ISBN-10:3-639-04320-0.
5. Pregartner, T. (2009): Bemessung von Befestigungen in Beton. Bauingenieur-Praxis. Einführung mit Beispielen. 1. Aufl. Verlag:Ernst W. + Sohn Verlag. 365 S. ISBN-10:3-433-02930-X.

Periodicals and other sources

www.bauenplus.de - ZEITSCHRIFT BAUEN+. Fachwissen für Planer und Ausführende [skatīts 10.03.2021.]
https://www.baugewerbe-magazin.de – ZEITSCHRIFT BAUGEWERBE [skatīts 10.03.2021.]
https://www.archplus.net/home/ - Zeitschrift für Architektur und Städtebau [skatīts 10.03.2021.]

http://werkstoffzeitschrift.de/ - Werkstoffe in der Fertigung. Das Portal für die Fertigungswelt von morgen [skatīts 10.03.2021.]

Notes

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