Technical English

B1 level of English.

Role-play, pair and group work, gap-filling, listening exercises, text analysis, and text design.

The main objective of this subject is to focus on the English language in mechanical engineering contexts and further develop students’ communicative language skills through topics related to this engineering field.

1. Language: grammar revisions such as the tense system, spelling rules, question form, among other language features according to the students’ needs and difficulties.
2. Technical language: sub-technical terms and common non-technical lexis, syntax, linking expressions and words, word formation (suffixes and prefixes), grammar links, phrasal verbs, expressions to describe reason and contrast and verb-noun-adjective changes.
3. Technical vocabulary: specific technical lexis related to mechanical engineering including materials engineering, mechanisms, gears, air-conditioning and refrigeration, forces in engineering, internal combustion engine and computer science.
4. Reading / Comprehension: scientific literature, graphs and tables and understanding unknown vocabulary.
5. Listening / Comprehensios: lectures and interviews.
6. Writing Skill: genres including description and explanation of cycles and processes, letter of presentation and translation Portuguese to English (simple sentence).
7. Oral Skill: pronunciation practice through oral drills, introducing and presenting oneself, an oral presentation about a technical topic and general class discussions.

NAO

Myszka, H. (2005). Introductions to Mechanisms and Kinematics: Machines and Mechanisms. India: PrenticeHall.
Çengel,  A. Michael, A. (2002). Thermodynamics – An Engineering Approach. NewYork: McGraw-Hill.
Glendinning, H. and Norman Glendinning. (1997). Oxford English for Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Oxford UP.
Smith, William F. (1998). Princípios de Ciência e Engenharia dos Materiais. Portugal: McGraw-Hill.
Strasman, Peter G. Rover. (1998). Owners Workshop Manual. Haynes Publishing Group: Somerset, England.
Hall, Eugene J. (1993). The Language of Mechanical Engineering in English. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Smith, William F. (1993). Foundations of Materials Science and Engineering. Singapore: McGraw-Hill.
Ibbotson, Mark. (2008). Cambridge English for Engineering. Cambridge UP: McGraw-Hill.
Dictionary of Engineering. (2003).  USA: McGraw-Hill.