English for Architects

Introduction

English for Architecture is an online course, consisting of 56 units of English, and providing approximately 60 hours of study for students.

Course aims

To give students at Intermediate, CEFR B1/Upper Intermediate B2 level practice in general and business-oriented language required for business contexts at this level, specifically tailored towards architecture situations. The course blends grammatical structures necessary for this level, with vocabulary, reading, listening, writing, speaking and pronunciation.

Граматика

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Use present and past tenses correctly
  • Use the appropriate conditional forms to talk about situations and consequences.
  • Use the present perfect to describe a link between past and present events.
  • Use going to and will to talk about future predictions and intentions.
  • Use the passive form correctly
  • Distinguish and be able to correctly describe countable and uncountable nouns.

Речник

By the end of the course students will have learnt approximately 120 expressions used in architecture.

Skills

By the end of the course students will have had exposure to and practice in reading and hearing formal and informal English from a variety of accents and architectural contexts.

Unit Summary

Module 1

  • Introduction to Architecture: Present tenses
  • Речник: Essential architecture vocabulary
  • Четене: Architectural texts, articles, and project descriptions
  • Слушане: An architectural presentation
  • Писане: Architectural descriptions
  • Говорене: Architectural Elitism: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Architectural Design Process: Past tenses
  • Речник: Design stages, design concepts, planning and zoning
  • Четене: Design briefs and project proposals
  • Слушане: Client meetings
  • Писане: A design brief
  • Говорене: Gentrification and Displacement: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Building Materials and Construction Techniques: Going to and Will
  • Речник: Types of building materials, construction methods, sustainability
  • Четене: Materials, construction techniques, and innovations
  • Слушане: A construction update
  • Писане: Material specifications and construction notes
  • Говорене: Iconic Buildings: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Architectural Drawings and Plans: Present perfect
  • Речник: Types of drawings, scale, drafting tools
  • Четене: Architectural drawings and blueprints
  • Слушане: A drawing explanation
  • Писане: Drawing annotations
  • Говорене: Diversity in the Architectural Profession: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Building Codes and Regulations: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • Речник: Building codes, regulations, permits, accessibility
  • Четене: Building codes and regulations
  • Слушане: Regulatory updates
  • Писане: Compliance reports
  • Говорене: Environmental Concerns: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Project Management and Collaboration: First conditional
  • Речник: Project management terms, roles, collaboration tools
  • Четене: Project schedules, timelines, and progress reports
  • Слушане: Team meetings
  • Писане: A progress report
  • Говорене: Corporate Influence: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Sustainable and Green Architecture: Passive
  • Речник: Sustainable design, energy efficiency, green building certifications
  • Четене: Green building trends and innovations
  • Слушане: A sustainable design presentation
  • Писане: Sustainable design ideas
  • Говорене: Bureaucracy: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Professional Communication for Architects: Second conditional
  • Речник: Formal and informal language
  • Четене: Professional emails, memos, and announcements
  • Слушане: A career in architecture
  • Писане: An email to a client
  • Говорене: Disconnection from local context: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Hope and Hop + connected speech

Follow-up

  • Students completing the English for Architects course should feel confident in tackling any upper intermediate course, including our Upper Intermediate Business Power course.