English for Port Staff

Introduction

English for Port Staff 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 the specialisation of working in a port. The course blends grammatical structures necessary for this level, with vocabulary, reading, listening, writing, speaking and pronunciation.

Γραμματική

  • 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.

Λεξιλόγιο

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

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 port contexts.

Unit summary

Module 1

  • Introduction to Ports and Shipping: 
  • Grammar: Present tenses
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Basic terminologies related to ports and ships
  • Ανάγνωση: The history and evolution of ports
  • Ακρόαση: An interview with a port manager about the daily operations of a port
  • Γράφοντας: Describing a typical day at the port
  • Μιλώντας: Introducing yourself and explaining one’s role at the port
  • Pronunciation: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Cargo Handling and Equipment:
  • Γραμματική: Past tenses
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Types of cargo, equipment used, and safety terms
  • Ανάγνωση: The evolution of cargo handling techniques
  • Ακρόαση: Safety instructions during cargo operations
  • Γράφοντας: Preparing a safety checklist for cargo handling
  • Μιλώντας: Discussing the challenges and solutions of cargo handling
  • Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Port Safety and Regulations:
  • Γραμματική: Going to and Will
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Safety procedures, regulations, and equipment
  • Ανάγνωση: An article on international port safety standards
  • Ακρόαση: A briefing on emergency response procedures
  • Γράφοντας: Drafting a report on a mock safety drill
  • Μιλώντας: Enforcing safety measures among colleagues
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Ship Communications:
  • Γραμματική: Present perfect
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Nautical terms, communication tools, and protocols
  • Ανάγνωση: The significance of clear communication on ships and ports
  • Ακρόαση: Radio communication between a ship and port control
  • Γράφοντας: Composing a ship-to-shore message
  • Μιλώντας: Maritime communication problems
  • Pronunciation: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Customs and Documentation:
  • Γραμματική: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Custom clearance terms, types of documents
  • Ανάγνωση: Overview of the customs clearance process
  • Ακρόαση: A conversation between a customs officer and ship captain
  • Γράφοντας: Filling out a sample customs declaration form
  • Μιλώντας: Dealing with customs officials
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Port Infrastructure and Maintenance:
  • Γραμματική: First conditional
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Types of facilities, maintenance terms
  • Ανάγνωση: Article on the importance of port infrastructure
  • Ακρόαση: A maintenance team discussing repair priorities
  • Γράφοντας: Preparing a maintenance request form
  • Μιλώντας: The challenges of maintaining a busy port
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Maritime Logistics:
  • Γραμματική: Passive
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Supply chain terms, transportation modes
  • Ανάγνωση: How logistics plays a crucial role in port operations
  • Ακρόαση: A logistics manager explaining the flow of goods
  • Γράφοντας: Drafting a logistics plan for incoming cargo
  • Μιλώντας: How to optimise logistics operations
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Environment and Sustainability:
  • Γραμματική: Second conditional
  • Λεξιλόγιο: Environmental terms, sustainability practices
  • Ανάγνωση: The role of ports in environmental conservation
  • Ακρόαση: A seminar on sustainable port operations
  • Γράφοντας: Proposing eco-friendly measures for the port
  • Μιλώντας: Best practices for sustainability among peers
  • Pronunciation: Hope and Hop + connected speech

Follow-up

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