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.

문법

  • 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.

어휘

  • 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
  • 어휘: Basic terminologies related to ports and ships
  • 읽기: The history and evolution of ports
  • 듣기: An interview with a port manager about the daily operations of a port
  • 글쓰기: Describing a typical day at the port
  • 말하기: Introducing yourself and explaining one’s role at the port
  • Pronunciation: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Cargo Handling and Equipment:
  • 문법: Past tenses
  • 어휘: Types of cargo, equipment used, and safety terms
  • 읽기: The evolution of cargo handling techniques
  • 듣기: Safety instructions during cargo operations
  • 글쓰기: Preparing a safety checklist for cargo handling
  • 말하기: Discussing the challenges and solutions of cargo handling
  • Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Port Safety and Regulations:
  • 문법: Going to and Will
  • 어휘: Safety procedures, regulations, and equipment
  • 읽기: An article on international port safety standards
  • 듣기: A briefing on emergency response procedures
  • 글쓰기: Drafting a report on a mock safety drill
  • 말하기: Enforcing safety measures among colleagues
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Ship Communications:
  • 문법: Present perfect
  • 어휘: Nautical terms, communication tools, and protocols
  • 읽기: The significance of clear communication on ships and ports
  • 듣기: Radio communication between a ship and port control
  • 글쓰기: Composing a ship-to-shore message
  • 말하기: Maritime communication problems
  • Pronunciation: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Customs and Documentation:
  • 문법: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • 어휘: Custom clearance terms, types of documents
  • 읽기: Overview of the customs clearance process
  • 듣기: A conversation between a customs officer and ship captain
  • 글쓰기: Filling out a sample customs declaration form
  • 말하기: Dealing with customs officials
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Port Infrastructure and Maintenance:
  • 문법: First conditional
  • 어휘: Types of facilities, maintenance terms
  • 읽기: Article on the importance of port infrastructure
  • 듣기: A maintenance team discussing repair priorities
  • 글쓰기: Preparing a maintenance request form
  • 말하기: The challenges of maintaining a busy port
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Maritime Logistics:
  • 문법: Passive
  • 어휘: Supply chain terms, transportation modes
  • 읽기: How logistics plays a crucial role in port operations
  • 듣기: A logistics manager explaining the flow of goods
  • 글쓰기: Drafting a logistics plan for incoming cargo
  • 말하기: How to optimise logistics operations
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Environment and Sustainability:
  • 문법: Second conditional
  • 어휘: Environmental terms, sustainability practices
  • 읽기: The role of ports in environmental conservation
  • 듣기: A seminar on sustainable port operations
  • 글쓰기: Proposing eco-friendly measures for the port
  • 말하기: 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.