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.

Gramatika

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.

Vārdnīca

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
  • Vārdnīca: Essential architecture vocabulary
  • Lasīšana: Architectural texts, articles, and project descriptions
  • Klausīšanās: An architectural presentation
  • Rakstīšana: Architectural descriptions
  • Runājot: Architectural Elitism: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Architectural Design Process: Past tenses
  • Vārdnīca: Design stages, design concepts, planning and zoning
  • Lasīšana: Design briefs and project proposals
  • Klausīšanās: Client meetings
  • Rakstīšana: A design brief
  • Runājot: Gentrification and Displacement: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Building Materials and Construction Techniques: Going to and Will
  • Vārdnīca: Types of building materials, construction methods, sustainability
  • Lasīšana: Materials, construction techniques, and innovations
  • Klausīšanās: A construction update
  • Rakstīšana: Material specifications and construction notes
  • Runājot: Iconic Buildings: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Architectural Drawings and Plans: Present perfect
  • Vārdnīca: Types of drawings, scale, drafting tools
  • Lasīšana: Architectural drawings and blueprints
  • Klausīšanās: A drawing explanation
  • Rakstīšana: Drawing annotations
  • Runājot: 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
  • Vārdnīca: Building codes, regulations, permits, accessibility
  • Lasīšana: Building codes and regulations
  • Klausīšanās: Regulatory updates
  • Rakstīšana: Compliance reports
  • Runājot: Environmental Concerns: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Project Management and Collaboration: First conditional
  • Vārdnīca: Project management terms, roles, collaboration tools
  • Lasīšana: Project schedules, timelines, and progress reports
  • Klausīšanās: Team meetings
  • Rakstīšana: A progress report
  • Runājot: Corporate Influence: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Sustainable and Green Architecture: Passive
  • Vārdnīca: Sustainable design, energy efficiency, green building certifications
  • Lasīšana: Green building trends and innovations
  • Klausīšanās: A sustainable design presentation
  • Rakstīšana: Sustainable design ideas
  • Runājot: Bureaucracy: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Professional Communication for Architects: Second conditional
  • Vārdnīca: Formal and informal language
  • Lasīšana: Professional emails, memos, and announcements
  • Klausīšanās: A career in architecture
  • Rakstīšana: An email to a client
  • Runājot: 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.