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.

Gramatika

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

Module 2

  • Cargo Handling and Equipment:
  • Gramatika: Past tenses
  • Vārdnīca: Types of cargo, equipment used, and safety terms
  • Lasīšana: The evolution of cargo handling techniques
  • Klausīšanās: Safety instructions during cargo operations
  • Rakstīšana: Preparing a safety checklist for cargo handling
  • Runājot: Discussing the challenges and solutions of cargo handling
  • Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Port Safety and Regulations:
  • Gramatika: Going to and Will
  • Vārdnīca: Safety procedures, regulations, and equipment
  • Lasīšana: An article on international port safety standards
  • Klausīšanās: A briefing on emergency response procedures
  • Rakstīšana: Drafting a report on a mock safety drill
  • Runājot: Enforcing safety measures among colleagues
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Ship Communications:
  • Gramatika: Present perfect
  • Vārdnīca: Nautical terms, communication tools, and protocols
  • Lasīšana: The significance of clear communication on ships and ports
  • Klausīšanās: Radio communication between a ship and port control
  • Rakstīšana: Composing a ship-to-shore message
  • Runājot: Maritime communication problems
  • Pronunciation: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Customs and Documentation:
  • Gramatika: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • Vārdnīca: Custom clearance terms, types of documents
  • Lasīšana: Overview of the customs clearance process
  • Klausīšanās: A conversation between a customs officer and ship captain
  • Rakstīšana: Filling out a sample customs declaration form
  • Runājot: Dealing with customs officials
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Port Infrastructure and Maintenance:
  • Gramatika: First conditional
  • Vārdnīca: Types of facilities, maintenance terms
  • Lasīšana: Article on the importance of port infrastructure
  • Klausīšanās: A maintenance team discussing repair priorities
  • Rakstīšana: Preparing a maintenance request form
  • Runājot: The challenges of maintaining a busy port
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Maritime Logistics:
  • Gramatika: Passive
  • Vārdnīca: Supply chain terms, transportation modes
  • Lasīšana: How logistics plays a crucial role in port operations
  • Klausīšanās: A logistics manager explaining the flow of goods
  • Rakstīšana: Drafting a logistics plan for incoming cargo
  • Runājot: How to optimise logistics operations
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Environment and Sustainability:
  • Gramatika: Second conditional
  • Vārdnīca: Environmental terms, sustainability practices
  • Lasīšana: The role of ports in environmental conservation
  • Klausīšanās: A seminar on sustainable port operations
  • Rakstīšana: Proposing eco-friendly measures for the port
  • Runājot: 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.