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.

Грамматика

  • 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.

Словарный запас

  • 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
  • Словарный запас: Basic terminologies related to ports and ships
  • Чтение: The history and evolution of ports
  • Прослушивание: An interview with a port manager about the daily operations of a port
  • Написание: Describing a typical day at the port
  • Выступление: Introducing yourself and explaining one’s role at the port
  • Произношение: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Cargo Handling and Equipment:
  • Грамматика: Past tenses
  • Словарный запас: Types of cargo, equipment used, and safety terms
  • Чтение: The evolution of cargo handling techniques
  • Прослушивание: Safety instructions during cargo operations
  • Написание: Preparing a safety checklist for cargo handling
  • Выступление: Discussing the challenges and solutions of cargo handling
  • Произношение: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Port Safety and Regulations:
  • Грамматика: Going to and Will
  • Словарный запас: Safety procedures, regulations, and equipment
  • Чтение: An article on international port safety standards
  • Прослушивание: A briefing on emergency response procedures
  • Написание: Drafting a report on a mock safety drill
  • Выступление: Enforcing safety measures among colleagues
  • Произношение: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Ship Communications:
  • Грамматика: Present perfect
  • Словарный запас: Nautical terms, communication tools, and protocols
  • Чтение: The significance of clear communication on ships and ports
  • Прослушивание: Radio communication between a ship and port control
  • Написание: Composing a ship-to-shore message
  • Выступление: Maritime communication problems
  • Произношение: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Customs and Documentation:
  • Грамматика: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • Словарный запас: Custom clearance terms, types of documents
  • Чтение: Overview of the customs clearance process
  • Прослушивание: A conversation between a customs officer and ship captain
  • Написание: Filling out a sample customs declaration form
  • Выступление: Dealing with customs officials
  • Произношение: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Port Infrastructure and Maintenance:
  • Грамматика: First conditional
  • Словарный запас: Types of facilities, maintenance terms
  • Чтение: Article on the importance of port infrastructure
  • Прослушивание: A maintenance team discussing repair priorities
  • Написание: Preparing a maintenance request form
  • Выступление: The challenges of maintaining a busy port
  • Произношение: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Maritime Logistics:
  • Грамматика: Passive
  • Словарный запас: Supply chain terms, transportation modes
  • Чтение: How logistics plays a crucial role in port operations
  • Прослушивание: A logistics manager explaining the flow of goods
  • Написание: Drafting a logistics plan for incoming cargo
  • Выступление: How to optimise logistics operations
  • Произношение: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Environment and Sustainability:
  • Грамматика: Second conditional
  • Словарный запас: Environmental terms, sustainability practices
  • Чтение: The role of ports in environmental conservation
  • Прослушивание: A seminar on sustainable port operations
  • Написание: Proposing eco-friendly measures for the port
  • Выступление: Best practices for sustainability among peers
  • Произношение: 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.