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.

Грамматика

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.

Словарный запас

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
  • Словарный запас: Essential architecture vocabulary
  • Чтение: Architectural texts, articles, and project descriptions
  • Прослушивание: An architectural presentation
  • Написание: Architectural descriptions
  • Выступление: Architectural Elitism: A point of view
  • Произношение: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Architectural Design Process: Past tenses
  • Словарный запас: Design stages, design concepts, planning and zoning
  • Чтение: Design briefs and project proposals
  • Прослушивание: Client meetings
  • Написание: A design brief
  • Выступление: Gentrification and Displacement: A point of view
  • Произношение: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Building Materials and Construction Techniques: Going to and Will
  • Словарный запас: Types of building materials, construction methods, sustainability
  • Чтение: Materials, construction techniques, and innovations
  • Прослушивание: A construction update
  • Написание: Material specifications and construction notes
  • Выступление: Iconic Buildings: A point of view
  • Произношение: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Architectural Drawings and Plans: Present perfect
  • Словарный запас: Types of drawings, scale, drafting tools
  • Чтение: Architectural drawings and blueprints
  • Прослушивание: A drawing explanation
  • Написание: Drawing annotations
  • Выступление: Diversity in the Architectural Profession: A point of view
  • Произношение: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Building Codes and Regulations: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • Словарный запас: Building codes, regulations, permits, accessibility
  • Чтение: Building codes and regulations
  • Прослушивание: Regulatory updates
  • Написание: Compliance reports
  • Выступление: Environmental Concerns: A Point of View
  • Произношение: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Project Management and Collaboration: First conditional
  • Словарный запас: Project management terms, roles, collaboration tools
  • Чтение: Project schedules, timelines, and progress reports
  • Прослушивание: Team meetings
  • Написание: A progress report
  • Выступление: Corporate Influence: A Point of View
  • Произношение: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Sustainable and Green Architecture: Passive
  • Словарный запас: Sustainable design, energy efficiency, green building certifications
  • Чтение: Green building trends and innovations
  • Прослушивание: A sustainable design presentation
  • Написание: Sustainable design ideas
  • Выступление: Bureaucracy: A Point of View
  • Произношение: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Professional Communication for Architects: Second conditional
  • Словарный запас: Formal and informal language
  • Чтение: Professional emails, memos, and announcements
  • Прослушивание: A career in architecture
  • Написание: An email to a client
  • Выступление: Disconnection from local context: A Point of View
  • Произношение: 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.