English for Mechanical Engineers

Introduction

English for Mechanical Engineers 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 mechanical engineering. The course blends grammatical structures necessary for this level, with vocabulary, reading, listening, writing, speaking, and pronunciation.

Grammar

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

Vocabulary

By the end of the course, students will have learnt approximately 120 expressions used in mechanical engineering.

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 mechanical engineering contexts.

Unit Summary

Module 1

  • Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
    Grammar: Present tenses
  • Vocabulary: Key mechanical engineering terms
  • Reading: A brief history of mechanical engineering
  • Listening: Roles and responsibilities of mechanical engineers
  • Writing: Getting started as a mechanical engineer
  • Speaking: Opinions: working in mechanical engineering
  • Pronunciation: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Mechanics and Materials
    Grammar: Past tenses
  • Vocabulary: Basic mechanics and materials terminology
  • Reading: The properties of engineering materials
  • Listening: Material selection and mechanical systems
  • Writing: Creating summaries of materials and mechanical systems
  • Speaking: Opinions: describing and comparing different materials and their applications
  • Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Machine Elements and Design
    Grammar: Going to and Will
  • Vocabulary: Machine elements and design terms
  • Reading: Machine element design and selection
  • Listening: Machine element functionality and design considerations
  • Writing: Documenting machine element specifications
  • Speaking: Opinions: explaining the advantages and disadvantages of various machine elements
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
    Grammar: Present perfect
  • Vocabulary: Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics terminology
  • Reading: Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics
  • Listening: Heat transfer and fluid flow problems
  • Writing: Preparing thermodynamics and fluid mechanics reports
  • Speaking: Opinions: presenting thermodynamic principles and fluid mechanics concepts
  • Pronunciation: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Manufacturing Processes and Techniques
    Grammar: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • Vocabulary: Manufacturing processes and techniques terminology
  • Reading: Manufacturing processes
  • Listening: Manufacturing processes and techniques
  • Writing: Creating manufacturing process documentation
  • Speaking: Opinions: project constraints
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Project Management and Teamwork
    Grammar: First conditional
  • Vocabulary: Project management principles and teamwork concepts
  • Reading: Effective project management in mechanical engineering
  • Listening: Project management strategies and challenges
  • Writing: Developing project management skills
  • Speaking: Opinions: best practices for project management
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Health, Safety, and Environmental Considerations
    Grammar: Passive
  • Vocabulary: Health, safety, and environmental terms and concepts
  • Reading: The importance of health and safety
  • Listening: Risk mitigation and environmental protection measures
  • Writing: Documenting environmental impact assessments
  • Speaking: Opinions: environmental best practices
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Continuing Professional Development and Career Growth
    Grammar: Second conditional
  • Vocabulary: Career-related terms and concepts
  • Reading: Advancement opportunities and skills development
  • Listening: Career paths and future goals
  • Writing: A professional development plan for career advancement
  • Speaking: Setting personal goals and identifying areas for growth
  • Pronunciation: Hope and Hop + connected speech

Follow-up

Students completing the English for Mechanical Engineers course should feel confident in tackling any upper intermediate course, including our Upper Intermediate Business Power course.

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