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.

Slovná zásoba

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
  • Slovná zásoba: Essential architecture vocabulary
  • Čítanie: Architectural texts, articles, and project descriptions
  • Počúvanie: An architectural presentation
  • Písanie: Architectural descriptions
  • Hovorenie: Architectural Elitism: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Anxious and Chess + connected speech

Module 2

  • Architectural Design Process: Past tenses
  • Slovná zásoba: Design stages, design concepts, planning and zoning
  • Čítanie: Design briefs and project proposals
  • Počúvanie: Client meetings
  • Písanie: A design brief
  • Hovorenie: Gentrification and Displacement: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech

Module 3

  • Building Materials and Construction Techniques: Going to and Will
  • Slovná zásoba: Types of building materials, construction methods, sustainability
  • Čítanie: Materials, construction techniques, and innovations
  • Počúvanie: A construction update
  • Písanie: Material specifications and construction notes
  • Hovorenie: Iconic Buildings: A point of view
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Architectural Drawings and Plans: Present perfect
  • Slovná zásoba: Types of drawings, scale, drafting tools
  • Čítanie: Architectural drawings and blueprints
  • Počúvanie: A drawing explanation
  • Písanie: Drawing annotations
  • Hovorenie: 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
  • Slovná zásoba: Building codes, regulations, permits, accessibility
  • Čítanie: Building codes and regulations
  • Počúvanie: Regulatory updates
  • Písanie: Compliance reports
  • Hovorenie: Environmental Concerns: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Project Management and Collaboration: First conditional
  • Slovná zásoba: Project management terms, roles, collaboration tools
  • Čítanie: Project schedules, timelines, and progress reports
  • Počúvanie: Team meetings
  • Písanie: A progress report
  • Hovorenie: Corporate Influence: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Sustainable and Green Architecture: Passive
  • Slovná zásoba: Sustainable design, energy efficiency, green building certifications
  • Čítanie: Green building trends and innovations
  • Počúvanie: A sustainable design presentation
  • Písanie: Sustainable design ideas
  • Hovorenie: Bureaucracy: A Point of View
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Professional Communication for Architects: Second conditional
  • Slovná zásoba: Formal and informal language
  • Čítanie: Professional emails, memos, and announcements
  • Počúvanie: A career in architecture
  • Písanie: An email to a client
  • Hovorenie: 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.