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.

Slovná zásoba

  • 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
  • Slovná zásoba: Basic terminologies related to ports and ships
  • Čítanie: The history and evolution of ports
  • Počúvanie: An interview with a port manager about the daily operations of a port
  • Písanie: Describing a typical day at the port
  • Hovorenie: 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
  • Slovná zásoba: Types of cargo, equipment used, and safety terms
  • Čítanie: The evolution of cargo handling techniques
  • Počúvanie: Safety instructions during cargo operations
  • Písanie: Preparing a safety checklist for cargo handling
  • Hovorenie: 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
  • Slovná zásoba: Safety procedures, regulations, and equipment
  • Čítanie: An article on international port safety standards
  • Počúvanie: A briefing on emergency response procedures
  • Písanie: Drafting a report on a mock safety drill
  • Hovorenie: Enforcing safety measures among colleagues
  • Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech

Module 4

  • Ship Communications:
  • Gramatika: Present perfect
  • Slovná zásoba: Nautical terms, communication tools, and protocols
  • Čítanie: The significance of clear communication on ships and ports
  • Počúvanie: Radio communication between a ship and port control
  • Písanie: Composing a ship-to-shore message
  • Hovorenie: Maritime communication problems
  • Pronunciation: Bud and Bird + connected speech

Module 5

  • Customs and Documentation:
  • Gramatika: Countable and uncountable nouns
  • Slovná zásoba: Custom clearance terms, types of documents
  • Čítanie: Overview of the customs clearance process
  • Počúvanie: A conversation between a customs officer and ship captain
  • Písanie: Filling out a sample customs declaration form
  • Hovorenie: Dealing with customs officials
  • Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech

Module 6

  • Port Infrastructure and Maintenance:
  • Gramatika: First conditional
  • Slovná zásoba: Types of facilities, maintenance terms
  • Čítanie: Article on the importance of port infrastructure
  • Počúvanie: A maintenance team discussing repair priorities
  • Písanie: Preparing a maintenance request form
  • Hovorenie: The challenges of maintaining a busy port
  • Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech

Module 7

  • Maritime Logistics:
  • Gramatika: Passive
  • Slovná zásoba: Supply chain terms, transportation modes
  • Čítanie: How logistics plays a crucial role in port operations
  • Počúvanie: A logistics manager explaining the flow of goods
  • Písanie: Drafting a logistics plan for incoming cargo
  • Hovorenie: How to optimise logistics operations
  • Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech

Module 8

  • Environment and Sustainability:
  • Gramatika: Second conditional
  • Slovná zásoba: Environmental terms, sustainability practices
  • Čítanie: The role of ports in environmental conservation
  • Počúvanie: A seminar on sustainable port operations
  • Písanie: Proposing eco-friendly measures for the port
  • Hovorenie: 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.