Course content

The main topics covered during the course are academic writing, technical English, workplace communication, basic grammar and spoken English. The course puts much emphasis on English language technical texts relevant to engineers. The general purpose is to improve student's English language skills needed during their bachelor program, as well as to prepare them for future jobs and to help them be more familiar with developments in technology internationally.

Learning outcome

Candidates who have passed this course, should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

• The candidate has knowledge about English as a tool in effective communication.
• The candidate has knowledge about academic writing and technical English
• The candidate has knowledge about the significance of cultural aspects in communication.

Skills

• The candidate can write concise and grammatically correct English.
• The candidate can listen to, comprehend and use academic language both in an oral and written context.
• The candidate can use technical English in both written and oral communications in an engineering context.
• The candidate can write reasoning texts, such as discussions and reports.
• The candidate can write miscellaneous functional texts tailored to the purpose, the recipient, and the situation, such as letters, applications, emails, notes, instructions, summaries and presentations, with good coherence, structure, and flow.
• The candidate can plan, structure and deliver presentations and instructions.

General competence

• The candidate can express her/himself orally and in writing in an independent manner in areas relevant to an engineer.
• The candidate can understand and work with English language sources in a critical and verifiable manner.

Learning methods and activities

The course consists of lectures and seminar groups with various learning activities. Students will work individually and in groups on practice exercises, written assignments, oral discussions and presentations, projects, and peer assessments.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory assignments
• 80 % attendance

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Requires admission to the study program Forkurs for ingeniør- og sivilingeniørutdanning.

Course materials

Tippet, S. & Ulstein, A. (2023). English for Engineers. Universitetsforlaget.