Technical English

Technical English

Technical English is a four-level course for students in technical or vocational education, and for company employees in training at work. It covers the core language and skills that students need to communicate successfully in all technical and industrial specializations.

UNIT 1 CHECK UP

Basics

  • Meeting and greeting people

  • Using forms

  • Following instructions

Verb be
I’m Danielle. I’m a technician.
Imperatives

Basic vocabulary:
say, write Tools, fixings, electrical parts, occupations

Letters and numbers

  • Exchanging information

  • Using forms

  • Units of measurement

How do you spell …?

Personal details Cardinal
numbers Alphabet
Abbreviations of units: kg, m

Dates and times

  • Using numbers

  • Talking about travel timetables

  • Making appointments

LH three oh six. Monday the twenty-eighth of December.

Ordinal numbers Dates and times Decimals

UNIT 2 PARTS

Naming

  • Identifying things

What’s that? I think its’ a car. What’s this called? this, that, these, those

Parts: wheel, axle, plate …
Fixings: nuts, bolts, nails …
Vehicles: car, bike, plane ..

Assembling

  • Using checklists

  • Saying what you need for a job

  • Using an instructional manual

I need some bolts.
What size?
Imperative + object
+location: Put the wheel on the axle.

Verbs: loosen, tighten, push
… Linear: mm, mil, millimeter

Ordering

  • Using voicemail Ordering by phone

  • Introducing yourself and others

How many do you need? What’s your name? Pease spell that.

Numbers: double 5, zero
Sizes: small, medium, large
Colors: red, blue, black …

UNIT 3 PARTS 2

Tools

Describing components Using a product review

Present simple of have My multi-tool has blades and a spanner

Tools: spanner, (a pair of) pliers
Parts of tools: shaft, blade, head …

Functions

  • Saying what things do

  • Describing a product

  • Talking about people’s jobs

Present simple
What does this handle do?
Where do you work?

Verbs: measure, grip, cu open …
Everyday tools: torch, alarm …
Occupations: operator, technician …

Locations

  • Saying where things are

Adverbials and preposition of location Where is it? Its’ at the top.

Location: top, bottom, middle … Computer and electronic equipment

UNIT 4 MOVEMENT

Directions

Describing direct on of movement

Adverbs of direction
can, can’t, cannot
Cana helicopter fly
backwards? Yes, it can.

Direction: up, down, forwards
Adverbs: straight, vertically Angles: degrees

Instructions

  • Using an instruction manual

Imperative + present simple
Push the joystick upwards
and the plane accelerates.

Movement: ascend, descend
Controls: joystick, slider …
Speed: km/h, m/s

Actions

  • Using instruction manual

  • Giving and following instructions

  • Explaining what happens

When clause
When you pull the lever backwards, the truck reverses.

Movement drive, reverse …

UNIT 5 FLOW

Heating system

Explaining how fluids move around a system Using a flow chart

Present simple
The water flows through the
pipe into the tank.
Prepositions of movement

Direction: up, down, forwards
Adverbs: straight, vertically Angles: degrees

Electrical circuit

  • Explaining how an electrical circuit works

Zero conditional
If the battery is empty, the
current doesn’t flow.

Circuit: battery, conductor …
Electrical units: ampere, watt

Foreign currency

  • Explaining how cooling systems work Describing everyday routine

Reference words: here, it, this Present simple in routines

Cooling system parts: engine, fan …
Temperature: degrees
Celsius