Course detail

Technical English I

FSI-TEN1Acad. year: 2025/2026

The course covers core language and skills at B2 level that students need to communicate successfully in technical specialisations.

Language of instruction

English

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Mgr. Jaroslav Trávníček

Department

Institute of Foreign Languages (ÚJ)

Entry knowledge

Students are expected to have command of English at least at B1 level.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The credit requirements are based on student’s work during the semester and a credit test. During the semester the student can earn 4 marks for active participation in class and fulfilment of optional assignments, and at the end of the semester they take a credit test, in which they can earn 40 marks. In order to fulfil the credit requirements, the student must earn a minimum of 24 marks in total. In case this benchmark is not achieved, there is a possibility for the student to resit the test once in the exam period.

Active participation in class is one of the credit requirements. Attendance is systematically checked by the teacher and students are allowed to miss two seminars.

Aims

The aim of the course is to teach the language skills needed by university students and company employees in a range of engineering branches.

A student who successfully completes the TEN1 course has the capability of working with specialist vocabulary and has acquired skills necessary for understanding the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. They have the ability to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity, present various topics, describe facts and explain procedures with an emphasis on technology-specific functions.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BONAMY, David. Technical English 4: Course Book and eBook. Second Edition. Harlow: Pearson Education, 2022. ISBN 978-1-292-42449-1. (EN)

Recommended reading

BRIEGER, Nick a Alison POHL. Technical English Vocabulary and Grammar. Andover: Heinle, Cengage Learning, 2002. ISBN 978-1-902741-76-5.
IBBOTSON, Mark. Professional English in Use: Engineering. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-521-73488-2.
MURPHY, Raymond. English grammar in use: a self-study reference and practice book for intermediate learners of English : with answers. Fifth edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. ISBN 978-1-108-45765-1. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-ENE-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-FIN-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-KSI-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-MAI-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-MET-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-PDS-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-STI-A Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-STR-P Bachelor's

    specialization AIŘ , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization KSB , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization SSZ , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization STG , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-ZSI-P Bachelor's

    specialization STI , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization MTI , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-VKP-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme C-AKR-P Lifelong learning

    specialization CZS , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Language exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Jaroslav Trávníček

Syllabus

  1. Introduction, U1 - vocabulary: physics and scientific discoveries; past tenses, present perfect, and questions revision
  2. U1 - explaining the function of a device, past participle clauses
  3. U2 - product specifications, passive forms revision, expressing functions or purpose
  4. U2 - material properties
  5. U2 - participating in a meeting or discussion, revision - Review Unit
  6. U3 - vocabulary: automotive engineering; the continuous aspect, linking devices
  7. U3 - note-taking during a lecture, linkers of contrast
  8. U4 - vocabulary: networks and maintenance; phrasal verbs, using active or passive verb forms
  9. U4 - the outline of a presentation, describing stages of development, revision - Review Unit
  10. U5 - cause and effect links
  11. U5 - vocabulary: steelmaking; describing a process, purpose clauses
  12. U5 - describing a process: aluminium smelting, revision
  13. credit test