Course detail

English for Life 1

FEKT-MPC-EFE1Acad. year: 2026/2027

WEEK 1: Introduction

 

PILLAR 1: Technical Description & Systems Analysis (WEEKS 2-5)

WEEKS 2-3: Technical Description & Material Analysis

Development Focus:

From basic description to precise engineering communication.

WEEK 4: Functional Systems & Limitations

Development Focus:

From describing objects to analysing systems: functions and limitations.

WEEK 5: Human Augmentation & Future Engineering

Development Focus:

From system analysis to evaluating the relationship between t-echnology and humanity.

 

PILLAR 2: Innovation (WEEKS 6-8)

WEEK 6: Biomimicry & Nature-Inspired Innovation

Development Focus:

From technical description to explaining how innovation emerges from natural systems and mechanisms.

WEEK 7: Future Engineering & Emerging Technologies

Development Focus:

From explaining existing innovation to speculating professionally about future technological development.

WEEK 8: Innovation Pitch & Engineering Vision

Development Focus:

From speculation to presenting, defending, and promoting innovative engineering ideas professionally.

 

PILLAR 3: Risk, Ethics & Technological Consequences (WEEKS 9-11)

WEEK 9: Human Enhancement & Ethical Boundaries

Development Focus:

From technological innovation toward evaluating ethical and social consequences of human enhancement.

WEEK 10: Surveillance, AI & Technological Power

Development Focus:

From ethical evaluation toward negotiating conflicting technological, political, and social perspectives.

WEEK 11: Human Potential, Transhumanism & Future Humanity

Development Focus:

From technological conflict toward synthesizing competing visions of human enhancement and future civilization.

 

WEEK 12: Integrated Communication Workshop

Development Focus:

From isolated communication skills toward integrating technical, innovative, ethical, and societal perspectives into complex professional interaction and future-oriented discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

The fundamental prerequisite consists in a good command of English as defined by the current XAN4 exam.
Students wishing to take the course exam and obtain their credits are required to attend a minimum of 75% of the tutorials/lectures.

Note 1: Students who have a bachelor degree in English in Electrical Engineering and Informatics (AJEI-H) must register MPC-EFE1. However, such students will automatically receive their credits and are not required to attend classes or to take any tests or exams that other MPC-EFE1/MKC-EFE1 students must take.

Note 2: Due to the return of the Covid-19 virus, the above class atttendance rules will not be applied in the same way during the 2020/2021 academic year. However, whether it is contact teaching at FEKT, or 'distance learning' from home, all students must complete the requirements given by their individual lecturer in this course.

As for all viruses and the wearing of masks in class, all students attending classes are obligated to respect the rules outlined by the Rector of VUT and the Dean of FEKT.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Classified Credit:

ROUNDTABLE: 30 p.

SUBTEST (English or Czenglish, Idioms): 15 p.

FINAL TEST:  55 p.

To pass the course, students must achieve a minimum of 50% of the total points across all assessment components.

If the scheduled subtest is not administered during the semester, its content will be included in the final test and the maximum score of the final test will be increased accordingly.

 

 

 

Aims

COURSE GOAL

Engineering Communication, Innovation & Technological Futures

The course progressively develops students’ ability to communicate about technology in a precise, analytical, and professionally persuasive way while critically evaluating the relationship between engineering, innovation, and human society.

Through three interconnected pillars, students learn to:

  • describe technical systems accurately,
  • explain functionality and engineering mechanisms,
  • discuss innovation and future technologies,
  • speculate professionally about technological development,
  • negotiate ethical dilemmas and conflicting perspectives,
  • participate in complex discussions about the future of humanity and technology.

The course combines:

  • technical English,
  • systems thinking,
  • innovation discourse,
  • ethical evaluation,
  • professional speaking strategies,
  • critical and future-oriented engineering communication.

Students progressively develop communication skills moving from:

description → explanation → speculation → negotiation → synthesis and debate.

At the same time, the course develops cognitive progression from:

understanding technology → imagining innovation → evaluating technological consequences for humanity.

The overall aim is to help students become more confident and articulate participants in international engineering, research, innovation, and interdisciplinary professional environments.

 

 

 

 

 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BROOK-HART, Guy and HAINES, Simon. Cambridge English Complete Advanced. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. (CS)
-MCCARTHY, Michael and O´DELL, Felicity. Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MPC-TIT Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-SVE Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-NCP Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme MPC-MEL Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-KAM Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-JAE Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme MPC-IBE Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-EVM Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-EKT Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-EEN Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-EAK Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-BTB Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme MPC-BIO Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme MPC-AUD Master's

    specialization AUDM-TECH , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    specialization AUDM-ZVUK , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Language exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Week 1 Introduction
2. Week 2 Grammar I
3. Week 3 Grammar II
4. Week 4 Introduction to EuroAmerican Culture
5. Week 5 Vocabulary Review and Sentence Structures
6. Week 6 Technical/Cultural (Hoover Dam)
7. Week 7 Englishes of the World
8. Week 8 Technical/Cultural (CN Tower and technical texts)
9. Week 9 Professional English
10. Week 10 Giving Presentations I: Learning how to give a good presentation.
11. Week 11 Giving Presentations II: Practicing how to give a good Introduction.
12. Week 12 Semester Review
13. Week 13 Semester Test