Course Description for Technical English
Preparatory Year Program (PYP) – 2011/2012 Introduction
This is an ESP (English for Specific Purposes) course which runs in the second semester of every year beginning in February. We use a professional careers curriculum provided by Oxford University Press consisting of two textbooks: Technology 1 and Technology 2. The goal of these ESP levels is to focus on the functional language needed in order to succeed in university in their specific program of choice. Overall, Technology 1 and 2 gives students the language, information, and skills needed for their university program of study. It presents them with English from a variety of technological fields and situations, and develops their communication skills.
Course Details
Course Code: 4800171-4
Course Duration: 1 Semester (16 weeks)
Contact Hours: 16 hrs per week (256 hours per semester) Credit Hours: 4.0
Prerequisite
English for General Purposes (EGP) – 4800170-6 Course Objectives
1. To Provide ESP instruction to enhance students’ reading and writing in order to provide practice & interest in the language.
2. To prepare students to sit for assessments and evaluations such as tests and quizzes in order to test and revise proper acquisition of the English language.
3. To build students' confidence and motivation through exposure to facts, figures, quotations, and the latest technological innovations so to generate interest in the language from an ESP perspective.
4. To allow students to gain key strategies and expressions for communicating with professionals and non-specialists.
Course Description
This is an ESP course for students studying in Umm Al-Qura University, especially in the Engineering College. Key features are language skills development focus, a task-based approach, fifteen units each of Technology 1 and Technology 2 covering a wide range of authoritative integrated syllabi. These integrated levels are adopted for the Middle East and includes an audio- CD and a teacher's book which provides opportunities for further listening in the lass in dealing with oral and written instructions. The following core language elements have all been integrated into a single curriculum by Oxford University Press.
Core English Elements
1. Grammar – Students will learn basic forms of English grammar including simple and progressive verb tenses, parts of speech, and prepositions. Students will practice these structures through communicative and functional activities.
2. Oral Communication – Through listening comprehension and oral performances, students will practice their communication skills. Students will learn to comprehend the main ideas in short passages, listen for specific details, engage in short conversations, report personal information and express opinions.
3. Reading Skills – Emphasis will be on vocabulary growth, comprehension and expression of the main idea. Students will develop study and reading skills such as pre-reading.
4. Writing Skills – Emphasis will be on the development of sentence structure and sentence variety to the paragraph level. Students will also be introduced to the paragraph form, including expression of the main idea in technical sentences.
Teaching Facility
The Preparatory Year (PY) at Umm Al-Qura University uses a number of language laboratories enhanced with audio-visual systems used as aids in learning the four language skills. Each student in a lab has access to a flat screen monitor, desk-top computer set and a set of
microphones. The teachers’ position is electronically connected to the student’s carrels, containing a student headset with a microphone to ensure proper communication between the instructor and the students. The purpose of these labs is to benefit the students with their study of the English language and to build their confidence in using the language in order to prepare them for their professional studies and for competitive assessments and evaluations.
Exam Committee
The Exam Committee at the English Language Centre (ELC) organizes and coordinates all mid- term and final exams. Faculty and students can turn to the Exam Committee regarding the execution of the rules and regulations as stipulated in the official rules and regulations put forward by the ELC.
Learning Strategies
Lectures
Discussions
Group Interaction
Self-Learning Assessment Tools
Class participation
Short quizzes
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Presentations Assessment & Evaluation
The final course mark will be based on the following three major assessments. The assignments for the course are included within the course work.
Course Work 20%
Mid-Term Test 30%
Final Exam 50%
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Total Mark 100%
Unit Titles for Technology 1 and 2 Technology 1
Unit 1: Technology and Society Unit 2: Studying Technology
Unit 3: Design
Unit 4: Technology in Sport Unit 5: Appropriate Technology Unit 6: Crime Fighting and Security Unit 7: Manufacturing
Unit 8: Transport
Unit 9: High Living: Skyscrapers Unit 10: Medical Technology Unit 11: Personal Entertainment Unit 12: Information Technology Unit 13: Telecommunications Unit 14: Careers in Technology Unit 15: The future of Technology Technology 2
Unit 1: Ways in Technology Unit 2: Food and Agriculture Unit 3: Bridges and Tunnels Unit 4: Plastics
Unit 5: Alternative Energy Unit 6: Aeronautics Unit 7: Future Homes Unit 8: Mass Transportation Unit 9: Petroleum Engineering Unit 10: Environmental Engineering Unit 11: Robotics
Unit 12: Household Technology Unit 13: Defense Technology Unit 14: Electronics
Unit 15: Career Development
Course Materials and Resources
Texts
Glendinning, E. (2007). Technology 1 – Student’s Book. Oxford University Press.
Oxford, UK.
Glendinning, E. (2007). Technology 2 – Student’s Book. Oxford University Press.
Oxford, UK.
Teacher’s Book
Glendinning, E. (2007). Technology 1 – Teacher’s Book. Oxford University Press.
Oxford, UK.
Glendinning, E. (2007). Technology 2 – Teacher’s Book. Oxford University Press.
Oxford, UK.
CDs
Technology 1 and Technology 2 Audio CDs.
Internet
Additional readings are provided in all units located on the internet. Therefore, all students are advised to expand their language skills by searching links related to each unit topic.