Course detail

German in Engineering

FSI-GNSAcad. year: 2013/2014

The course is focused on characteristic features of professional communication. It provides students with relevant professional language skills and develops their communication skills. It concentrates on reading strategies using technical texts. The aim is for students to master comprehension of technical texts and to produce a summary or a short presentation in both written and spoken form.

Language of instruction

German

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The course is intended to deepen students’ language skills necessary for professional communication using relevant vocabulary. It will familiarise the students with professional terminology and enable them to understand professional technical texts and produce a summary or a short presentation.

Prerequisites

Language knowledge at the level B1 CEFR; the course is intended to teach German as a foreign language for specific purposes.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Language instruction as an extension of basic professional curriculum.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Course-unit credit is awarded on condition of having attended the seminars actively, worked out assigned tasks and passed a credit test. 60% points at the credit test as minimum.

The examination tests the knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and technical terminology as well as reading and listening comprehension of professional language.

Course curriculum

Not applicable.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with language skills used in professional communication (reading, listening, speaking, writing) and to provide them with professional terminology and specific structures of professional language.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance at seminars is systematically checked by the teacher. Absence may be in justified cases compensated for with the consent of the teacher.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

DEUMA. Deutsch im Maschinenbau. Multimediální jazykový program. Brno, VUT 2004.
Deutsch für Doktoratstudium. Multimediální jazykový program, VUT Brno 2005
kol.: Němčina pro strojírenské obory – Deutsch im Maschinenbau. Informatorium, Praha 2008

Recommended reading

BECKER, Norbert: Fachdeutsch Technik. Metall- und Elektroberufe. Ismaning: Hueber 1995 (vybrané kapitoly)
E-learningové studijní opory pro předmět Němčina GNS.
ZETTL, Erich, JANSSEN, Jörg, MÜLLER, Heidrun: Aus moderner Technik und Naturwissenschaft. Ismaning: Hueber 1999 (vybrané kapitoly)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme M2V-P Master's

    branch M-VSY , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme BO1-P Bachelor's

    branch B-OBN , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective (voluntary)

  • Programme NO1-P Master's

    branch M-OBN , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective (voluntary)

Type of course unit

 

Language exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Formulas, Equations, Definitions. Verbalising numerical expressions.
(DEUMA T. 1, M3; T. 2, M1 – M3)
2. Describing graphs, charts and trends.
(DEUMA T. 2, M4 – M5)
3. Outward Appearance and Properties. Oral presentations: key words and phrases for introduction, main parts and conclusion.
Materials I (Němčina pro strojírenské obory, T. II)
4. Comparing. Oral presentations: content, language, visual aids, question time. Learning / Teaching vocabulary.
Materials II (DEUMA T. 3, M1 – M3)
5. Description of Functions. Giving students´ individual presentations.
Couplings (DEUMA T. 4, M1 – M4)
6. Description of Processes. Giving students´ individual presentations.
Machines, Tools and Implements (Němčina pro strojírenské obory, T. III; DEUMA T. 8, M3 – M4)
7. Description of Causes and Effects. Giving students´ individual presentations.
Transmissions (DEUMA T. 6, M1 – M4)
8. Methods of Argumentation. Giving students´ individual presentations.
Pistons (DEUMA T. 7, M1 – M4)
9. Explanation and Reasoning. Giving students´ individual presentations.
Production Processes (Němčina pro strojírenské obory, T. III; DEUMA T. 8, M1 –M2)
10. Inquiries and Objections. Giving students´ individual presentations.
Bearings (DEUMA T. 5, M1 – M4)
11. Assessment - positive and negative. Giving students´ individual presentations.
Troubleshooting (DEUMA T. 9, M1 – M6).
12. Summary, Discussion. Presentation of Independent Project I.
Product Development (DEUMA T. 10, M1 – M4)
13. Presentation of Independent Project II.