Course detail

German in Engineering

FSI-GNSAcad. year: 2025/2026

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.

Guarantor

Mgr. Dita Gálová, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Foreign Languages (ÚJ)

Entry knowledge

Language knowledge at least at the level B2 CEFR; the course is intended to teach German as a foreign language for specific purposes.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Course-unit credit is awarded on condition of having attended the seminars actively and completed all tasks, as well as fulfilled the requirements of continuous control incl an independent presentation.

The written examination at the level B2+/C1 tests the knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and technical terminology as well as reading and listening comprehension of professional language.

Attendance at seminars is compulsory and is systematically checked by the teacher. Students are allowed to miss two seminars. Regular attendance and active participation in classes are necessary conditions for taking the examination.

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.
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.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Adbelmalek Sayad: Campus Deutsch, Präsentieren und Diskutieren. Hueber 2014 (CS)
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)
DOLONGA, Sanja, HOSTER, Tihana: Volldampf (Deutsch für Maschinenbau) Zagreb: 2016. ISBN 978-953-8121-03-6 pdf (available from http://edsipi.eu/resources/volldampf_web.pdf) (DE)
E-learningové studijní opory pro předmět Němčina GNS.
kol.: Campus Deutsch, Lesen. Hueber 2013 (CS)
ZETTL, Erich, JANSSEN, Jörg, MÜLLER, Heidrun: Aus moderner Technik und Naturwissenschaft. Ismaning: Hueber 1999 (vybrané kapitoly)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N-VSY-P Master's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme B-OBN-P Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme N-OBN-P Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Language exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Dita Gálová, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. German for specific purposes.
2. Verbalising formulas and definitions. Describing graphs, charts and trends.
3. Oral presentations I: Key words and phrases for introduction, main parts and conclusion.
4. Oral presentations II: Nonverbal communication, visual aids, language speed vs. efficiency.
5. Description of Functions: Machines, tools and implements.
6. Description of Processes: Students´ individual presentations of technological processes.
7. Description of Material Properties: Students´ individual presentations with comparing and contrasting.
8. Methods of Argumentation: Students´ individual presentations of technical article.
9. Explanation and Reasoning: Students´ interpretation of a professional text.
10. Inquiries and Objections: Presentation of Independent Project I.
11. Presentation of Independent Project II.
12. Presentation of Independent Project III.
13. Course evaluation.