Technical English. Technical English for IT: dictionaries, textbooks, magazines Basic terms of technical English for an engineer

The purpose of the textbook is to form and develop the competencies necessary to use the English language in the field of professional communication. The textbook allows you to develop the skills of communicative reading of scientific literature, oral and written scientific speech, expand your vocabulary through general scientific and special vocabulary, and practice the grammatical phenomena of the English language characteristic of scientific texts. The textbook contains original scientific and popular science texts that help broaden the horizons of students.
This textbook is intended for students of engineering and technical specialties with an Intermediate level of English proficiency (which corresponds to level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Language Proficiency), studying in educational institutions of secondary vocational education.

Examples.
Write down the following formulae in your notebooks. Check the results as a class.
1) V over I equals R (all capital letters)
2) P subscript one V subscript one equals P subscript two V subscript two (all capital letters)
3) one over u plus one over v equals one over f (all small letters)
4) capital F equals small m small v squared all over small r
5) one over R equals M over EI (all capital letters)
6) sigma over capital Y small n equals capital M over capital A small h capital R subscript small f
7) capital A equals two pi capital R subscript small c, open square brackets capital R subscript small c minus square root open brackets capital R subscript small c squared minus small d squared over four, close brackets, close square brackets
8) tau equals four capital Q over three pi capital R to the power of four, open brackets, capital R squared minus gamma squared, close brackets
9) F is proportional to M subscript one M subscript two all over R squared (all letters capital)
10) T squared over R cubed equals four pi squared over GM (all capital letters)

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense, Present Perfect or Past Simple.
1. They (carry out) a series of experiments this week.
2. They (introduce) some new methods of investigation lately.
3. He (publish) a few papers on the problem this year.
4. We (clarify) this question last week.
5. Prof. Brown (give) some useful recommendations a few days ago.
6. There (be) heated discussion at the seminar today.
7.Dr. Clark (be) in charge of this project for some time now.
8. Our efforts (be) useless so far.
9. These studies (be) very intensive until now.


Download the e-book for free in a convenient format, watch and read:
Download the book English for Engineers, Kovalenko I.Yu., 2015 - fileskachat.com, fast and free download.

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  • English for engineers, Agabekyan I.P., Kovalenko P.K., 2002 - A textbook for students of technical universities in the first and second stages of study corresponds to the English language program for non-linguistic universities ... Books on English
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The following textbooks and books:

  • English language, 9th grade, Diagnostic works for assessing the quality of education, Veselova Y.S., 2015 - The collection offers diagnostic works in English for the 9th grade of secondary schools, with the help of which you can monitor the level of mastery ... Books on English
  • English pronunciation that everyone envy, or How to learn to speak English without a Russian accent, Practical course in two books, Book 1, Shevar de Nidze V., 1997 Books on English
  • English pronunciation that everyone envy, or How to learn to speak English without a Russian accent, Practical course in two books, Book 2, Shevar de Nidze V., 1997 - Language course “Master Sound” is the only most complete textbook on English pronunciation, written in an engaging way specifically for the Russian-speaking audience. ... Books on English
  • English for sociologists, Kuzmenkova Yu.B., Zhavoronkova A.R., 2014 - This course is addressed to students of non-linguistic universities (level (Pge-) Intermediate), specializing in the field of sociology; it allows you to master the skills of English-language general scientific (academic) ... Books on English

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  • Easy English Grammar, Lavrinenko T.M., 2000 - The proposed Easy English Grammar is designed for a wide range of English language learners in various forms of learning or independently. The material is systematized... Books on English

According to research from UK recruitment agency CBSbutler, you could earn £54,000 in 2017. To do this, you had to work as an engineer in the oil and gas industry. It takes a lot of effort to see numbers like these in your bank account. One of them is to learn English and become a sought-after specialist in a foreign or Russian company.

Even if you have nothing to do with engineering, we recommend that you read the article. For example, the English names of screws and dowels will be useful to you if you assemble furniture according to instructions in English or buy exclusive materials on English-language sites.

Brief dictionary of technical terms

We tried to collect the terms that are most often found in the work of an engineer. Of course, we only covered the basic vocabulary. If you want to master English in a more narrow engineering field, you can do this on ours. Whether you are a design engineer or an electrical engineer, we will select the materials that will be useful specifically in your industry.

If you know basic terminology, scroll to the end of the article: we have collected 33 useful resources for you that will be useful for developing your listening and reading skills. Plus, our list of video blogs, podcasts, series, and courses will help make learning fun.

General terminology

First, let's look at the names of engineering industries and the names of some positions.

Word/PhraseTranslation
engineeringengineering
mechanical engineeringengineering mechanics, mechanical engineering, mechanical systems design
electrical engineeringelectromechanics, technical design of electrical circuits
civil engineeringdesign and construction of civil facilities
structural engineeringindustrial design / construction design
biomedical engineeringbiomedical engineering
chemical engineeringchemical engineering
software engineeringsoftware engineering
systems engineeringsystems engineering
an engineerengineer, designer
an engineering techniciantechnical engineer

Design

Let's move on to the basic set of words that are necessary for drawing up drawings and diagrams.

Word/PhraseTranslation
design informationproject information
a design solutiondesign and technical solution
an itempart, product, unit
sizesize
scalescale
CAD /kæd/ (computer-aided design)computer-aided design system
specificationsspecifications
technical requirementstechnical specifications, requirements
to overdesignoverdesign
Blueprints
a drawing (abbreviated as dwg)drawing, diagram
a blueprintblue (copy of drawing)
a detail drawingdetailed drawing
a general arrangement drawinggeneral layout drawing, general diagram
a preliminary drawingsketch, preliminary drawing
a working drawingrough diagram, working drawing
schematicsschematic drawing, plan
a drawing boardtablet, drawing board
to draw up a drawingdraw up a drawing

Measurements

The following lexical set will help you take measurements by correctly indicating the radius of the circle and the error in English.

Word/PhraseTranslation
a measurementmeasurement, calculation, system of measures
calculationscalculations, calculations
dimensions (abbreviated dims)dimensions
linear dimensionslinear dimensions
a directiondirection
a tape measuremeasuring tape
a theodolitegoniometer
an anglecorner
a degreedegree
a grademetric degree
diameterdiameter
a radius (plural: radii)radius
circumferenceperimeter, circumference
a constantconstant
a surfacesurface
a facefront surface
a circlecircle
a concentric circleconcentric circle
a curved linecrooked line
an extremityextreme point
a spandistance between objects
distancedistance
lengthlength
heightheight
widthwidth
thicknessthickness
areasquare
cross-sectional areacross-sectional area
surface areasurface area
massweight
weightweight
volumevolume
densitydensity
externalexternal
internalinterior
horizontalhorizontal
verticalvertical
flatflat
smoothsmooth, even
inclinedinclined, at an angle
to measureto measure
to increaseincrease
to decreasereduce
Accuracy of measurements
dimensional accuracyaccuracy of measurements
precisionaccuracy
a deviationdeviation
toleranceerror
a rounding errorrounding error
performance gapinequality in indicators
tight tolerance = close tolerancesmall permissible deviation
loose tolerancewide permissible error
negligibleinsignificant
imprecise/inaccurateinaccurate
permissibleacceptable
within tolerancewithin acceptable values
outside toleranceout of range
approximatelyapproximately
to varyvary
to round up or downround up or down
Location
locatinglocation
a centrelinecenter line, center line
an offsetbias
centre-to-centredistance between centers/axes
a reference pointreference point, starting point
a gridnet
a gridlinegrid line
a diagonaldiagonal
perpendicular toperpendicular to
to set outmark position
to locatelocate, place
to run parallel withbe parallel
to intersect atintersect at

Materials technology

A short dictionary on materials technology will help you work with wood, concrete or metals.

Word/PhraseTranslation
an elementelement
a compoundcompound
chemical compositionchemical composition
constituentscomponents
a chemical reactionchemical reaction
a mixturemixture
an alloyadmixture
a coefficientcoefficient
non-metals (carbon, silicon)non-metals (coal, silicon)
metals (iron, copper):
  • ferrous metals
  • non-ferrous metals
metals (iron, copper):
  • metals containing iron
  • non-iron metals
a precious metala precious metal
raw materials:
  • powder, fine particles
  • a pellet
  • a fiber
raw materials:
  • powder, fine particles
  • granule
  • fiber
steel:
  • carbon steel
  • alloy steel
  • stainless steel
  • tool steel
  • high-speed steel
steel:
  • carbon steel
  • alloy steel
  • stainless steel
  • tool steel
  • high speed steel
a composite materialcomposite material
a reinforcing materialreinforcing material
a matrixbinder, solution
carbon fibercarbon fiber
fiberglassfiberglass
moltenmolten, liquid
to disintegratedivide into parts
to flowflow
to covercover
to meltmelt
to rustrust
Polymers
a natural polymernatural polymer
a synthetic polymersynthetic polymer
thermoplastics:
  • acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
  • polycarbonate
  • polyvinylchloride (PVC)
thermoplastics:
  • acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic)
  • polycarbonate
  • polyvinyl chloride
thermosetting plastics = thermosets:
  • epoxy resin
  • polyimide
thermosets:
  • epoxy resin (rubber)
  • polyimide
an elastomerelastomer
rubberrubber
latexrubber
Minerals and ceramic materials
a mineralmineral
ceramicsceramics
oreore mineral
an abrasive materialabrasive
clayclay
a kilnkiln
glass:
  • float glass
  • safety glass
  • toughened glass = tempered glass
  • laminated glass
glass:
  • sheet glass
  • shatterproof safety glass
  • tempered high strength glass
  • laminated safety glass
organicorganic
inorganicinorganic
to annealharden, burn
Concrete
concreteconcrete
cementcement
sandsand
gravelgravel
fine aggregatefine aggregate
coarse aggregatecoarse aggregate
concrete mix designselection of concrete mixture composition
batchingdosing
an additiveadditive
a retarderretarder (concrete)
reinforced concretereinforced concrete
reinforcing barsfittings
formwork = shutteringformwork
to cast concretelay concrete mixture
Wood
wood:
  • hardwood
  • softwood
wood:
  • hardwood
  • softwood
solid wood:
  • grain
  • knots /nɒts/
solid wood:
  • bitches
engineered wood:
  • a particle board = chipboard and medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
  • a oriented strand board (OSB)
  • a glue-laminated section (abbreviated glulam)
composite wood material:
  • medium density fiberboard (MDF/Fibreboard)
  • oriented strand board (OSB)
  • laminated veneer lumber
plywoodplywood
timber = lumberlumber
a sawmillsawmill
resintree resin
stress-gradedgraded by strength
to sawto nag
Properties of materials
material propertiesproperties of materials
thermal propertiesthermal properties
a thermal insulatorthermal insulation material
a coefficient of thermal expansioncoefficient of thermal expansion
a coefficient of linear expansioncoefficient of linear thermal expansion
tensile strengthtensile strength
compressive strengthcompressive strength
deformationdeformation
elongationstretching
extensionextension
hardeninghardening
corrosioncorrosion
resistanceresistance
elasticityelasticity, firmness
ductilityelasticity, pliability
plasticityplastic
hardness:
  • scratch hardness
  • indentation hardness
strength:
  • scratch resistance hardness
  • indentometric hardness, indentation hardness
durabilityservice life, wear resistance
fatiguewear
fracture toughnessfracture resistance
thermal conductivitythermal conductivity
stiffhard, inelastic
brittlefragile, fragile
malleablemalleable
ductileviscous
to conductpass, pass
to fracturecrack, burst
to resist wearbe resistant to wear

Manufacturing and assembly

Making and assembling appliances and furniture from parts is a task not only for a talented engineer, but also for anyone who has started a renovation with their own hands.

Word/PhraseTranslation
manufacturingproduction, manufacturing
machiningmachining, machining
computer aided design (CAD) / computer aided manufacturing (CAM)computer-aided design system/computer-aided manufacturing system
a workpiecepart, blank
a blankworkpiece
blankingblank cutting
drillingdrilling, drilling
grindinggrinding, sharpening
punchingperforation
cutting:
  • flame-cutting
  • guillotining
  • plasma cutting
  • laser cutting
cutting:
  • flame cutting
  • guillotine cutting
  • plasma cutting
  • laser cutting
tools for cutting:
  • a machine tool
  • a circular saw
  • a band saw
  • a power hacksaw
  • a milling machine
  • a lathe
  • a waterjet
  • a cutting disk
  • an abrasive wheel
cutting tools:
  • metal cutting machine
  • a circular saw
  • band-saw
  • hacksaw
  • milling machine
  • lathe
  • water jet cutting machine
  • circular knife
  • grinding wheel, grinding wheel
swarf = chipsmetal shavings, sawdust
assemblyassembly
a jointconnection, junction
an edgeedge
a ridgeedge
a rebategutter, groove
a helical groovescrew groove, spiral groove
a threadscrew thread
a tongue-and-groove jointcleat"
a cavity = voidcavity, depression
a through holethrough hole
a blind holeblind hole
chamferedbeveled
pointedpointed, pointed
proud = raisedconvex
recessedrecessed, flush mounted
toothedserrated
flush withflush with, flush with
to slot intosecure in groove
to screw intoscrew in
to tapernarrow, cone
to machineto machine, to machine
to rotate = to spinrotate
Fasteners
a boltbolt
a nut (here)screw
a washer:
  • a flat washer = a plain washer
  • a spring washer
washer:
  • flat washer
  • spring washer
a screw:
  • a slot head screw
  • a crosshead screw
  • a machine screw
  • a grub screw = a set screw
screw, screw:
  • slotted screw
  • Phillips head screw
  • small mounting screw
  • set screw, safety screw
a self-tapping screwself-tapping screw, self-tapping screw
a screw anchordowel
a rivet:
  • a solid rivet
  • a blind rivet = a pop rivet
rivet:
  • solid rivet
  • blind rivet, single-sided rivet
tools for fastening:
  • a spanner = a wrench
  • a hex key
  • a torque wrench
  • a screwdriver
  • pliers
  • a rivet gun
fastening tools:
  • wrench
  • hex key
  • torque wrench
  • screwdriver
  • pliers
  • hand tool for setting rivets, riveter
to tighten (here)screw tight, tighten
to loosenloosen
to work looseto become unsteady
to screw inscrew in, screw in
Permanent connections
welding:
  • resistance welding
  • spot welding
  • seam welding
  • ultrasonic welding
  • shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) = arc welding = stick welding
  • gas welding
welding:
  • contact electric welding
  • spot welding
  • seam welding
  • ultrasonic welding
  • metal arc welding
  • gas welding
brazingrefractory soldering
solderingsoft soldering
adhesiveadhesive
a solventsolvent
to weldweld, brew
to fusealloy
to evaporateevaporate, evaporate

Energy and temperature

Forms of energy, temperature measurement - in the following selection of terms.

Word/PhraseTranslation
Energy
energy:
  • kinetic energy
  • thermal energy
  • electrical energy
  • sound energy
  • light energy
  • chemical energy
  • nuclear energy
energy:
  • kinetic energy
  • thermal energy, thermal energy
  • electricity
  • sound energy, acoustic energy
  • light energy
  • chemical energy
  • atomic energy, nuclear energy
energy efficiencycoefficient of performance (efficiency)
energy sourceenergy source
waste energywasted energy
a joulejoule
a wattwatt
wattagepower in watts
Temperature
temperaturetemperature
heatwarm
vaporsteam
degrees Celsiusdegrees Celsius
heat capacityheat capacity
heat transferheat exchange, heat transfer
a heating systemheating system
a convectorRadiator
endothermicendothermic
exothermicexothermic

Water supply

The next section covers piping and fluid handling.

Word/PhraseTranslation
liquidliquid
water supplywater supply
pipeworkpipeline network
a mainmain pipe
a drainsewer pipe, drainage pipe
sewerssewerage
a hosehose
a pumppump, pump
a turbineturbine
a valvevalve
pressurepressure
a pressure gaugepressure measuring device, manometer
pressure differentialpressure drop
fluid dynamicsdynamics of liquids and gases, fluid dynamics
to flowflow

Mechanisms

Let's move on to engines, motors and gears.

Word/PhraseTranslation
an engine:
  • a petrol engine
  • a diesel engine
  • a jet engine
engine:
  • Gas engine
  • diesel engine
  • jet engine
an internal combustion engineinternal combustion engine
an electric motorelectric motor
thrustreactive motive force, thrust
a fuel injectorfuel injector
transmissiontransmission, transmission
a gear = a gear wheel:
  • a spur gear
  • a helical gear
  • a bevel gear
  • a crown gear
  • a worm gear
gear, cogwheel:
  • spur gear
  • helical gear
  • bevel gear
  • ring gear
  • worm gear
a gear traingear block, gear transmission
a chainchain
chain drivechain transmission, chain drive
a wire ropecable
a crankshaftcrankshaft, crankshaft
a flywheelflywheel
reciprocating motionreciprocating movement
rotary motionrotational movement
to interlockconnect, mesh
to mesh togetherto get involved, to get involved

Electricity

The last section of our brief technical dictionary will help you assemble an electrical circuit and measure the frequency of alternating current.

Word/PhraseTranslation
current:
  • direct current (DC)
  • alternating current (AC)
current:
  • D.C.
  • alternating current
voltagevoltage
resistanceresistance
an ampereampere
an electric chargeelectric charge
a charge carriercharge carrier, current carrier
an electromotive force (EMF)electromotive force (EMF)
a voltvolt
an ohmohm
a devicedevice
an appliancedevice
an electrical insulatorelectrical insulator
installationinstallation
power ratingrated power, maximum permissible power
electric shockelectric shock, electric shock
technical failuretechnical failure, malfunction
Power supply
electrical supplypower supply, electrical supply
mains electricitygrid electricity
a power gridelectrical network, energy network
frequencyfrequency
a hertz (Hz)hertz
AC generationAC generation
field coilelectromagnetic coil, inductor coil
electromagnetic inductionelectromagnetic induction
a power stationpower station
a power line = a transmission linepower line
a generatorgenerator
a rechargeable batteryrechargeable battery, battery
to chargecharge
Electrical circuit
an electric circuitelectrical circuit
a parallel circuitparallel circuit
a series circuitseries circuit
a conductorconductor
a semiconductorsemiconductor
a switchboardswitchboard
switchgeardistribution equipment
a power socketpower socket
an electric wireelectrical wire, electrical wire
a strandstranded wire
extra-high voltage (EHV)ultra high voltage
to earthground
to switch oninclude
to switch offturn off

Useful resources

The time has come for those same 33 resources that they promised to provide earlier.

The profession of a programmer has always been and will be directly related to the knowledge of languages ​​- programming languages ​​and, of course, English. This is also due to the fact that most of the innovative solutions, inventions and achievements often come to us from America and Europe.

In addition, no matter how trivial it may sound, English is the most widespread international language, which means that it can be useful not only in work.

Why do you need English in IT?

Let's try to name the main reasons why programmers and other IT employees often turn to schools or English courses:

  • a higher level of English is often associated with new career opportunities, including relocation to another country, with higher salaries and better conditions;
  • most of the modern resources, manuals, professional literature are written in English and have not yet been translated, and what has already been translated, as a rule, quickly becomes outdated;
  • English simplifies the task of communicating with your foreign team lead or customer, client, which means it speeds up the work process and saves time on communication;
  • self-development - many people, while developing professionally, want to develop personally, increasing their competence not only in their main field of activity;
  • entertaining content is often presented in high quality in English (for example, watching an episode of “Silicon Valley” in the original will be much more interesting, because it is often necessary to omit or even cut out certain moments if they could not be adequately and clearly translated);
  • travel and vacation - you can often buy a more profitable trip or discounted tickets on English-language sites of popular low-cost airlines, and simply, while relaxing and hearing English spoken, or buying souvenirs in a foreign store, it is easier to do this if you know the necessary phrases and words in English.

We've sorted out the reasons, now let's move on to the nuances of learning English for programmers. Most often, you don’t have to start learning a language from scratch - you already have knowledge of, at a minimum, certain professional vocabulary, computer slang, and the ability to read and write. Due to this Learning technical English can be easier.

Problems in learning technical English

  • the percentage of live communication in English is, as a rule, much lower than communication by correspondence using special solutions such as Confluence or Jira;
  • narrow specialization of terms used in speech - a programmer more often has to discuss nuances and errors in the code in English than simple everyday things;
  • low frequency of communication in English in general, since communication usually has to be done in the native language (many IT departments are often formed from Russian-speaking employees so that communication is better established);
  • professional literature, despite many complex technical terms, contains relatively simple grammar, which leads to misunderstanding of more complex structures and sentences;
  • the English language, despite its analytical structure, contains a fairly large number of exceptions associated with historical factors that are rarely or not explained at all when studying the language;
  • an abundance of synonyms and shades of meaning of one word, which can even have opposite meanings, or even be several parts of speech at once (take the word fine - this is both good, and fine, and to fine).

There are a number of simple recommendations that are worth knowing about, taking into account the above nuances in the study. It is always worth starting with the terms of study, where, most often, many mistakes are made, because many set themselves a relatively difficult and too global task - to learn English.

And all of it in a month or even three days. But ask yourself a question: is it possible to pump up abs from a big ball into beautiful cubes in 3 days, a month or 3 months?

Usually not. But you can tighten flabby muscles, increase muscle elasticity and lose a couple of extra pounds.

It’s the same in English - you can learn simple tenses and three or four hundred words, but you can’t go from a beginner to a professional English expert in three months, and therefore the deadlines should be determined based on current tasks.

If we want to learn the basics, it will take 3-4 months, and each further level will mean another six months of study.

It’s better to take an introductory lesson at one of the English schools, where a specialist will test your skills, tell you in detail about key mistakes and tell you where to start.

If it turns out that your level of English is basic, you should start with general fundamentals and simple tenses, rather than specific vocabulary and technical language, because this will complicate the task and increase the learning time. This is what, as a rule, greatly reduces student motivation and leads to disappointment in learning languages ​​in general.

It will always be possible to connect a special course and study it in parallel, after a certain time. But it’s faster and easier to learn 10-15 words at a time and consolidate them in practice than 20-30. On the other hand, if you have an average or high level, it is advisable to immediately move on to studying more specific vocabulary.

It is worth finding an opportunity to communicate in English additionally, outside of lessons - in conversation clubs, for example, because this will improve listening comprehension and improve spontaneous communication skills.

In addition to homework and special technical English classes, you need to include English-language content in order to accustom yourself to it and speech in general.

But all the previous tips are more general and are suitable for almost anyone who wants to learn English.

Specific points of technical English

  • technical English very often overlaps with business English, and therefore it will be useful to know the basics of business communication;
  • a number of topics that, as a rule, are suitable for most IT specialists, are interviews and resumes, business correspondence, team communication, popular methods of teamwork, reporting and technical specifications, presentations, time management and, for the more advanced and experienced , topics of startups, freelancing and your own business;
  • Considering that the previous topics involve live communication, it is worth studying with a teacher at least to practice these particular topics.

One of the most important points is the issue of motivation, since it accounts for half or even more of overall success:

  • set aside regular two to three days a week when you are ready to study English for an hour and a half;
  • It’s worth doing your homework, and it’s better if you do it immediately after class or the next day in order to more reliably consolidate knowledge in your memory;
  • on all other days you also need to spend at least half an hour in English in order to constantly be in an English-speaking environment;
  • you need a clear and, preferably, visual goal in studying - global and intermediate (the teacher will be of great help with this; after a couple of weeks of training, he will remind you that certain lexical and grammatical topics have already been studied, and after 3-4 months he will tell you whether you are ready to move on further, one level higher);
  • constant feedback on successes is necessary (again, the teacher comes in handy here), because by observing your successes, it is much easier to move forward;
  • It’s worth choosing entertaining content so that English is associated not only with mandatory learning and a lot of effort, but also with relaxation.

If you think that half an hour a day is very little and not productive, here is a list of things that will easily help you constantly add fuel to your mind palace:

  • you can read the BBC\CNN news feed;
  • see news from profiles that interest you on social networks (Twitter is good for this);
  • listen to songs of your favorite foreign performers;
  • watch short videos on YouTube or episodes of your favorite TV series;
  • make stickers with unknown words and hang them around the house;
  • complete one of the types of training on a website dedicated to the English language and its study;
  • write a message to a foreign pen pal.

Technical English courses for programmers

Now imagine that during the learning process you have an experienced mentor who will correct mistakes and encourage you when necessary. Then, taking into account the previous recommendations, even learning difficult technical English turns from torment and routine into an excellent way to relax and develop, which will also bring material benefits in the future.

These are the types of classes that await you at EnglishDom. You can see this for yourself by attending a free introductory lesson at our school, and at the same time check your level, and have a good time, receiving important and useful tips on learning the language.

In addition, we have very attractive prices for English courses for engineers!

The choice is yours. We wish you success!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family


Information from tonail.com:

When purchasing any course or manual on a foreign language, you most likely came across words such as Elementary, Beginner, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate and Advanced. You also most likely understand that these designations are level characteristics of courses and manuals. Today I propose to understand what exactly all these characteristics mean.

Without delving into the history of the issue, let's say that we are talking about the system of levels of foreign language proficiency used in Europe. In short, this system is called CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). It doesn’t matter what specific foreign language you study. You can still be assessed in CEFR terms.

When developing the European Level System, extensive research was carried out in different countries, and assessment methods were tested in practice. The result was the following system:

A Basic User
A1 Survival level (Breakthrough) Elementary
A2 Pre-threshold level (Waystage) Beginner

B Independent User
B1 Threshold level Pre-Intermediate
B2 Threshold advanced level (Vantage) Intermediate

C Proficient User
C1 Level of professional proficiency (Effective Operational Proficiency) Upper-Intermediate
C2 Mastery Level Advanced

Now let's reveal the essence of these levels.

A1: I understand and can use familiar phrases and expressions needed to perform specific tasks. I can introduce myself / introduce others, ask / answer questions about my place of residence, acquaintances, property. I can participate in a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is willing to help.

A2: I understand individual sentences and frequently used expressions related to basic areas of life (for example, basic information about myself and my family members, shopping, getting a job, etc.). I can perform tasks related to simple exchange of information on familiar or everyday topics. In simple terms I can tell about myself, my family and friends, and describe the main aspects of everyday life.

B1: Understand the main ideas of clear messages made in standard language on various topics typically encountered at work, study, leisure, etc. Can communicate in most situations that may arise while in the country of the target language. I can compose a coherent message on topics that are known or of particular interest to me. I can describe impressions, events, hopes, aspirations, express and justify my opinions and plans for the future.

B2: I understand the general content of complex texts on abstract and concrete topics, including highly specialized texts. I speak quickly and spontaneously enough to constantly communicate with native speakers without too much difficulty for either party. I am able to give clear, detailed messages on various topics and present my view on the main issue, showing the advantages and disadvantages of different opinions.

C1: I understand large complex texts on various topics, recognize hidden meanings. I speak spontaneously at a fast pace, without having difficulty finding words and expressions. I use language flexibly and effectively to communicate in scientific and professional activities. I can create accurate, detailed, well-structured messages on complex topics, demonstrating mastery of text organization patterns, communication tools, and integration of text elements.

C2: I understand almost any oral or written message, I can compose a coherent text based on several oral and written sources. I speak spontaneously with a high tempo and a high degree of precision, emphasizing nuances of meaning even in the most difficult cases.

English is spoken by more than 400 million people around the world and another 1.5 billion use it as a second language. All programming documentation is initially in English, the 5 million Stack Overflow community communicates in English. Interesting and monetary orders, the latest news from the IT sphere and much more are closed to developers who do not speak this language. Knowledge of English is a prerequisite for successful employment and career growth as a programmer. To help GeekBrains blog subscribers learn, we with the startup team for learning English via Skype EnglishDom We have prepared practical tips on how to learn technical English quickly and effectively.

Exercise every day

This is relevant for anyone who wants to quickly learn a foreign language. Don’t look for excuses in established phrases like: “five minutes doesn’t solve anything.” During this time, you can read the news in English, learn a few words, or watch a thematic video. Look for opportunities, not excuses. Download an English audiobook to listen to while riding the subway, or a language learning app to make the most of those five minutes.

Learn words by topic

For better memorization study words in context of use. For example, to master English terminology on the topic “Algebra of Sets,” read the thematic articles and highlight unknown words. After that, practice them by studying materials on the topic until you can do without a dictionary. This method of studying will allow you to understand the nuances of the meanings of words, which cannot be achieved simply by memorizing a dictionary.

Set your goals correctly

“Learn technical English” is too abstract a goal. New words appear every day and even native speakers do not know all the subtleties. And when something is too abstract, it is impossible to understand the quality of the result, because of this there is no motivation. That's why set specific, measurable goals, for example: “Complete a small order from an English-speaking employer,” “Read such and such a book on Java in English,” “Know 100 technical terms,” “Ask for advice on an English-language resource.”

Read English-language IT forums

Here you can pick up current expressions that programmers around the world use in informal communication. This is not just a fun whim. Knowing the intricacies will be important for subsequent communication with foreign colleagues and customers.

Follow English-speaking programmers on social networks

Firstly, it is an inexhaustible source of new words and expressions. Secondly, you will be “in touch” with the latest events and innovations from the IT world.

Knowledge of vocabulary without listening skills is not enough. In order to successfully communicate with foreign customers and colleagues, you need to be able to perceive the language by ear. In order to acquire this skill, we recommend watching videos from conferences, hackathons, and presentations. The main rule is maximum live communication. Films, TV series, programs are useful, but they will not give the same effect as familiarization with “unfiltered” speech. You can also listen to audio recordings, but watching a video creates the effect of complete immersion in the language environment; everything is tracked, right down to the speaker’s characteristic gestures and facial expressions.

Review the material you have covered regularly

A person only remembers well what he uses. This fact is due to the fact that the brain considers a skill that has not been used for a long time to be irrelevant. That's why It is very important to sometimes repeat even long-studied and obvious words and expressions. It's better if this is done in practice.

Don't go too deep into grammar

Learn grammar along with vocabulary, this will give a deeper understanding of the language and its structures. When young children learn to speak, they are not drilled into dozens of rules on the use of articles (although, unfortunately, this is often the case when learning languages ​​at school), they simply watch how others do it and repeat after them.

Don't teach through force

You can make learning even a dry technical language enjoyable. Find a specific topic or news story in English that interests you and try to translate it. When you understand that this will bring you results now, for example, in the form of new knowledge about technology, it is very motivating.

Practice

Everyone talks about this, but not many use this mandatory rule. The absence of a language barrier, the ability to quickly switch to conversational mode and select the right words are some of the most important indicators of language proficiency at an advanced level. Look for every opportunity to talk. For example, you can communicate with native speakers in text and video chats.

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