Students´ opinion (3)

I believe the following text will grab reader´s attention by a fresh viewpoint on English, by an extremely pleasing style of writing and in the end by sincerity of the author´s thinking. Have a nice reading.

Galina Vitkova

 

 

 

Me and English

By Hynek Urban

 

I’ve been learning English for four years at school so far, all of which took place at the high school – thanks to the entrance selective test, this semester is my first semester of English at the university. Even though four years might appear to be a bit too little, I had quite a lot of opportunities to practice English outside the school (staying abroad or – passively – at home while reading).

 

I must confess to the fact, that I don’t really like English. I consider it to be a very practical language, but at the same time pretty ugly. Without a doubt, the good thing about it is that it can be used almost anywhere in the world. I think there are two main factors which caused that. First of all there are many native speakers of English in the world, and their countries are wealthy, powerful, and influential (for instance in the area of culture – the flood of Hollywood movies coming to Europe simply has to leave some consequences). The second main factor is the relative simplicity of this language, which allows nearly everyone to learn its basics without great effort (compared to other languages).

 

Of course this worldwide spread of English has its negative effects, too. The worst one, I think, is the decline of other languages. Here in the Czech Republic, it’s not that bad yet, but in countries where English is used and understood more than here, it’s becoming a language disaster. Sometimes when I watch the Bavarian TV and hear how the people from the street mix English and German, I just can’t stand it.

 

I didn’t expect much from this English course, as I generally don’t like learning languages at the school. However, I was fairly surprised by the last lesson, where quite an interesting discussion took place. In my opinion, such discussions are much more beneficial in terms of real talking and using the language than grammatical drills. Of course it’s on the teacher to decide what is more important; I’m just being honest in my opinions in this last paragraph as I was in the previous ones. Anyway, I’m hoping to extend my vocabulary in technical areas in this course, and to have opportunity to practice real discussion and argumentation in English.

 

Students´ opinion (2)

Let´us go on inquiring about students´s opinion on Technical English. Enjoy the text below.

Galina Vitkova

 

 

About me

        By Ondřej Sklenář

I have been learning English since I began studying at the Czech Technical University.

I like that almost everybody in nowadays world speaks at least Basic English. English is a keystone to the human communication all around the world. Otherwise our society already experienced the same point of view at Russian language few years ago (being forced to learn compulsory Russian against their will). However, according to my humble opinion, the best language to study is undoubtedly Chinese because it is a logical step to understand people who speak the most-worldwide-spread language.

I expect improvement of my grammar knowledge and enlargement of my vocabulary. The best way how to fulfill my goals is to discuss as many conversation topics as possible and to thrash out daily news and problems.

As for technical English, the most of technical texts, manuals and guides on the Internet are written in English. So from my point of view reading them is not easy, but important.

Students´ opinion (1)

 Let me introduce my students´ opinion on technical English. All of them study at the Faculty of electrical engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague. They are future electric and electronic engineers. They are aware of the importance of English for their professional career.

Next several posts will contain students´ essays with their opinion.

Here is the first one. Enjoy it.

Galina Vitkova

 

About me

By Petr Adamec

I have been studying English since my childhood. I had private English lessons even before I entered the first class and lately at elementary school. Nevertheless, in my opinion it was for nothing because I don’t remember almost anything from that time. I have practically started studying English at high school.

I like English because it is a widespread international language allowing me to read and work with many resources available on the Internet (like device datasheets). From these lessons I expect improvement of my vocabulary with more complex technical terms and phrases.

In my opinion Technical English is a great way how to connect knowledge of technicians all over the world.

Why Technical English?

By Galina Vitkova

 Self-evidently Technical English remains the English (even though Microsoft Word check speller offers about 13 kinds of the English). Nevertheless, Technical English like Business English has its own specific features and particularities. In this sense nobody has any doubt regarding Business English. There are many course books and other tutorial tools dealing with the Business English. The situation around the Technical English is quite different.  We won´t be discussing the reasons for that now. Let us concentrate on the specifics of the Technical English.

In my opinion based on long-term experience with learning and teaching English they are as follows:

·       Technical texts are as a rule difficult for understanding;

·       Vocabulary comprises a large amount of special terms, expressions, word constructions;

·       The texts are full of acronyms or abbreviation, especially in the case of modern technologies;

·       The technical texts contain a lot of stable sayings, phrases, expressions;

·       There are favourite grammatical constructions that are mostly used in these texts (we discuss thoroughly them later).

However, technical texts in English are interesting and comprehensible for technicians. It increases person´s emotional involvement in the learning English and brings better results in the language knowledge. That is why they are worth being studied. 

 

 

Hello world!

Let´s discuss

By Galina Vitkova

 

Dear friends of Technical English!

 

I am quite sure that such a category of people studying and needing and using Technical English really exists. And I personally belong to the category.

So, I decided to establish this blog as a place where all interested in Technical English can express their opinion on the topic, explain what problems they have met and maybe have till now when studying and using Technical English for practical purposes.

I see the problems that are needed to be discussed as follows:

·     What possibilities do the Internet and computers provide for studying English, in our case Technical English?

·     How to use these possibilities for learning and teaching Technical English?

·     How are these possibilities used (examples of their practical implementation)?

·     What is the most important in Technical English required for work?

·     How to develop communication skills in Technical English?

·     What about Technical English writing?

·     How to keep active knowledge of Technical English you have already gained?

·     How to ensure lifelong and strong-minded improving of person´s Technical English in the meaningful, interesting and not time-consuming way? 

·     What about e-learning Technical English, online Technical English?

·     How to enrich steadily and effectively your Technical English vocabulary?

·     What kind of dictionaries do technicians need?

·     Which general topics of Technical English are the most interesting and helpful for most technicians (for example Computers, Internet, Artificial Intelligence namely Robotics, Power Engineering Industry etc.)?

·     What kind of language consulting do technicians need in their work:

-         when letter writing

-         when preparing presentations

-         while anticipating a job application form, Curriculum Vitae or a cover (motivation) letter

- when writing technical or scholarly articles etc.

 

Welcome to the blog and discuss these problems and your problems connected with Technical English!