Using Analysis of Technical Discourse in the Engineering Curriculum

Abstract

English is included in variety of ways in engineering education at Swedish universities and colleges, from course material and speaking and writing assignments, to courses in technical English. In addition, engineering courses are increasingly being offered in English. However, since technical discourse tends to be complex and not always easy to understand or use effectively, it is important that we develop and use teaching methodologies that help students improve the English language skills they will need in their work and studies. In this talk, I suggest an approach for increasing communicative competence in English used in technical settings, both academic and professional. The approach is based on the use of discourse analysis, genre analysis and the English for Science and Technology (EST) teaching methodology. It is illustrated with material developed for postgraduate courses at LTH and undergraduate engineering courses at Malmö Högskolan. It is proposed that this approach can be used in a variety of ways to enhance the use of English in engineering curricula, from helping teachers to give technical courses in English to facilitating the use of English as part of technical courses, and also as a basis for communicative-based courses in technical English.