EFL Tech - France a Site for Teachers of English ( as a Foreign Language) for Engineering

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TABLE OF CONTENTS of the databank

#01   MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
Text + comprehension, grammar and writing exercises.
 

#02   SEP - VERNON
General introduction to the  Société Européenne de Propulsion industrial site - Together with comprehension and writing exercises. Written in French (but a rough translation is provided at the end) for French speaking students. The exercises do not aim at testing capacities but at teaching a method to improve weaker students' comprehension and (it is hoped) writing abilities.
 

#03   HOW TO USE YOUR (CHILDREN'S) LEGO SETS
A simulation of workshop activities in which students have to build Lego "machines". Can be used for comprehension and expression (both written and oral) with small groups of students. Almost a game that students will revel in.
Also, John Downey's contribution
 

#04   ORAL EXPRESSION OF MATHEMATICAL and PHYSICAL CALCULATIONS
How to read  (and express orally) algebraic expressions, functions, equations  and other mathematical and physical formulae.
 

#05   THE FUTURE ON FOUR WHEELS
Text by Richard Ernsberger + comprehension and writing exercises. Though not a technical text properly speaking, students will certainly like it. Seems to me it's a "good" document which might be used as pre-reading activity before a more technical one.
 

#06   ENGINEERING VOCABULARY
A list (together with numerous exercises) of the most essential vocabulary of  engineering. Very useful. (3.2)
 

#07    SPOTTING VERBS AND SUBJECTS
998 - Jean Roy - Various easy exercises to help students analyse sentences by spotting verbs and subjects. (No knowledge of technical vocabulary is required)
 

#08   ENGLISH SOUNDS AND NOISES FOR ENGINEERS
Mike Mc Grath -It is important for engineers to identify and understand the significance of the names of mechanical sounds in English because they are often used to describe the symptoms of faults and problems with machines.
A superbly illustrated file together with a short Javascript exercise at the end.
As the file is very long (500K), it has been divided into six smaller units.
 

#09   STUDYING AND WRITING A USER'S MANUAL
Numerous lower-intermediate EFL exercises aiming at analysing and using the language of user's manuals.
 

#10   YES, YOU CAN FIND THE MEANING OF A WORD...
Alain Gayer - Four sets of exercises to help students discover the meaning of unknown words by finding out how words are built  and  by using  the context and 'transparent' words.
This file could be used with low level students just after studying file # 7.
No knowledge of technical vocabulary is required
 

.#11   AUTOMATED ASSEMBLIES
A text about robots with comprehension, grammar and writing exercises. Some comprehension exercises are elementary, though the file is designed for lower intermediate students.
 

#12   DATA AND FORMS
Alain Gayer - Various exercises about dimensions, figures, measures, graphs, etc.
A great contribution!! Do have a look at it.
As it is is long, the file has been divided into7 units.
 

#13 (formerly)     ENGINEERING STUDENT EMAIL EXCHANGE
(Moved to the 'Articles, Papers and Reports section').
 

#13    TALKING ABOUT YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE
Jean Roy  -  A short file aimed at helping your students talk about their work experience. (Plan + vocabulary)
 Click here to download the  file in PDF format

#14   ROTATING MACHINES
Text about very elementary motors and generators + comprehension, grammar and writing exercises.
 

#15    E-SERVICES AND THE DESIGN ENGINEER
Text + vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, writing and oral exercises.
 

#16   MINE CLEARING ROBOT
 (A very easy) text + vocabulary, comprehension, grammar and writing exercises.
 

# 17  COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Various exercises to teach the compare and contrast patterns.
 

# 18 TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS
A very short file  with two exercises.
 

# 19  CLASSIFYING
A usual activity in technology since facts are collected and arranged in groups or categories having some common
features.
 

#20  DESCRIBING PROCESSES
Review of some of  the language functions required  to talk about processes + several oral exercises.
 

#21  COMPUTERS
Text + vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, writing and oral exercises.
 

#22  STUDENTS' TOOL BOX
A repository containing conjugations, basic vocabulary and most essential language functions.
 

#23  "FAUX AMIS" False Friends i.e. words that look alike in French and in English but have different meanings
This page had been devised by a French teacher for his  students, so that it  is unfortunately  likely to be useless for speakers of other languages, except perhaps (?) Italian and Spanish native speakers.
In addition to a list of "faux amis", it also contains a crossword puzzle using these words
Contributed by Jean ROY
 

# 24  Two texts about SAFETY  ( Be on your guard and Preventing tampering with safety equipment)
comprehension, garmmar, oral and written exercises.
Intermediate level is required
 

# 25 WEBSITES VIE FOR ENGINEERS' ATTENTION
Text + comprehension, garmmar, oral and written exercises.
A (good)  intermediate level is required.
 

# 26  BE + ING  vs.  BE + ED
Grammar exercises aiming at trying (!) to teach  when to use these two verb forms.
 

# 27 DESCRIBING DEVICES
Review of some of  the language functions required  to describe instruments,  machines and other devices + several exercises.
 

# 28  JAVA HITS THE ROAD - An Interactive Web Activity
A text about a Sun Microsystems' project of Java-enabled cars + interactive vocabulary, comprehension, grammar and writing exercises.  Intermedioate level.
 

# 29 WINTER SAFETY RULES
Another text about safety. It gets the sudents to use functions such as  advice, cause, consequence, hypothesis; obligation, prohibition, purpose and means (both orally and in writing).  Intermediate level.
The exercises have been tried by several colleagues who seem to find them  quite satisfying.
 

# 30  SPACE FOR EVERYONE - An Interactive Web Activity
A text about microsatellites + interactive vocabulary, comprehension, grammar and writing exercises.
Low intermediate level
 

# 31  LABELLING
Three short  and easy labelling exercises: a smart seat, a direct-thrust drive servo motor and a refrigerator.
 

#32  TEACHING VOCABULARY USING NEWSPAPER and MAGAZINE HEADLINES
Magazine headlines for vocabulary acquisition. The exercices  focus on differentiating  between verbs and nouns, compound words, -ING forms,meanings of 'to',  use of context, general-English vocabulary common in technical documents and headline writing. (Low) intermediate students will certainly find this file very useful.
 

# 33 SAFETY POSTERS
Two pages  focusing on how to express prohibition, obligation, advice ( and others) at low intermediate and intermediate levels.
Can be used as as introduction to or a complement of the two texts about safety ( see  item # 24, above) or in parallel with "Winter safety rules" (item #29).
 

#34   PLASTICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Plastic can be a contributor to  the protection of the environment. A text with exercises (Pre intermediate level) 

.# 35  MODAL VERBS
Various exercises aimed at teaching modal auxiliary verbs at low intermediate /  intermediate levels. 

# 36 TIDAL POWER STATION
An interesting intermediate level test ( text + vocabulary and comprehension exercises)     
 

#37 HIGH FIBER ENGINEERING
An old ( but interesting ) text about composite materials.  (Intermediate / high intermediate level)

# 38  50th ANNIVERSARY OF GERMAN SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY
A text about the semiconductor industry with comprehension, grammar and writing exercises. (Intermediate level)

#39 THE UBIQUITOUS CHIP CARD
In addition to 'traditional' comprehension, grammar and writing exercises, there are also an extensive 'Build up your reading strategy' exercise. (Intermediate level)

#40 FOG Fibre-optic gyroscopes
Fairly technical, not so easy but rather short, this text and exercises have been devised for French students and will require a certain amount of adaptation to your students. Intermediate level.

# 41 LONG ON LUXURY
Various exercises, most of them centered on reading comprehension and writing activities. Intermediate level.

# 42 WRITING COURSE

Although this is not a full size writing course, several colleagues who have already used it have found it very useful. It gives both weaker and better students guidelines that can be a precious help.

# 43 MAKING SENSE OF SENSORS

A technical text about the use of various types of sensors together with numerous exercises. Several exercises focus on how to describe circuits and require some basic knowledge of electronics. Intermediate or high intermediate level.

# 44 FIXED FILM RESISTORS
A technical text with various comprehension, grammar and writing exercises. Intermediate level.

# 45 AUTOMATION
The text is not very difficult but the exercises require some (very basic) knowledge of binary logic. Intermediate level.

# 46 TOTAL QUALITY
A topic that has to be discussed whatever the specific domain of engineering you are concerned with. Suitable for intermediate / high intermediate students.

#47 NEW LIFE FOR HISTORIC TRAMS
Fairly basic language exercises using a text that students usually enjoy studying.

#48 VICOR EXPRESS, WHO ARE WE?
Neither very technical nor difficult, this text with various exercises ( comprehension , grammlar, writing) is a general presentation of an industrial entreprise.

#49 THE CHALLENGE OF THE PC-ON-CHIP
Text + several exercises. Intermediate level. Requires some basic technical knowledge

#50 CONDUCTORS, RESISTANCE AND SEMI-CONDUCTORS
The exercises try to develop some of the essential functions of EST viz. expressing causality and consequence, comparing, making defintions, etc... Intermediate or low intermediate level.

# 51 MICROTECHNOLOGY
An Interactive Web Activity (Intermediate level)

#52 THE WORLD'S LATEST COMPUTER

An interesting and stimulating text that students usually like very much. Various comprehension, grammar, writing and oral exercises. Intermediate level.

#53 GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
A somewhat ageing document (1997) , yet quite interesting. It comes with plenty of exercises, especially several aimed at building reading strategy.

#54 THE TOWER OF SUN
A short and easy comprehension worksheet. Low intermediate level .
 

# 55    NEXT DOCUMENT
This is where YOUR contribution will be indexed.
 
 

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