Technology Syllabus
SAMPLE SYLLABUS – TECHNOLOGY
WHO IS THIS SYLLABUS SUITABLE FOR?
This Technology syllabus is suitable for second language learners working in the technology industry, who want to improve their competence in the target language, using meaningful real-world contexts relevant to their professional working lives.
Actual course content and training format will be tailor-made after a process of consultation. The sample outline below gives an idea of what may be covered. The language levels are based on the Common European Framework.
SAMPLE COURSE OUTLINE
Level B2-C2 (Intermediate- Advanced Level)
1. Communicative/Thematic Content may include:
• Common terminology
• Industry associations
• Different roles within the industry
• Current trends within the industry
• Overview of communication systems
• Overview of information technology
• Graphics and media technology
• Software design
• Impact of Technology
• Futures of Technology
2. Key functional content
• Communication: with customers, sales staff, engineers etc
• Expressing ideas & opinions
• Making comparisons: e.g. technological trends in different countries
• Conversational strategies: turn-taking, interrupting, clarification and confirmation etc
• Register: formal vs. informal
• Negotiating
• Disagreement & Dissent
• Understanding and using nuance
• Assigning, accepting & denying blame
• Summarizing complex information
• Advising colleagues/ clients
3. Pronunciation
• Key sounds/phonemes
• Word and sentence stress & intonation
• Common Problems
4. Structural Content / Grammar
• Tenses: present, past & future
• Perfect aspect: progressive & perfective (be + ing/ have + been past participle)
• Modal Verb structures: use of modals in discourse (I think I might…)
• Imperatives: the base form of the verb typically used to issue instructions
• Word order
• Writing e-mails
• Taking notes
• Building longer sentences
5. Non-thematic Lexis
• Complex prepositions: phrasal & mixed types (over & above)
• Linking words: (because, so, however, therefore, etc.)
• Word-building (prefix and suffix patterns)
• Common idioms and collocations
6. Cultural content
• Everyday conventions: greetings, time-keeping, making phone calls, etc
• Body language and gestures
• National traditions/customs & culture
• ‘Do’s & Taboos’
• Intercultural Communication
• Business Culture
• Social Life