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

A – Data bank of words and patterns

1 – a/ it enables / allows me/ the user/ the system to + V b/ it makes it possible to + V c/ it provides (something) d/ it provides me / the user / the system with ( something) e/ it ensures ( something).; it ensures that + subject + verb

Examples:

a/ the three-speed motor of the windscreen wipers allows / enables the driver to adjust the speed to the intensity of the rain
b/ the three-speed motor of the windscreen wipers makes it possible to adjust the speed…
c/ rear and side mirrors provide rear views of the traffic
d/ rear and side mirrors provide the driver with views of the traffic behind him
e/The radiator ensures efficient cooling of the engine; it ensures that the engine is efficiently cooled down

2 – It is meant to + V – it is used for + V-ING – the purpose of X is to + V

Examples: headlights are meant to produce enough light to be able to see the road at night – headlights are used for producing enough light … - the purpose of headlights is to produce enough light…

3 a/ First; next; after that; at this stage; later; finally
b/ when, after, before + V-ING
c/ when, after, before, once + I / the user / the system does

Examples:

b/ after detecting the fault, you (will) call the maintenance team.- before calling the maintenance team you should try to detect the fault yourself.
c/ after you detect the fault, you ( will) call the maintenance team – before you call the maintenance team you should try to detect the fault yourself.

4 – by means of + noun– thanks to + noun – through – by +V-ING

Examples:

Accurate measurements with a reading n accuracy of 0.01mm can be made by means of a micrometer calliper - accurate measurements of external diameter and of thickness can be achieved by using a micrometer calliper.
 
 

5 – Use of passive. (This avoids mentioning WHO does the action when such information is not necessary.)

Examples:

We can treat thermoplastics several times >>> thermoplasticscan be treated several times.
IN order to solder a transistor into a printed circuit board, the technician heats and applies solder to both leads, then he allows the soldered joints to cool >>> In order to solder a transistor into a printed circuit board, solder is heated and applied to both leads, then the soldered joints are allowed to cool.
 
 

B – Exercises

1 – Express use and means

a/ Read this text about barometers and pick up all the phrases that you have just studied.

A barometer is a device that allows the user to estimate what the weather will be. But in fact, it is used for measuring atmospheric pressure: a metal capsule containing air at low pressure is squeezed by an increase in outside pressure. The movements of the movable side of the capsule are registered by means of a spring that keeps an arm pressed against the capsule so that the arm can register a rise or fall in pressure and show it by moving on a dial.

b/ Do the same to speak about a modem ; a scanner; a car battery. Use patterns A1, A2 and A4.

2 – How to start your car.

a/ Re-order the various steps

- turn the ignition key;
- engage the first gear;
- look in the mirror;
- accelerate slowly;
- check that the gear lever is in neutral position;
- declutch (= débrayez)
- flash the indicator;
- engage the clutch (embrayez)

b/ Use pattern A3 to connect the sentences into a coherent set.

.

3 – Use of passive

Explain what has to be done to disengage the two panels.(Use the passive)

4 – Coffee making

Express the various steps of this industrial process using the phrases and patterns studied in A.
 
 

DRYING
>
WEIGHING
>
TRANSPORT (conveyor belt)
>
INITIAL CLEANING (to remove wood / stones / pebbles / metal)
>
STORAGE (20 silos each containing 20 tons)
>
BLENDING (selection of coffees to make different products)
>
ROASTING (11 minbutes French roast, 14 minutes Italian roast)
>
COOLING (cold air vlown through coffee)
>
WEIGHING (16% volume most during roasting)
>
FINAL CLEANING and STORAGE
>
QUALITY CONTROL (colour, humidity, volume)
>
GRINDING (1h30 for 2.5 tons of coffee for expresso – very fine; 1 hour for filter coffee)
>
REMOVAL OF GAS (carbon gas released during roasting)
>
PACKAGING (7 lines for 250g packets, line for individual sachets)
        HESSER 34 MACHINE -  >  Packet shaping

                                                   >               Filling

                                                   >             Weighing

                                                   >             Weight adjustment

                                                   >             Closing and checking

Source: placement report ( June 1999) of Raphaël Lucas - TS2 MAI student in Dieppe.

 1 - This class activity  is designed for oral work. However, with  weaker students, it may be useful to do some exercises ( or some parts of exercises) in writing. But the final work (particularly exercise 4) ought to be oral.

2 - A limited number of patterns and structures have been selected. It might prove useful to add notes and exercises about how to express purpose and  consequence.

Exercise 1 b - One might work in two steps: first, have the students produce simple sentences to explain what these devices are for and how they operate, then  the students can do the same  again but using the required patterns.

Example witht the modem:

Step 1: it connects a computer to the telephone network. I can receive and transmit data over my phone line. It converts digital modulated sound into binary signals.

Step 2 : : one can try to obtain something like  : " A modem is a device that allows the user to receive and transmit date over his phone line. It connects a computer to the telephone network by converting converts digital modulated sound into binary signals or vice versa ".
 

Exercise 3 - If necessary, one can begin using  active verbs  ( The operator unscrews the nut and he removes it. He lifts the bolt and he can disengage the two panels.) Then the sequence of operations will be expressed using the passive, without forgetting time connectors( A3)

Exercise 4

The objective can be to have the students produce complex sentences using most of the patterns studied in A, for instance

* After initial cleaning is done, which allows the wood, stones pebbles and metal to be removed, the coffee is stored in silos…

* Cooling is achieved by blowing cool air through the coffee before weighing operations are performed.
 

Note : it would be possible to devise a similar exercise using the 1995 French BTS- MAI exam paper  : Process line for production of fruit preserves.
 

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