CIVIL ENGINEERING

ESP EDITION

Learn how to
communicate through
vocabulary from your
knowledge field.

A different way
of learning!

Created by: Daniela Calderón

2 0 1 8 Assessor Teacher: Mary Elen Niño
INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGLISH
 ABOUT ME
HELLO!

My name is Daniela
Calderón Aldana, I’m a student of
Bachelor of Education in
English and now I’m in sixth
semester.

This magazine is made in order

to help Civil Engineering
students of la Gran Colombia
University to learned English in a
different and innovative way.

Enjoy each lesson and make it

meaningful for your learning
process, make use of this
material that was made uniquely
and exclusively for you!
 CONTENT
CHAPTER I
Objectives ………………..p6
Introduction ……………..p7
Justification ..…………...p8
ESP ……….………………...p10
Importance .....………….p11

CHAPTER II
First lesson ..……………..p12

CHAPTER III
Second lesson ..………...p24

CHAPTER IV
Third lesson ….…………..p30

CHAPTER V
Fourth lesson .……………p36
CHAPTER VI
Fifth lesson …………...p48

CHAPTER VII
TEST …..…....………….p58
Glossary …....………..p60

CHAPTER VIII
References ..………….p66
Contact ………………...p67
OBJECTIVES
General objective
 Identify the vocabulary used by the Civil
Engineer of la Gran Colombia University in
English.

Specific objectives
 Recognize vocabulary about the different
fields of Civil Engineering.
 Apply the English vocabulary learned in
context.
INTRODUCTION
At first, it is important to recognize the function of English
language in society and to identify the importance of this
language in the world, as well, understand why it is so essential in
the XXI century learn this language to excel in front of others, since,
the labor competition is so limited because at the
moment of finishing a career is evident how, sometimes,
professionals doesn’t have enough competences in a second
language that would make his professional profile different than
their colleagues.

On the other hand, the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) strategy
is proposed for those students who are interested in acquiring
vocabulary with reference to their area of knowledge, in this case
for Civil Engineering students of la Gran Colombia University, in
which will focus on a technical English related to their career that
will be useful to put it into practice. For this, it will not be necessary
to have a high command of English since it will be focused on the
appropriate language for the development of activities and skills
that correspond to their discipline.
 JUSTIFICATION
This project is justified from the importance of the Colombian
professional should bet on learning a second language as a
differential factor for a good position as a professional in their area
of knowledge. According to the EF English Proficiency Index,
Colombia ranks #51 out of 80 countries, with a low level of
proficiency and ranked #11 out of 15 Latin American countries (EF
EPI, 2017). This means that it is necessary to apply strategies or
methods that contribute to improve English proficiency, and
demonstrate the importance of English in the professional world.

Taking into account the above, ESP provides the opportunity for
students to learn English according to their needs, “English for
specific purposes (ESP) refers to the teaching and learning of
English as a second or foreign language where the goal of the
learners is to use English in a particular domain.” (Paltridge and
Starfield, 2013, p. 2). So, this method of teaching will help Civil
Engineering students to have knowledge about the language that
is handled in their career but making use of a foreign language to
meet their needs in a specific context.
Finally, having skills in English will undoubtedly qualify the
professional in his specialty; the Civil Engineer from UGC through
ESP will have the opportunity to learn, to transmit all their
knowledge in the English language and be able to expand their
skills to others and even get a better work and life opportunities,
so learning English for Specific Purposes will contribute to
positioning the professional within society.
 ENGLISHFOR
SPECIFICPURPOSE

Access the specific vocabulary of your área.

Use appropriate style and tone for your

professional discipline.

Convert technical knowledge into

compelling presentations and reports.

Enhance your productivity, job

performance and self-confidence.

Advance your career.

 Why it's important to learn
English?
“La importancia del idioma inglés en el mundo ya no se
discute, sino que se acepta. En Colombia, en todos los
niveles de la sociedad, se reconoce la
importancia de dominar una segunda lengua,
especialmente el inglés." Torres D, (2010).
Recuperado de: Importancia del inglés como segundo idioma

You can travel!

You can communicate with new people!

You can develop your profession better!

You can experience new cultures!

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

1
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
The construction industry plays an important role in
the country’s development, both cultural and
economic since, trough construction infrastructure
needs are met in most of the economic and social
activities of a nation.

Observe some cards that contain

specific terms with the definition in
English and their respective image.
AQUEDUCT

BRIDGE
 CAISSON

INFRASTRUCTURE
 PIER

SUSPENSION BRIDGE
 TOWER

BUILDING
DAM

HOME
 Relate the terms and the definitions in a
way that identifies that you're actually
acquiring and learning new vocabulary.

Write the determinate term that

corresponded with the definition
exposed there.
Write and listen the determinate
term that corresponded with the
definition exposed there.
 Make everything disappear!
Drag the corresponding elements and
put them between each one to make them
disappear.

Gravity
Protect the planets so they’re not going to
become asteroids!
 There is a short test with written questions,
correspondence questions, multiple choice
questions and true / false questions which you
have to answer so that you can know if you
already learned on this first lesson.
MATERIALS

2
 MATERIALS
Materials are an elaborated product used in the
construction of buildings or civil engineering
works. The construction materials are the
components of the constructive and a
architectural elements of a building.

Look at the following flashcards and

associate the definition with the term
 Memorize!
1. See a letter. When you feel ready, click on
the "See Answer" button.
2. How you did? Click "I don’t guess” or "Yes I
guess!"
3. See the results of each round. The new
rounds only show the cards you missed.

Matches!
Match the column A items in column B
QUALITY OF MATERIALS

3
 QUALITY OF MATERIALS
The control of materials, is one of the most
important aspects in the execution of a work, it
must be fully assured that the materials to be
used in the work comply with all the
specifications to which the work is submitted.

Look at the table with the

corresponding words and definitions
Complete the following crossword
and learn vocabulary about it!
Related the pictures with the
corresponding term!
HYDRAULICS

4
 HYDRAULICS
Hydraulics is the part of physics that studies the
mechanics of fluids; Its study is important and
allows us to analyze the laws that govern the
movement of liquids and the techniques for the
best use of water.

Observe some cards that contain

specific terms with the definition in
English and their respective image.
DOWNSTREAM

UPSTREAM
COFFERFAM

TOWPATH
GATE

DOCK
LOCK

PIER
AQUEDUCT BRIDGE

ZAMPEADO
Relate the terms and the definitions in a
way that identifies that you're actually
acquiring and learning new vocabulary.

Write the determinate term that

corresponded with the definition
exposed there.
Write and listen the determinate
term that corresponded with the
definition exposed there.
 Make everything disappear!
Drag the corresponding elements and
put them between each one to make them
disappear.

Gravity
Protect the planets so they’re not going to
become asteroids!
 There is a short test with written questions,
correspondence questions, multiple choice
questions and true / false questions which you
have to answer so that you can know if you
already learned on this first lesson.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

5
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project management is the discipline of
planning, organization, motivation, and
control of resources in order to achieve one
or more objectives.

Look at the flashcards with the

corresponding terms and definitions
 Memorize!
1. See a letter. When you feel ready, click on
the "See Answer" button.
2. How you did? Click "I don’t guess” or "Yes I
guess!"
3. See the results of each round. The new
rounds only show the cards you missed.

Matches!
Match the column A items in column B
Complete the alphabet soup with the
corresponding terms!
 Build the bridge!
Design safe passes for trains over
rivers and deadly voids!
 Answer this final test about all the topics you
learned earlier! just like that, you and I will
recognize that your learning has been really
significant.
once on the
MADE WITH: page press this
icon to do the
test

DON’T FORGET TO
REGISTER ON THE
PAGE TO KNOW WHO
MADE THE TEST!
 aqueduct acueducto /ˈækwɪdʌkt/

bridge puente /ˈbrɪdʒ/

caisson cajón hidráulico /key-suh n/

infrastructure infraestructura /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/

pier muelle /ˈpɪər/

suspension /səˈspɛnʃən
puente colgante
bridge brɪdʒ/

tower torre /ˈtaʊər/

building edificio /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

 dam presa /ˈdæm/

home casa /ˈhəʊm/

scaffold andamio /ˈskæfəld/

arc arco /ˈɑːrk/

cement cemento /sɪˈmɛnt/

column columna /ˈkɒləm/

aluminum aluminio /əˈluːmɪnəm/

cable cable /ˈkeɪbəl/

 cast iron hierro fundido /ˈkɑːst ˈaɪərn/

compressor compresor /kəmˈprɛsər/

concrete concreto /ˈkɒŋkriːt/

crank manivela /ˈkræŋk/

deterioration deterioración /dɪˌtɪəriəˈreɪʃən/

modification modificación /ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

efficiency eficacia /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/

sufficient suficiente /səˈfɪʃənt/

 resistant resistente /rɪˈzɪstənt/

deficient carente de /dɪˈfɪʃənt/

fracture fractura /ˈfræktʃər/

fragile frágil /ˈfrædʒaɪl/

broken roto /ˈbrəʊkən/

downstream con la corriente /ˌdaʊnˈstriːm/

upstream contracorriente /ˌʌpˈstriːm/

cofferdam ataguía /ˈkɒfəˌdæm/

 towpath camino de sirga /ˈtəʊpɑːθ/

gate compuerta /ˈgeɪt/

dock muelle /ˈdɒk/

lock esclusa /ˈlɒk/

pier malecón /ˈpɪər/

puente de
aqueduct bridge /ˈækwɪdʌktˈ brɪdʒ/
acueducto

zampeado zampeado /ˈzɑmpɪɑdo/

technical /ˈtɛknɪkəl
asistencia técnica
assistance əˈsɪstəns/
beneficiaries beneficiarios /ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəris/

complexity complejidad /kəmˈplɛksɪti/

condiciones
preconditions /ˌpriːkənˈdɪʃəns/
previas

credibility credibilidad /ˌkrɛdɪˈbɪlɪti/

diagnosis diagnóstico /ˌdaɪ əgˈnoʊ siz/

effectiveness efectividad /ɪˈfɛktɪvnɪs/

strategy estrategia /ˈstrætədʒi/

impact impacto /ɪmpa’ct/

efficiency eficacia /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/

 Education First. (2018). The World Leader in International Edu-
cation. Sweden: English Proficiency Index. Retrieved from
https://www.ef.com.co/epi/regions/latin-america/colombia

 Paltridge, Brian and Sue Starfield (eds.). 2013. The Handbook

of English for Specific Purposes. Boston: Wiley-Blackwell.

 Gonzales, L. (2018) ¿A qué se dedica un ingeniero civil?:

emagister. Retrieved from https://www.emagister.com/blog/a-
que-se-dedica-un-ingeniero-civil/
Daniela Calderón Aldana
E-mail: dcalderona@ulagrancolombia.edu.co
Number: +57 312 559 05 44

La Gran Colombia University

CIVIL ENGINEERING

2 0 1 8