Learn English to work as an engineer

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The field of engineering is broad, as it essentially consists of using knowledge and technology for the innovation and improvement of companies and society. Without engineers, our society definitely would not have achieved the advances we enjoy today. If you are an engineer, you have certainly realized that English is a tool you cannot do without, both academically and professionally.

If you still need to improve your level of English, ABA English offers you the opportunity to study English online with the best resources developed by expert English teachers. Additionally, you can learn grammar through video lessons, and our short films will help you start speaking English from the very first day you begin your online English course.

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IMPROVE YOUR JOB OPPORTUNITIES

If you want to be a successful professional and access better job opportunities, whether independently or working with an international company, it is very important that besides your academic preparation and work experience, you specialize in other fields to have more possibilities compared to your peers. English is an essential skill in today’s world to improve your job prospects.

What level of English do you need to work as an engineer?

Thinking about English for engineers is thinking about specialized English, since it is not only about reaching an adequate level of communication and fluency, but also necessary to manage the language at a technical level, because you must necessarily know the vocabulary related to your profession. We could say that to work as an engineer in English you should achieve at least a high intermediate level in the language.

To start practicing your English as an engineer, we suggest some useful expressions:

Tomorrow morning we will be installing the new machine. (Mañana a primera hora instalaremos la nueva máquina).

We will find the appropriate solution to your problem. (Encontraremos la solución adecuada a su problema).

English words, expressions and phrases for engineers

We have specially prepared for you a list with different terms that can be useful when communicating about engineering in English.

Pay close attention to the example sentences so you can contextualize the proposed words; it will be much easier for you to internalize them.

1. To talk about a shirt or t-shirt we will use the following terms:

In electronic engineering we say: jacket or stealth.

In metallurgical engineering we say: shell or sleeve.

In transport engineering we say: skirt

Be careful because we never say shirt.

2. Abbreviations used by engineers to communicate.

Here you have a couple of examples of abbreviations in English used within the engineering field.

EXW – Deex works / explosion welding (shipping conditions, welding technique)

TON – Type O Negative / turnover number / ton

If you notice, both have more than one meaning; you must know how to apply them according to the context you find yourself in.

3. Useful vocabulary for engineers with example sentences:

Scale

(Scale)

This map of my hometown is on a scale of 1:10.

(This map of my town is on a 1:10 scale.)

Tolerance

(Tolerance)

Which is the tolerance of this piece of wood? Can I use it to break this down please?

(What is the tolerance of this piece of wood? Can I use it to break this down please?)

Thickness

(Thickness)

Whenever we are designing a new laptop in my company we try to diminish its thickness as much as we can.

(Whenever we are designing a new laptop in my company we try to reduce its thickness as much as we can.)

Length

(Length)

Maria and I have to present our new project tomorrow morning. We are going to design the longest bridge ever seen.The length of the current longest one is 164 km.

(Maria and I must present our new project tomorrow. We are going to design the longest bridge ever seen. The length of the current longest one is 164 km.)

Width

(Width)

I’m going to repair my dad’s boat. Its width is about 7 feet.

(I’m going to repair my dad’s boat. Its width is about 7 feet.)

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