2.  English as lingua franca in international engineering projects  Liberal arts and engineering: aesthetics vs. practicality

3.  English is considered as an international language as it is widely spoken language of the world. English as a language enjoys the status of lingua franca.  English has been widely accepted as the most widespread language in the world.  By the end of 20 th century English began to emerge as a global language. English has a great acceptance at social, economical and political levels.

4.  English is cited as the major language of international business, diplomacy, science and professions.  The outlook behind the usage of English had been changing significantly.  Almost all institutions of higher education worldwide have understood the importance of introducing new and/or modifying existing courses in English for specific purposes (ESP), in particular. English courses are seen as medium for improving communication skills in general.

5.  The overall concept of ESP focuses the learner’s attention on the particular technology and communication skills required in the engineering profession.  It is found that basically engineering professionals need communication skills for the following 10 reasons:

6. 1. To express and share their experience, knowledge, ideas and thoughts in an effective manner for the common benefit of the society. 2. To aspire a bright academic career growth. 3. To secure a higher level of position in the related jobs. 4. To attain timely promotion and other benefits at their working place. 5. To lead the team from the front. 6. To develop a very healthy working environment and interpersonal communication skills. 7. To harness a better understanding and harmony. 8. To pursue advance or higher level of studies. 9. To work in a globalized and multilingual culture. 10. To sharpen presentation, writing, negotiation, intrapersonal skills etc.

7.  English is the prime means for communication, and can often serve as the global language between two people from two different cultures, wherein English is not the native tongue.  For example, French engineers communicated with Egyptian engineers in English during the recent building of the Cairo subway.

8.  Some multinational firms with bases in continental Europe use English as the prime form of communication in the office.  In this sense, multinational corporations can be seen to indirectly influence the educational policies in foreign lands by their value creation of particular languages through global economic power.  This also delivers a strategic advantage to those institutions in non-English countries with effective English language instruction.

9.  In this new millennium, people who speak English alongside other languages will outnumber those who speak it as a first language.  There is also expected to be a language shift from those who speak English as foreign language (where there is no local model for English) to those who speak English as a second language.  This will occur as English begins to penetrate new domains, such as China, where it does not already exist as part of the speaker’s community.

10.  The importance of multilingualism for the global engineer is not confined to learning English.  Multilingualism in an engineering course is increasingly focusing on regional communication skills, where the main languages from within that country’s region are becoming just as important as learning English.

11.  The English language’s strengths will lie not in acting as a first language, but as a secondary language in international multilingual education.  This also has clear implications for engineering education.  As the profession of engineering becomes increasingly international, English language skills become very important to facilitate communication between cultures, emphasising the necessity for English language and communication skills in engineering curricula.

13.  The Millau Viaduct is presently the tallest vehicular cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France.  The height of the bridge is an impressive 1,125 feet, 62 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower.  The bridge was opened in December 2004 and crosses the Valley of the River Tarn close to Millau in the South of France.

14.  The bridge was designed by Michel Virlogeux, a structural engineer.  The project’s architect was Norman Foster, who was quoted as saying that the bridge looked “impossibly delicate” and was a “dialogue between nature and the man made.”  Delicate it is, because driving atop this engineering feat makes one feel as though they are suspended in the sky. Rightfully so because the Millau Viaduct bridge deck is the highest in the world.

15.  Wherever we look we discuss and appreciate aesthetics, but we take the engineering for granted.  You will have your own list of systems that combine good engineering and aesthetics. And it is argued that good aesthetics and engineering can and should live together.  An aesthetically satisfying design will normally enhance public acceptance of the technology.

16.  Hissey, T.W. Enhanced Skills for Engineers (Pt. 2): Technical Expertise Alone is not Enough. IEEE-USA Today’s Engineer Online. August 2002.  Cheremissina, I.A. and Riemer, M.J., English for Specific Purposes in Engineering Education at the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Proc. 5th Baltic Region Seminar on Engng. Educ., Gdynia, Poland, 2001.  Riemer, M.J. English and Communication Skills for the Global Engineer. Global Journal of Engineering Education. Vol. 6. No. 1. 2002. UICEE.  Graddol, D., The Future of English? A Guide to Forecasting the Popularity of the English Language in the 21st Century. London: The British Council, 1997.  http://www.worldlanguage.com http://www.worldlanguage.com  http://iprojectideas.blogspot.com/2011/04/solar-powered-air- conditoner.html http://iprojectideas.blogspot.com/2011/04/solar-powered-air- conditoner.html  http://www.engineeringdaily.net/top-10-most-impressive- engineering-projects/ http://www.engineeringdaily.net/top-10-most-impressive- engineering-projects/

17. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION! PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS