1. Engineering Technical English Islamic University of Gaza
Unit 1: Technology in use Simplifying & Illustrating Technical Explanation
Dr. Hatem Elaydi
Engineering Technical English
Islamic University of Gaza
Feb. 10, 2016

2. Section 7
Richard, a structural engineer, often takes clients on guided tours of their new buildings during construction. He is talking about explaining technical concepts to non- specialists. Listen and answer the following questions:
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

3. Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

4. Section 7: Q14
What does Richard say about explaining technical concepts?
What does he mean by dull explanations?
What is being patronizing?
Answers
That you shouldn’t use jargon or it will sound like nonsense and that technical concepts can be difficult to explain, even using everyday language
Explanations that are boring
Speaking to an adult as if you’re talking to a child
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

5. Richard is giving some advice about the problems in Exercise l4b.
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

6. Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

7. Q15C) Richard is giving some advice about the problems
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

8. Q15
Richard has made notes for a guided tour of a site. The project is a skyscraper in the early stages of construction. During the tour he explains the technical terms to the non- specialist group. Discuss the following terms and try to interpret them using everyday language to rephrase them.
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

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13. Q15b: Listen and make notes of his explanations of the following technical terms. Compare your ideas with his.
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

14. Q15d: Complete the following table using the words in the box.
Answers
1 put simply; in other words; basically
2 effectively; essentially; basically
3 what we call; what we refer to as
4 if you imagine; if you picture
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

15. Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305

16. Q16 c: Suggested answer
Dr. Hatem Elaydi, IUG, Spring 2016, ENGG 1305