I. Give Russian equivalents to the following English words and word combinations.

1) to be familiar with smth	a) управлять временем
2) free training courses	b) короткое замыкание
3) communication skills	c) облегчать
4) in the long run	d) проходить курсы
5) to come across	e) бесплатные курсы подготовки
6) to manage time	f) умение общаться
7) software	g) знать что-либо
8) to make it easier	h) в конце концов, в общем
9) short circuit	i) натолкнуться, случайно встретиться
10) to take courses	j) программное обеспечение

 

II. Fill in the gaps with suitable prepositions

1. Smaller problems are easier to think ….

2. There are lots of resources and methods … the Internet to help you with problem solving.

3. Every engineer might also work … more specialist software.

4. It is vital… an engineer to be able to communicate effectively with the people he works with.

5. Every engineer should be familiar… computers and IT technology.

III. Match a word in A with its synonym in B:

A	B
1) opportunity	a) easy
2) to improve	b) to propose
3) to require	c) to assist
4) to use	d) possibility
5) to offer	e) to apply
6) to help	f) to make better
7) simple	g) to demand

IV. Discussion. How would you answer the questions?

1. Why are general IT skills important for an engineer?

2. Why is it vital for an engineer to have good communication skills?

3. What are the ways to improve communication skills?

4. Maths skills are vital to engineering. Why?

5. What techniques can help an engineer to solve problems effectively?

Text C

THE SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES OF AN ENGINEER

There are some skills, attributes and qualities that are thought necessary to enable the engineer to practice effectively in a professional manner. These attributes, skills and qualities are listed under five headings:

1) Knowledge and Understanding

2) Intellectual Abilities

3) Practical Skills

4) General Transferable Skills

5) Qualities.

 

The attributes are summarised in the table below:

 

Heading	Demonstration of Skills / Attributes / Qualities
Knowledge & Understanding	A Graduating Engineer should be able to demonstrate: 1) Specialist (Discipline) knowledge 2) Understanding of external constraints 3) Business and Management techniques 4) Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities 5) Understanding of the impact of engineering solutions on society 6) Awareness of relevant contemporary issues
Intellectual Abilities	A Graduating Engineer should be able to demonstrate: 1) The ability to solve engineering problems, design systems etc. through creative and innovative thinking 2) The ability to apply mathematical, scientific and technological tools 3) The ability to analyze and interpret data and, when necessary, design experiments to gain new data 4) The ability to maintain a sound theoretical approach in enabling the introduction of new technology 5) The ability to apply professional judgement, balancing issues of costs, benefits, safety, quality etc. 6) The ability to assess and manage risks
Practical Skills	A Graduating Engineer should be able to: 1) Use a wide range of tools, techniques, and equipment (including software) appropriate to their specific discipline 2) Use laboratory and workshop equipment to generate valuable data 3) Develop, promote and apply safe systems of work
General Transferable Skills	A Graduating Engineer should be able to: 1) Communicate effectively, using both written and oral methods 2) Use Information Technology effectively 3) Manage resources and time 4) Undertake lifelong learning for continuing professional development
Qualities	A Graduating Engineer should be: 1) Creative, particularly in the design process 2) Analytical in the formulation and solutions of problems 3) Innovative, in the solution of engineering problems 4) Self-motivated, 5) Independent of mind, with intellectual integrity, particularly in respect of ethical issues 6) Enthusiastic, in the application of their knowledge, understanding and skills in pursuit of the practice of engineering

I. Find English equivalents for the following Russian words.

Научный

a) science b) scientist c) scientific d) scientifically

Оборудование

a) equip b) equipage c) engine d) equipment

Мастерская, цех

a) workshop b) work c) workman d) workless

Ценный

a) value b) valuable c) valuation d) valueless

Ответственность

a) responsible b) respond c) responsibility d) response

Свойство, признак

a) attribute b) attract c) attraction d) attractive

Сознание, осознание

a) aware b) awareness c) award d) awful

Развитие

a) develop b) device c) development d) deviation

Данные

a) date b) data c) datum d) dated

Безопасность

a) safe b) safeguard c) safety d) safely

 

II. Give Russian equivalents to the following English words and word combinations.

1) to enable	a) введение новой технологии
2) skills and qualities	b) оценивать риски
3) professional responsibility	c) управлять ресурсами
4) introduction of new technology	d) давать возможность
5) to assess risks	e) умения и качества
6) to manage resources	f) профессиональная ответственность
7) the application of knowledge	g) в поисках чего-либо
8) in pursuit of	h) применение знаний
9) the impact of engineering solution	i) инновационное мышление
10) innovative thinking	j) влияние инженерных решений

 

III. Match a word in A with its synonym in B:

A B

1. contemporary a) usage

2. ability b) to estimate

3. to apply c) modern

4. to assess d) aptitude

5. to manage e) to utilize

6. application f) to govern

IV. Read the text again and find English equivalents to the following Russian words and word combinations.

1) влияние инженерных решений

2) современные проблемы

3) решать проблемы

4) технологические инструменты

5) программное обеспечение

6) профессиональное мнение

7) управлять ресурсами

Text D

FIVE NECESSARY SKILLS FOR ENGINEERS’ CAREER SUCCESS

In the day-to-day work of engineers and technical specialists, soft skills are as important as technical skills. These skills, or emotional intelligence, are often not learned in school and enable professionals to navigate smoothly and effectively through a wide variety of social and professional situations with a wide variety of people. Such skills include communication, cooperation, creativity, leadership, and organization. A mid – 2012 study showed that soft skills topped the list of must-haves for employers, with 98 percent of them saying communication skills are essential and 92 percent teamwork skills. Following are five key soft skills that engineers and other professionals should develop for career success.

 

Soft Skill 1: Communication

While speaking, writing, and listening are everyday actions, many professionals underestimate the importance of communication skills. Engineers tend to prioritize technical skills over communication skills, not realizing that they cannot be fully effective in their jobs if they are inadequate speakers, writers, and listeners. Yet it is particularly in the engineering fields that effective communication skills are necessary for success. It is believed that communication skills – such as business writing, technical writing, public speaking, and presentation preparation – are necessary for success as engineers work in and among more varied groups. Effective communication involves listening, which is itself an essential soft skill. Without actively listening to customers, clients, or project partners, problem-solving becomes much more difficult and time-consuming.

 

Soft Skill 2: Creativity

Creativity is the driving force behind innovation and therefore increasingly gaining recognition as the new capital in uncertain and challenging economic times. Organizations often depend on big ideas and creative employees to develop innovative products and services. Every engineer’s core mission is to try to improve the utility of things, to design products or processes that will solve problems better, faster and cheaper. This mission would rarely be achieved if not for engineers’ ways of thinking, which often lead to problem-solving opportunities. In the engineering fields, creativity can be as valuable to solving a problem as the technical skills to identify and troubleshoot the source of the problem. As such, creative thinking is a soft skill that engineers, scientists, and others should cultivate in order to become invaluable members of their organizations.

Soft Skill 3: Adaptability

Having the ability to identify solutions to unforeseen problems requires being able to modify and adjust accordingly to the environment and situation. This flexibility is one of the soft skills that increasingly more employers look for in employees. The way professionals demonstrate their adaptability is by showing they are able to think on their feet, assess problems, and find solutions. The ability to develop a well-thought-out solution within a given time is a skill that employers value greatly. At the same time, today’s tech frontier is rapidly reshaping industries, which means that organizations often must implement change internally to keep up. Here, adaptability also means a willingness to face the unexpected.

 

Soft Skill 4: Collaboration

It is known that teams increasingly dominate solo authors in knowledge production. The days of single-inventor innovations have been replaced with team research across nearly all fields. Whether you call it cooperation, collaboration, or teamwork, an engineer’s ability to work with other people from different backgrounds is essential.

Soft Skill 5: Leadership

Leadership, in and of itself, is not one skill but the integration of a variety of skills. By its very nature, leading people is about successfully interacting with them and convincing them to follow. This makes leadership a key soft skill for professionals. In an engineering context, leadership incorporates a number of capabilities which are critical in order to function at a professional level. These capabilities include the ability to assess risk and take initiative, the willingness to make decisions in the face of uncertainty, a sense of urgency and the will to deliver on time in the face of obstacles, resourcefulness and flexibility, trust and loyalty in a team setting, and the ability to relate to others. Leadership skills are also important to allow engineers later in their careers to help develop and communicate vision for the future and to help shape public policy. These leadership capabilities are essential for the professional practice of engineering and for the protection of public health, safety and welfare.

 

Discussion. How would you answer the questions.

 

1. Prove the fact that «effective communication skills are necessary for success of engineers».

2. Why is creativity gaining recognition nowadays?

3. What is the core mission of every engineer?

4. What does the word «adaptability» mean?

5. Prove the fact that «the days of single – inventor innovation have been replaced with team research». Give examples.

6. What capabilities does leadership incorporate?

Text E