Integrating different types of competences in a technical communication course within the new European framework

Abstract

In the new European framework, university teaching emphasizes student learning and the development of different competences. This paper presents an ESP course for engineering students which integrates competences related to language and communication with competences related to the social, ethical, and humanistic dimension of the engineer. The course “Academic communication in English: science, technology, and society” aims at developing students’ communication skills in English alongside their critical thinking skills, through the exploration and discussion of topics related to science, technology, and society. This paper presents the rationale for the design and teaching of the course, which draws on several strands: the integration of content and language, EAP teaching, and the development of critical thinking skills. It is organized in the form of thematic units, each focusing on a topic related to the impact of technology on society. Each topic thus serves as a point of departure for dealing with content and academic communication in English. This paper tries to show how an EAP course can be related to the interests of engineering students, helping them develop their capacity for academic communication as well as for reflecting on issues related to science, technology, and society.