Abstract:

Nowadays, technology has become part of our lives and we have easier access to it day by day. It is part of the interests of both students and teachers, and, even more so, part of the interest of students in Engineering, based on the observations of the author of this paper who is a Lecturer, PhD at the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, Romania. She teaches English seminars for Engineering students. Based on the observations regarding students’ interest in technology and internet resources available for English language learning, the present paper analyses the advantages of using a virtual laboratory for teaching English for Engineering students. It is usual to take into account students’ needs and interests as the teacher plans the lessons for them. The author of this paper has noticed a declining interest of these students for the classic methods of solving exercises using writing on paper and paper-based resources, as well as for using the cassette or CD player for listening exercises. They prefer Internet-based resources, or resources in electronic format. The computer has changed various ways of simulating and measuring in their Engineering subjects, as well as of working in the Engineering domain, so it is expected for foreign language learning to follow the same path. Generally, Engineering students are expected to be updated about technological progress, and it would make their interest in learning foreign languages grow if they were offered a virtual laboratory setting to use for these classes. Part of the seminars can be concerned with general English, while other seminars may concerned with applying this knowledge into their domain of activity or in situations related to their domain of activity, such as job interviews, working with an international team on projects, dialogues on construction sites, and so on. Mainly, the content of the manuals of technical English for Engineering can become more attractive when adapted to the virtual medium and when it is accessed by students from there. A virtual lab can also offer opportunities for interactivity, which can stimulate students further.

Keywords:

Foreign languages, Engineering, interactivity, technology.