Abstract:

BUTEC (Brno University of Technology English Campus) is the title of a project focused on English language learning and soft skills in the English language. The project was implemented at the Institute of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME), Brno University of Technology (BUT) within the operational programme Education for Competitiveness, priority axis: Tertiary Education, and was co-financed by the European Social Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic.

The project’s key outcome is an electronic module serving as a tool for BUT students and staff to develop their language skills. The e-learning module is incorporated in the university information system using the moodle environment and can be used as a support to individual study or to the attended courses. Apart from additional materials (e.g. interactive pronunciation guide, grammar exercises, etc.) it includes a range of videos on different language levels (A2 to C1). Main part of each level is therefore the video course created at the Institute of Foreign Languages, FME, BUT. The videos are supplemented with comments and language tips, as well as exercises testing comprehension, grammar and vocabulary.

Levels A2, B1 and B2 are intended primarily for undergraduate students and focus on everyday use of English, especially in students’ environment, but include also the topics from the work life area. Each topic includes a separate video with Commentator summarizing and explaining the language structures used in the video:

• A2: Travelling (At the bus station; At the check in; At the airport security check), Family (Around the house; Family dinner; Make yourself at home), In the city (Asking for and giving direction; Sightseeing; At the souvenir shop).
• B1: University (At the library; Meeting the tutor; Study department), Socialising (Dormitory; Dormitory – kitchen; Welcome party), Life in a new country (Adam is feeling ill; At the doctor; Date with Sophie).
• B2: Job interview (Invitation for an interview; Sophie comes to the interview; A chat), First day at work (The first day at work; Meet the team; At Human Resources), Presentation (The meeting; The presentation; The coffee break).

Level C1 addresses especially the needs of Ph.D. students and academic staff. Main attention is drawn to soft skills presented in videos showing most common mistakes and their solutions. Each video provides model situation with comments and tips, as well as exercises, methodological guide and a list of useful phrases. The topics are related to language used at conferences, when presenting or negotiating, etc.:

• C1: Chairing a meeting (Opening a meeting; Decision-making; Closing a meeting), Communicating in a meeting (Giving opinions; Interrupting; Correcting misunderstandings), Negotiating (Opening negotiations; Compromising; Closing a deal), Conference call (Starting a call; Progress of a call; Closing a call), Customer service (Difficult customer; Effective complaint; Getting new customers), Effective teaching (Beginning a lecture; Progress of a lecture; Finishing a lecture), Welcome speech (Starting a speech; Progress of a speech; Closing a speech), Panel session (Starting a contribution; Progress of a contribution; Closing a contribution), Question and answer session (Dealing with questions I; Dealing with questions II; Dealing with questions III).

Keywords:

Video, language learning, soft skills.