What is technical English? Technical English for IT: dictionaries, textbooks, magazines Study guide engineering English from scratch

The profession of a programmer has always been and will be directly related to the knowledge of languages ​​- programming languages ​​and, of course, English. This is also due to the fact that most of the innovative solutions, inventions and achievements often come to us from America and Europe.

In addition, no matter how trivial it may sound, English is the most common international language, which means that it can be useful not only at work.

Why do you need English in IT?

Let's try to name the main reasons why programmers and other IT employees often turn to schools or English courses:

• more high level English is often associated with new career opportunities, including relocation to another country, with higher salaries and better conditions;
• most of the modern resources, manuals, professional literature are written in English and have not yet been translated, and what has already been translated, as a rule, quickly becomes outdated;
• English simplifies the task of communicating with your foreign team lead or customer, client, which means it speeds up the work process and saves time on communication;
• self-development - many people, while developing professionally, want to develop personally, increasing their competence not only in their main field of activity;
• entertaining content is often presented in high quality in English (for example, watching an episode of “Silicon Valley” in the original will be much more interesting, because it is often necessary to omit or even cut out certain moments if they could not be adequately and clearly translated);
• travel and vacation - you can often buy a more profitable trip or discounted tickets on the English-language sites of popular low-cost airlines, or simply by relaxing and hearing English speech, or buying souvenirs in a foreign store, it is easier to do this if you know the necessary phrases and words in English.

We've sorted out the reasons, now let's move on to the nuances of learning English for programmers. Most often, you have to start learning a language not with complete zero- already have knowledge of, at a minimum, certain professional vocabulary, computer slang, and the ability to read and write. Due to this Learning technical English can be easier.

Problems in learning technical English

• the percentage of live communication in English is, as a rule, much lower than communication by correspondence using special solutions such as Confluence or Jira;
• narrow specialization of terms used in speech - a programmer more often has to discuss nuances and errors in the code in English than simple everyday things;
• low frequency of communication in English in general, since communication usually takes place native language(many IT departments are often formed from Russian-speaking employees so that communication is better established);
• professional literature, despite many complex technical terms, contains relatively simple grammar, which leads to a lack of understanding of more complex structures and proposals;
• English language, despite its analytical structure, contains quite a large number of exceptions related to historical factors that are rarely or not explained when studying the language;
• abundance of synonyms and shades of meaning of one word, which can even have opposite meanings, or generally be several parts of speech at once (take the word fine - this is both good, and a fine, and to fine).

There are a number of simple recommendations that are worth knowing about, taking into account the above nuances in the study. It is always worth starting with the terms of study, where, most often, many mistakes are made, because many set themselves a relatively difficult and too global task - to learn English.

And all of it in a month or even three days. But ask yourself a question: is it possible to pump up abs from big ball into beautiful cubes in 3 days, a month or 3 months?

Usually not. But you can tighten flabby muscles, increase muscle elasticity and lose a couple of extra pounds.

Also in English - you can learn simpler times and three to four hundred words, but there is no way to go from a beginner to a professional English expert in three months, and therefore the deadlines should be determined based on current tasks.

If we want to learn the basics, it will take 3-4 months, and each further level will mean another six months of study.

It's better to pass introductory lesson in one of the English schools, where a specialist will test your skills, tell you in detail about key mistakes and tell you where to start.

If it turns out that your level of English is basic, you should start with general principles and simple times, and not specific vocabulary and technical language, because this will complicate the task and increase the learning period. This is what, as a rule, greatly reduces student motivation and leads to disappointment in learning languages ​​in general.

It will always be possible to connect a special course and study it in parallel, after a certain time. But it’s faster and easier to learn 10-15 words at a time and consolidate them in practice than 20-30. On the other hand, if you have an average or high level, it is advisable to immediately move on to studying more specific vocabulary.

It is worth finding an opportunity to communicate in English additionally, outside of lessons - in conversation clubs, for example, because this will improve listening comprehension and improve spontaneous communication skills.

In addition to homework and special technical English classes, you need to include English-language content in order to accustom yourself to it and speech in general.

But all the previous tips are more general and are suitable for almost anyone who wants to learn English.

Specific points of technical English

• technical English very often overlaps with business English, and therefore it will be useful to know the basics of business communication;
• a number of topics that, as a rule, are suitable for most IT specialists, are interviews and resumes, business correspondence, team communication, popular methods of teamwork, reporting and technical specifications, presentations, time management and, for the more advanced and experienced , topics of startups, freelancing and your own business;
• Considering that the previous topics involve live communication, it is worth studying with a teacher at least to practice these particular topics.

One of the most important points is the issue of motivation, since it accounts for half or even more of overall success:

• set aside regular two to three days a week when you are ready to study English for an hour and a half;
• It’s worth doing your homework, and it’s better if you do it immediately after class or the next day in order to more reliably consolidate knowledge in your memory;
• on all other days you also need to spend at least half an hour in English in order to constantly be in an English-speaking environment;
• you need a clear and, preferably, visual goal in studying - global and intermediate (the teacher will be of great help with this; after a couple of weeks of training, he will remind you that certain lexical and grammatical topics have already been studied, and after 3-4 months he will tell you whether you are ready to move on further, one level higher);
• constant Feedback about successes (again, the teacher comes in handy here), because observing your successes makes it much easier to move forward;
• It’s worth choosing entertaining content so that English is associated not only with mandatory learning and a lot of effort, but also with relaxation.

If you think that half an hour a day is very little and not productive, here is a list of things that will easily help you constantly add fuel to your mind palace:

• you can read the BBC\CNN news feed;
• see news from profiles that interest you on social networks (Twitter is good for this);
• listen to songs of your favorite foreign performers;
• watch short videos on YouTube or episodes of your favorite TV series;
• make stickers with unknown words and hang them around the house;
• complete one of the types of training on a website dedicated to the English language and its study;
• write a message to a foreign pen pal.

Technical English courses for programmers

Now imagine that during the learning process you have an experienced mentor who will correct mistakes and encourage you when necessary. Then, taking into account the previous recommendations, even learning difficult technical English turns from torment and routine into great way relax and develop, which will also bring material benefits in the future.

These are the types of classes that await you at EnglishDom. You can see this for yourself by attending a free introductory lesson at our school, and at the same time check your level, and have a good time, having received important and useful tips on language learning.

In addition, we have very attractive prices for English courses for engineers!

The choice is yours. We wish you success!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

— Streamline 200 taxi holding point 27;

— Taxi holding point 27 Streamline 200.

Not every person fluent in English is able to understand the meaning of the dialogue above. This short excerpt from a conversation between an aircraft captain and an air traffic controller at a French airport is a typical example of technical English.

The concept of “Technical English” is extremely multifaceted and covers many professional fields: IT industry, engineering, heavy industry, mining, mechanical engineering, aviation and many other fields, including the army and merchant marine.

So who can use technical English?

First of all, it is necessary for specialists in various professional fields, for example, for studying literature in English.

It often happens that current foreign books, manuals, articles, reviews, instructions and other information necessary for work are published in Russian quite late, already outdated. Or, Russian-language analogues to foreign materials simply do not exist.

Also, many specialists need to undergo internship or training abroad, where the entire process of studying and communication with teachers and other students is conducted in English, with the wide use of specialized terms.

As one example, the regular advanced training that Russian pilots undergo civil aviation at the offices of Boeing in the USA and Airbus in France. All information that pilots receive during training, and communication between company employees and them, is conducted exclusively in English with extensive use of professional vocabulary.

As another example, let us cite specialists from the IT industry who work with many applications that have not been translated into Russian. Due to the fact that the IT industry is extremely susceptible rapid changes, specialists need to quickly study large volumes of news and analytical information in English.

As a rule, it is permissible for a technician to not have serious English language skills. It's enough to know the basics English vocabulary, grammar and speak spoken English at least at the most basic level. The knowledge in the field of technical English of such specialists is usually guaranteed to grow as they use foreign literature and communication with foreign colleagues.

As can be understood from the examples above, confident command of technical English not only allows a specialist to grow significantly professionally, but also gives him an undeniable advantage in the labor market.

Despite the fact that professional linguist translators usually have excellent knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary, they encounter serious problems, in the form of a lack of knowledge in a particular area, interfering with the understanding of specialized texts and specialized vocabulary.

Unlike specialists working in a certain field, for whom technical English rather plays an auxiliary role, professional translators need serious knowledge in the field of the English language, since working with languages ​​is the main field of their activity. The translator is required to be fluent in English and Russian and to be able to translate the most complex texts competently and literary.

Of course, ideal technical translator I see a person with two diplomas: technical and linguistic. However, for a number of objective reasons, there are very few such specialists.

How can you improve your knowledge of technical English?

There are two main ways to learn technical English: specialized courses and self-education.

In the first case, the listener will be able to fully study the nuances of technical English on the professional topics he needs with a teacher. If the student is lucky, the technical English course may be specialized (for pilots, for programmers, etc.). However, this option may not suit a number of students due to the training schedule that does not coincide with their work schedule (if students, for example, work on a rotational or shift basis) or cost.

For those who want to learn technical English on their own, there are several ways to learn. These could be training programs, online courses, tutorials and specialized literature. However, in this case, the effectiveness of training will depend only on the student himself.

According to statistics, more than 75% of orders for software development come to domestic specialists from foreigners and almost all customers prefer to communicate in English. That is why every IT specialist should be proficient in it. good level. In this article we will tell you how English will help you in your work and what resources you need to use when learning English for programmers.

Why does a programmer need English?

If you have already started working in the IT field, then you understand perfectly well that programmers cannot do without English. However, some people believe that technical English does not need to be taught: almost all terminology comes from English, so everything will be clear as is. For those who are not sure whether it is worth spending time learning a foreign language, we will give several compelling arguments.

1. Understanding the terminology

   Most programming languages ​​are based on English keywords.

2. Selecting development tools

   Some of them lack a Russified interface.

3. Reading technical documentation

   Almost all reference materials and technical specifications are written in English (if you are interested in orders from abroad).

4. Communication with customers

   Many foreign companies actively use the services of Russian IT specialists, and in order to accurately understand the needs of clients, you need to know English well.

5. Studying professional literature

   The latest books and articles in the IT field are published in English. Programmers need to constantly be aware of all the news and updates, so it’s worth learning English.

6. Attending online courses and webinars

   You can find hundreds of free training courses from programming gurus on the Internet. And with paid courses you can get an international diploma - a big plus for your resume.

7. Searching for solutions on the World Wide Web

   In your work, you periodically encounter complex tasks and some problems, solutions to which can be found in the English-speaking part of the Internet.

8. Chance to get a job abroad

   It's no secret that almost all IT giants are located in the USA. Such companies constantly require competent specialists, but in order to communicate with colleagues and management, you need to know English. Want to work in Silicon Valley? Learn English.

Read how our student learns English to advance his computer game on Steam, now communicates freely with colleagues from the European office, and studies English for the sake of career prospects.

Your strengths and weaknesses: how to teach English to a programmer

In learning English, as in any other matter, you should use your strengths and try to work on your weaknesses. Let's find out what you have to work on.

1. Your strengths:

• Logical thinking

  How to use: Grammar is a logical structure, so with regular practice it will not be difficult for you to learn it.

• Wide vocabulary

  How to use: It will be easier for you to learn English for IT, because you already have a good base of vocabulary. As you study words, you will notice that many of the “technical” words you are familiar with have a different meaning in general spoken English.

• Unsure knowledge of grammar

  Cause: Technical texts tend to use complex terminology but very simple grammatical structures, so you may not have paid enough attention to grammar. Everything is decided by studying the designs and doing practical exercises.

• The language barrier

  Cause: you had very little or no speaking practice. Because of this, the so-called “dog syndrome” develops, that is, you understand everything, but cannot say it yourself. Practicing speaking will solve this problem.

• Hearing barrier

  Cause: Programmers do not often have to perceive information in English by ear, so you may have problems understanding the speech of your interlocutor. Working with audio materials will save you from this.

We have found out your strengths and weaknesses, and now we need to decide how to learn English for programmers. Based on our experience, you should start learning specialized English for IT after you have completed the Pre-Intermediate course. Before this, it is better to study general spoken English in order to lay a solid basis for professional knowledge.

Where is the best place to learn a language? Finding special courses for learning English for developers is almost impossible, so the best solution would be individual sessions with the teacher. It will be even more convenient to study English without interruption from your favorite computer, and we suggest you do this. If you want to study English for IT, we recommend that you study materials on your topic during the lessons, that is, learn only what you need.

Basic English dictionary for a programmer

In this section, we would like to introduce you to basic concepts in English that will be useful to almost every IT specialist. For convenience, we have identified a set of IT-related verbs, as well as words related to the Internet, hardware and software.

Useful verbs

Hardware - hardware

Software - software

Internet - Internet

Quite a selection, isn't it? But in order to learn to speak English well, it is not enough to know words, you need to learn grammar, develop listening comprehension skills, etc. Therefore, in the next chapter of our article we will provide 79 resources for improving English. Choose several of them and storm the heights of knowledge.

How to learn English for programmers on your own

English textbooks for programmers

For entry level:

For intermediate level:

		English for Information Technology

Technical English dictionaries for programmers

1. multitran.ru

   English-Russian and Russian- English dictionary will also be useful for translation. To obtain correct translation term, see the translation of the word next to the note “comp.” (computer terms).

2. english4it.com

   A simple and convenient English dictionary in which you can listen to the sound of each word. There are also sentences with all the words, you can also listen to them.

3. computerlanguage.com

   Dictionary of computer terms in English. Enter an unfamiliar word into the search bar and find out its meaning.

4. techterms.com

   English-language dictionary of technical terms. All words are sorted by category, and you can also search for the meaning of a word through the search system on the site. There is a detailed explanation for each concept here. You can also take tests from the Quizzes section to test your knowledge.

5. computerhope.com

   In the Dictionary section of this site you will find an English-language dictionary of technical terms, which provides a detailed explanation of each concept. In addition, you will be offered to read a useful article related to the term for which you were looking for a definition.

6. blogs.gartner.com

   IT dictionary in English. Each concept is given a short, clear explanation.

Resources for learning new words

1. Websites with tests and vocabulary exercises:
   • businessenglishsite.com - exercises to help you remember the rules for using IT vocabulary in sentences.
   • blairenglish.com - technical texts in which new words are highlighted in bold, and below is a test for knowledge of this vocabulary.
2. Word learning apps:
   • Lingualeo and Memrise - with the help of these programs you can learn new words, create your own dictionaries of terms to study, watch videos on professional topics, etc.
3. Browser plugins:
   • LeoTranslator - suitable for Chrome and Firefox, it will be a logical addition to the application of the same name. Using LeoTranslator you can translate words and entire phrases on the pages of any website, add them to your dictionary and then study them.
   • Google Translator or English dictionary translate pronunciation - extensions for translating words and phrases on the pages of any website. These are free, convenient plugins, but please note that machine translation may contain errors and inaccuracies, so always pay attention to the context.

Resources for learning grammar

Developers can learn grammatical structures using ordinary general materials, because the rules do not depend on your profession. While there is no special English grammar for programmers, we recommend using the following resources:

1. Let's study the theory:
   • engblog.ru is a simple and convenient grammar reference book compiled by experienced teachers. Each article has a test that you can use to check how well you understand the material.
   • engvid.com - grammar in video lessons from native English speakers. The material is presented in a very accessible way, and almost every video has a test on the topic.
2. Let's do practical exercises:
   • learnenglish.de - a site with a large selection of grammar tests, as well as explanations of theory in English.
   • tolearnenglish.com is not the best site in design, but it has good content. To find tests on the topic you need, enter, for example, Article in the search bar, and you will be given links to exercises for practicing articles.
   • perfect-english-grammar.com is a convenient site where in simple words English grammar is outlined and there are practical exercises for working through the topics studied.
3. We work with special applications:
   • Learn English Grammar for Android and iOS - allows you to learn grammar rules and provides grammar exercises to practice using these rules in practice.
   • Johnny Grammar's English Quiz for Android and iOS is a convenient application with tests on various grammatical topics in the English language.

How to learn to speak English as an IT specialist

In the development of this skill, everything is logical: in order to speak, you need to speak. Some people believe that developing oral speech possible with the help of manuals and online exercises, but this is not the case. Imagine that you have read the entire tutorial on Python, but have not tried programming in it. Will you be able to write a high-quality program right away? Most likely, it will work with errors, and only after much practice will you learn to write something sensible in this language.

The situation with English is similar: no textbook or tutorial can replace your conversational practice with your interlocutor. Therefore, look for a partner to speak English. Moreover, you can develop oral speech without leaving home. Use the site

Friends, do you remember on our website we talked about the levels of learning English? You have become familiar with the initial, basic, advanced and other levels. Each level requires its own, special knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, speech patterns, and lexical constructions of the English language.

Today we will talk about the fact that there is another level of knowledge of the English language - this is the technical level. It stands alone, apart from the other stages of learning English. It has its own characteristics and its own requirements. So-called technical English is the language of various professions and specialties. Learning and knowledge of English at this level is necessary for engineers, programmers, motorists, designers, people involved in equipment, spare parts, machinery and many others.

It follows that technical English is a fairly broad and voluminous category of language that covers many types of activities, Maintenance and many professions. We will talk about all this today.

The technical level of English is used in many areas of activity, namely:

• IT sphere or programming: web development of all specializations, computer assembly and repair

• engineering field: means of communication and related mechanisms
• automotive industry: fuels and lubricants, spare parts, cars
• design organizations: creation of design organizations
• army and Navy: weapons, aircraft, etc.
• equipment: commercial, construction and medical
• video and television equipment, mobile phones and cameras

• trade and marketing

This is far from full list activities, which includes the technical level of the English language. A person who says that he speaks English at a technical level must indicate the scope of his professional application. Because knowing all the technical English in all types of activities is beyond the power of even the English themselves!

Why do you need a technical level?

Study guides from the “Professional English” series will help you learn the technical terms of the English language - Technical English(Oxford University Press). The program of this course includes extensive use of modern practical material - articles from professional magazines, Internet resources, audio and video materials, role-playing games aimed at modeling and practicing professional situations.

But learn some basics, basic terms professional sphere, which interests you, you can do it yourself. Special technical texts, articles in magazines and newspapers in English, documentaries and educational programs in English of a technical and professional nature will help you. This way, you can learn the most basic technical terms and learn the rest as you go along.

It is important to understand that technical level of English is not ordinary language proficiency. This is a completely special terminology that you need for your type of activity. So if your English level is good enough, that's great. But once you become a little more proficient in technical English for your profession, you will immediately feel like a real professional in the language.

It's never too late to master English at a technical level, so you can start right now! Good luck to you, friends!

When purchasing any course or manual on a foreign language, you most likely came across words such as Elementary, Beginner, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate and Advanced. You also most likely understand that these designations are level characteristics of courses and manuals. Today I propose to understand what exactly all these characteristics mean.

Without delving into the history of the issue, let's say that we are talking about the system of levels of foreign language proficiency used in Europe. In short, this system is called CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). It doesn’t matter which one specifically foreign language you study. You can still be assessed in CEFR terms.

When developing the European Level System, extensive research was carried out in different countries, and assessment methods were tested in practice. The result was the following system:

A Basic User
A1 Survival level (Breakthrough) Elementary
A2 Pre-threshold level (Waystage) Beginner

B Independent User
B1 Threshold level Pre-Intermediate
B2 Threshold advanced level (Vantage) Intermediate

C Proficient User
C1 Level of professional proficiency (Effective Operational Proficiency) Upper-Intermediate
C2 Mastery Level Advanced

Now let's reveal the essence of these levels.

A1: I understand and can use familiar phrases and expressions needed to perform specific tasks. I can introduce myself / introduce others, ask / answer questions about my place of residence, acquaintances, property. I can participate in a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is willing to help.

A2: I understand individual sentences and frequently used expressions related to basic areas of life (for example, basic information about myself and my family members, purchases, getting a job, etc.). I can perform tasks related to simple exchange of information on familiar or everyday topics. IN simple expressions I can tell about myself, my family and friends, describe the main aspects of everyday life.

B1: Understand the main ideas of clear messages made on literary language on various topics that typically arise at work, study, leisure, etc. I can communicate in most situations that may arise while staying in the country of the language being studied. I can compose a coherent message on topics that are known or of particular interest to me. I can describe impressions, events, hopes, aspirations, express and justify my opinions and plans for the future.

B2: I understand general content complex texts on abstract and concrete topics, including highly specialized texts. I speak quickly and spontaneously enough to constantly communicate with native speakers without too much difficulty for either party. I am able to give clear, detailed messages on various topics and present my view on the main issue, showing the advantages and disadvantages of different opinions.

C1: I understand large complex texts on various topics, recognize hidden meanings. I speak spontaneously at a fast pace, without having difficulty finding words and expressions. I use language flexibly and effectively for communication in scientific and professional activity. I can create an accurate, detailed, well-structured message on complex topics, demonstrating mastery of text organization models, means of communication and the integration of its elements.

C2: I understand almost any oral or written message, I can compose a coherent text based on several oral and written sources. I speak spontaneously at a fast pace and high degree precision, emphasizing shades of meaning even in the most complex cases.