The course is based on the premise that modern challenges in science and technology are often complex, as they involve different priorities, perspectives and constraints. This complexity requires effective communication using clear, concise and precise language.

The course focuses on clear, concise and precise English and aims to bridge the gap between upper secondary school English and the English language and communication skills required for advanced studies in STEM.

The course covers:

• Engineering English: style, text cohesion, sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary and terminology, formalities and referencing 
• ​Strategies and conventions for writing texts in English within one’s own subject area 
• ​Presentation techniques, pronunciation and intonation, and strategies for interacting effectively in conversations and question-and-answer sessions 
• ​Strategies for reading, understanding and using technical and scientific texts 
• ​Approaches to AI tools for academic writing and higher education.​

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

​​ 1. identify and describe communication strategies and conventions used in technical and scientific texts, particularly within the student’s specific field of study (e.g. academic style, text cohesion, vocabulary, formal requirements and referencing)

​ 2. apply these conventions and strategies to produce short technical and scientific texts in clear and effective English

​ 3. communicate their technical expertise orally through presentations and conversations in clear and effective English

​ 4. be familiar with strategies for reading and understanding technical and scientific texts in English, with a view to applying these strategies in their studies

​ 5. critically reflect on the role of AI tools in academic writing and higher education

​ ​with a view to

• ​communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English in various contexts, including digital channels, to present technical knowledge, propose solutions and reach agreement 
• successfully study engineering subjects at advanced level and work in an English-speaking environment.

• Discussions and group work in class on e.g. scientific conventions and aspects of reader-friendly texts
• Activities on reading comprehension and discussions about reading strategies
• Teacher input and Canvas quizzes on essential vocabulary and grammar for scientific communication
• Written assignments with feedback from both peers and teachers. Oral assignments both online and before a live audience.

See Canvas.

Make sure you can access the course book: Jane Bottomley, 2021: Academic Writing for International Students of Science (available as an E-book at KTH Libaray). Familiarise with the book and the topics covered. Complete exercises on Common errors before the first seminar.

You can also prepare for the course by "clicking through" the KTH Guide to Scientific Writing.

Finally, prepare for the course by thinking of topics you would like to use for Assignments 1, 3 and 4: A technical description of a tool, device, concept or method; a proposal for a research idea based on previous work in the field; and an oral presentation including a graph or other visual element.

Bottomley, Jane. 2021. Academic Writing for International Students of Science, 2nd ed. Routledge. Available as an e-book at KTH Library.

Online resources and material published on Canvas.

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

If you are in need of special educational support following e.g. a diagnosis of dyslexia, Aspergers syndrome, ADHD, a hearing or visual impairment, please inform the teacher. For help and information about your rights, please contact the coordinator for students with Special Educational Needs at funka@kth.se.

• INL2 - Hand in assigment, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• SEM2 - Seminars, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

See documents in Canvas --> Modules.

There is no opportunity to re-submit an assignment, if these already have received a pass, in order to get a higher grade.

Attendance policy: Students must attend at least 4 out of the six first seminars. Compensatory work assigned. If a student cannot attend Seminar 7, another opportunity will be arranged. 

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

The official course syllabus is valid from the fall semester 2024 in accordance with the decision by the Head of the ITM School: M-2023-1887. Date of decision: 2023-10-12

More focus on reading strategies - students will work on reading every week.