Ernesto D’Acunto ESP

Series
FLASH on
English for
TRANSPORT &
LOGISTICS
Contents
Unit Topic Vocabulary Skills

1
What Is English Professionals and means of Reading: a definition of English for Transport and Logistics
for Transport and transport: an introduction Writing: filling in a questionnaire; relating school subjects
Logistics? Subjects and topics

pp. 4-5

2
Means of Transport The basics for means of Reading: transport by land, water, air. Focus on
transport: advantages and environmental impact
disadvantages.

pp. 6-11

3
How to Tie Knots The basics for sailing: types of Reading: how to make knots; the history of knot tying
knots; tying techniques Listening: checking the different stages to make a Bowline
knot
Speaking: exchanging information about knot tying
Writing: summarising information about knots; giving
pp. 12-15 instructions about knot tying; rewriting sentences

4
Get Ready to Fly The basics for aviation: flight Reading: scanning a text for preflight information;
profile; preflight operations identifying codes
Flight sayings Listening: listening for information about the preflight
checklist
Speaking: exchanging information about a flight strip
pp. 16-19 Writing: completing definitions

5
A Ship’s Structure Watercraft construction and Reading: scanning a text for naval architecture information;
shipbuilding: dimensions and completing charts and tables with shipbuilding information
materials Listening: listening for information about the construction
Navigation sayings of a ship
Writing: questions about shipbuilding
pp. 20-23

6
An Aeroplane’s Aircraft construction: the Reading: the basics of airplane construction; how an
Structure basics; different stages aeroplane flies; building the Airbus A380
Aerodynamic forces Listening and speaking: the presentation of the Airbus
Aircraft models A380
Speaking: comparing different aircraft models
pp. 24-27 Writing: questions about aircraft construction

7
Are You in The cockpit; fligth instruments Reading: scanning for information about the controls area
Command? The bridge of different means of transport
The cabin Listening and speaking: the description of a cab
The cab; the signal box Writing: questions about flight instruments

pp. 28-31

8
Positioning Tools Ancient and modern Reading: scanning for information about positioning tools;
positioning tools how the radar works; how the GPS works
The radar Listening: listening for information about the radar history
The GPS system and GPS satellites
Focus on sayings Speaking: how to read a GPS appliance
pp. 32-35 Writing: explaining the meaning of a proverb

2
Unit Topic Vocabulary Skills

9
What’s the Weather related language Reading: scanning a text for information about the weather;
Weather Like? Weather prediction tools how to predict the weather; the danger of severe weather
Meteorology and transportation conditions for aircraft
Listening: listening for information about the weather
Speaking: exchanging information about the weather
pp. 36-39 Writing: completing a text

10
Intermodal Freight Multiple modes of Reading: scanning a text for information about different
Transport transportation modes of transportation
Air freight Speaking: exchanging information and opinions
Oil tankers Writing: summarising data from a table about pollution;
completing a table with given information
pp. 40-43

11
Handling Goods Logistics Reading: scanning a text for information about logistics;
and Passengers The organisation of a the organisation of warehouses, airports and ports
warehouse: the forklift truck Listening: listening for information about a port
The organisation of an airport: Writing: completing sentences
apron vehicles
The organisation of a port
pp. 44-47

12
Transport Basics and practise on Reading: official transport documents. Scanning and filling
Documents transport documents: CMR, the forms
the bill of lading, the air Speaking: exchange ideas and informations about
waybill international documents

pp. 48-50

13
Insurance Transport and insurance, Reading: learning basics on insurance and specific
Focus on business insurance transport insurance
and Lloyd's Speaking: discussing and exchanging informations about
business insurance in one's country
Writing: search a famous Lloyd's historic insurance event
pp. 51-53

14
Safety Procedures Legislation and safety signs Reading: safety regulations and procedures; completing a
and Regulations Air safety table about safety measures
Road safety signs Listening: safety in warehouses
Sea safety Speaking: describing and explaining visual information;
Safety on trains expressing personal opinions and ideas about road safety
Warehouse safety
pp. 54-59

15
Applying for a job Curriculum Vitae Reading: how to write a CV and a covering letter; learning
Covering letter tips for getting a job
Tips for a successful interview Speaking: discuss the suitability of a candidate compared
to a job post
Writing: production of a covering letter and a simulation of
an interview
pp. 60-63

1 MP3 audio files downloadable from www.elionline.com

3
1 What Is English for Transport
and Logistics?

In a short time you will be studying English for Transport, both by sea and by air, as well as Logistics. But do you
know exactly what these topics are?

1 Read the questionnaire and fill it in to check what you already know.

1 If you want to sail you need a ____________ licence.

skipper’s
pilot’s
driver’s
2 What are your main sailing interests?
no interest racing
cruising day sailing
3 What are your main flying interests?
pleasure business
air taxi instructor
4 What type of lorry driver would you like to become?
long-haul driver (more than 500 miles)
short-haul driver (less than 500 miles)
local driver (pick-up and delivery)
5 Who do you have to contact to become a train
driver?
the Ministry of Transport
an Insurance Company Simply speaking, English for Transport and Logistics
the Train Operator Company covers the language used whenever you are ‘at Sea, in
6 What type of boat would you like to own? the Air or on Land’, whether you are on a small boat or a
none huge cruiser, in your lorry or in an airplane, in any port,
sailing airport or railway station. It involves everything related to
motor transport and the way goods and people are organised
when they get moving or are moved. But it also involves
7 What type of aircraft would you like to fly?
much more. Of course the starting point is the language,
model name _______________ number ________
so you must know grammar quite well, but vocabulary
8 What type of lorry would you like to drive? can be very specific too.
single-unit lorry English for Transport and Logistics will challenge all your
single-trailer lorry language skills:
multi-trailer lorry reading (documents about transport, technical texts);
9 If you are responsible for the train, the freight and writing (emails, technical reports and documents,
the crew you will become filing data in grids, filling in forms);
a conductor listening (presentations, announcements, technical
a locomotive engineer/train driver descriptions);
10 If you actually operate a locomotive you will be speaking in an interactive way.
a conductor These are all communication skills that you will use in
a locomotive engineer/train driver transport-related situations.
11 If you become a logistics expert, where will the English for Transport and Logistics will also help you
stocking location of your company be? connect to many specialised subjects and topics that you
at home will soon study at school and it will provide you with a set
in a warehouse of technical terms in preparation for your future specific
no stocking location, all business online study of the language.

4
 1
2 What other school subjects do you think you will study these topics in? Write the subject/s for each of
the following topics. The first one is done for you.
1 intermodal freight transport 4 control space
2 building a ship 5 the organisation of a port/airport/depot
3 safety regulations

1 Intermodal freight transport is studied in logistics.

In this book you will study some basic, traditional topics in transport.

3 Match these topics with their contents.

1 watercraft construction a an engineering discipline concerned with the design of ships,
2 sailing boats, drill rigs, submarines, and other floating or submerged
3 safety regulations craft
4 intermodal freight transport b the art of controlling a boat
5 aircraft navigation c people move under their own power, or use wheels with electric
6 meteorology or fuel-powered engines
7 aircraft construction d the development of components and planning of aircraft
8 land transport e a means of moving freight using multiple modes of
transportation
f the discipline of preventing injury or loss at sea
g the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere
h the process of planning, recording and controlling the
movement of a craft from one place to another

MY GLOSSARY
aircraft \"e´krA…ft\ _______________________________ intermodal freight transport \Int´"m´Udl freIt "trœnspO…t\ ___
conductor \k´n"døkt´“r‘\ _________________________ locomotive engineer \l´Uk´"m´UtIv endZI"nI´“r‘\ _______
control space \k´n"tr´Ul speIs\ _____________________ lorry driver \"lÅri "draIv´“r‘\ _______________________
crew \kru…\ ____________________________________ safety \"seIfti\ __________________________________
cruiser \"kru…z´“r‘\ ______________________________ sail (v) \seIl\ __________________________________
depot \"dep´U\ _________________________________ skipper \"skIp´“r‘\_______________________________
drill rig \drIl rIg\ _______________________________ stock (v) \stÅk\ ________________________________
engine \"endZIn\ ________________________________ submerged \s´b"m‰…dZd\ _________________________
floating \"fl´UtIN\ _______________________________ trailer \"treIl´“r‘\ ________________________________
freight \freIt\ __________________________________ train driver \treIn "draIv´“r‘\ ______________________
goods \gUdz\ __________________________________ warehouse \"we´haUs\ ___________________________
haul (n) \hO…l\ _________________________________ wheel \wi…l\ ___________________________________