Beyond Grammar: Why Engineers Need Technical English to Get the Job Done (#133 Paul Talbot)

English plays a key role in how engineering work actually gets done – yet in technical degree programs it is often seen as a secondary subject. In this episode of UAS Technikum Podcast, host Bella Kitzwögerer talks to Paul Talbot, senior lecturer and researcher at UAS Technikum Wien, about why English needs to be rethought in engineering education.

Building on Paul Talbot’s Ars Docendi Award 2025 for the course Technical English, the conversation explores how English can be taught not as a grammar-focused subject, but as a practical tool for collaboration, decision-making and coordination in real engineering contexts.

The episode looks at how relevance improves motivation and study ability, why communication skills matter beyond exams, and how students can be better prepared for interdisciplinary and international professional environments. Drawing on research, teaching practice and concrete examples, it becomes clear why effective communication is a core competence for future engineers.

Further Information:

Competence Center at UAS Technikum Wien: Social Skills and Communication

Podcast Episode: International Engineering Collaboration (2024)

State-of-the-art technical English: Award for Excellence in Teaching at Ars Docendi 2025 (in German)

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Produced by: The Voice Agency