Step by step guide for Electrical Engineers to

Improve their Electrical Engineering English

(EEE) Technical Vocabulary

Simon Fletcher –MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL

 Step by step guide for Electrical Engineers to improve their
Electrical Engineering English (EEE) Technical Vocabulary

Foreword

After speaking to many electrical engineers, the most common problem they told
me in relation to their English communication skills was their challenges with using
technical vocabulary. In other words, their EEE (Electrical Engineering English)
Technical Vocabulary.

Due to communication being a critical skill for electrical engineers to excel in their
career. This can appear as an obstacle for many Electrical Engineers to evolve in
their career.

You may develop your communication skills in your native language. And this will
help you progress in your career to a certain point. But at what point does your
career stop progressing if you’re not at a certain proficiency in English?

Is it very true, there are other languages which are going to be useful to learn if
you want to have an international career; Spanish, Mandarin, German, French,
Arabic, Russian, Portuguese just as some examples.

However, it is English that is the dominant language which is the most common
choice for Electrical Engineers which have different native languages. This is the
case most industries electrical engineers are involved in.

Some electrical engineers who have told me they didn’t get a job offer because of
their lack of proficiency in English.

It is true there more elements to reaching a certain proficiency level that are
required. This includes pronunciation, fluency, listening skills, grammar to name
a few. However, the foundation skill that is required before you can improve the
areas discussed above is vocabulary. Moreover, it is an EEE Technical vocabulary
which is of great importance.

They use technical vocabulary to describe concepts, give instructions to

subordinates, clarify specifications for components to manufacturers, answering
questions to engineers from other disciplines, and the list goes on.

Electrical engineers are required to communicate with colleagues, clients,

contractors and suppliers, and many other types of professionals. If any of these
professionals you speak don’t speak your native language, you are most likely
going to communicate with them in English.

What are going to be the primary topics discussed? It’s not going to be about the
supplier’s daughter’s pet kitten. It’s going to be topics where EEE Technical
Vocabulary is mostly used.

So, with that said, let’s discuss the step-by-step guide for Electrical Engineers to
improve their EEE Technical Vocabulary.

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

2

Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

Step 1 - Identify your Target EEE Technical Vocabulary

Firstly, with an estimated of 1,066,000 words in the English language, you need
to properly select the most useful vocabulary to learn.

There are many disciplines within electrical engineering which will use very specific
vocabulary only relevant in that specific discipline.

Below are some examples of specific electrical engineer positions:

ASIC Design Engineer Electrical Protection Signal Processing Engineer
Field Service Engineer Engineer Electrical Estimator
Analog Design Engineer Design Verification Systems Engineer
Hardware Engineer Engineer PLC Engineer
Audio Visual Engineer RF Design Engineer Systems Integration
Automation Engineer Digital Design Engineer Engineer
Physical Design Engineer RF Engineer Electrical Project Manager
Component Engineer EMC Engineer Telecommunications
Control Systems Engineer Reliability Engineer Engineer
Senior Electrical Engineer Transmission Line Electrical Supervisor
Electrical Design Engineer Engineer Test Engineer
FPGA Engineer Validation Engineer Electronics Engineer
Verification Engineer Signal Integrity Engineer

You won’t need to learn all the vocabulary used by all of these specialists.

For example; a PLC Engineer is going to be required to know what is “Ladder

Diagram Language”. However, that same engineer will not need to know what
“discrimination” is. An Electrical Protection Engineer is going to be required to
know this term.

Knowing this is going to be the first step to target the specific EEE Technical
Vocabulary you need to build.

Another important element to target is your industry.

Below are some of the most common industries Electrical Engineers work in:
Information Technology and Environmental Services
Services Industrial Automation
Construction Aviation & Aerospace
Automotive Textiles
Telecommunications Consumer Electronics
Oil & Energy Business Supplies & Equipment
Internet Military
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing Renewables & Environment
Research Computer Hardware
Design Maritime
Logistics & Supply Chain Semiconductors
Consumer Goods Wireless
Machinery Railroad Manufacture
Chemicals Nanotechnology
Utilities Airlines/Aviation

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

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Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

Knowing the industry to focus on will help you to target the most relevant words
to learn.

Combining which specific industry and specific job role is to help you narrow down
the most important vocabulary you need to learn.

You will save yourself much more time when you know exactly what words to
focus on.

Think of this analogy; you’re in a dark room, where the light is switched off. You
want to leave, but you can’t see the door. When you can’t see the door, you will
spend much more trying to find it. However, when the light is on, you can see the
door and leave immediately.

“Where is the light switch in this room?”

Think of the door as your point of success to having effective EEE Technical
Vocabulary. You can spend a lot of time learning lots of different vocabulary before
reaching the door.

Alternatively, you can have the light switched on; know exactly what vocabulary
to learn in the shortest amount of time. Knowing your industry and job title to aim
for is going to save you plenty of time, when you’re not wasting time learning lots
of vocabulary which isn’t that useful for your job role.

Step 2 - Find the Relevant Industry Documentation in English

Many of the multinational engineering organisations have user guides, selection

guides, buyer guides, datasheets or even education guides in English related to
their products.

These are going to be extremely useful for you to build your EEE Technical
Vocabulary.

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

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Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

Here is an example buyer’s guide which is useful for electrical engineers to select
High Voltage Surge Arresters from ABB in English:

https://library.e.abb.com/public/f5bca70c527f7005c1257b130057b818/Surge%
20Arrester%20Buyers%20Guide%20Edition%206.pdf

In this buyer’s guide, you have an introduction to surge arresters, a description of

definitions used, application details, plus detailed information about the specific
surge arresters.

If you want to learn about how to technically describe surge arresters in English,
this is a really good document.

You can use the same process for finding the relevant documentation in English
for any industry.

Search for the guides which is the most relevant for your job and industry. Read
the most important chapters, and highlight the terms you are unfamiliar with.

Step 3 - Build a Vocabulary List

Next, you want to build a vocabulary list, similar to one shown below:

Word Meaning Example Sentence

Practice of selecting protective The discrimination in the
devices and adjusting settings to network needs to be improved to
Discrimination ensure the disruption of electrical prevent an upstream circuit
equipment in a network is limited. breaker from unnecessary
tripping.
An electrical phenomenon whereby The capacitance on the
Capacitance an electric charge is stored. transmission line is calculated to
be excessively high.
Process of generating a magnetic The back EMF in the excitation
Excitation field by an electrical current. system has caused damage to
many of the components in the
system.
General term for any part in an The list of the components
Components electrical circuit. required for the project have
been submitted to the client.

A ready-made vocabulary list template with the same examples above can be
downloaded here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Aj7pXAcFs-
5dA6RwJFyR44LFc_gOmpBXFlzVElQJV54/edit?usp=sharing

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

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Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

You want to build the habit of writing up the Meaning column in your own words
in English. This is the same for the Example Sentence column as well. This is
going to improve your vocabulary skills substantially.

Once you are comfortable with the new vocabulary, begin creating more sentences
and paragraphs with the new vocabulary you’ve learned. The more often you use
the EEE Technical Vocabulary, the more it will be in your active vocabulary.

Step 4 - Create Technical Questions and Answer them

Next, create questions which are relevant for your job and the information in the
documentation you have studied. Subsequently, do your best to answer these
questions in English.

Here’s a short list of example questions:

 What is the difference between the term capacitance and inductance?

 What is meant by the insulation voltage in cables?
 Why do we improve the power factor?
 What are the different types of losses in a transformer?
 What is meant by the insulation voltage in cables?
 Where should surge arrestors be placed in distribution lines?
 Why does a humming sounds occur in HV transmission lines?
 How are battery banks connected and why?

Step 5 - Become Confident using Linking Words and Phrases

Familiarise yourself with linking words and phrases. These are used to join clauses
together. This is extremely important to know these types of words when forming
an argument, creating instructions, describing a process.

An example list is shown here:

Therefore To summarise Unless
However Whenever Whether
This means that During In addition
Despite Afterwards For example
Firstly Because Alternatively

Becoming confident with these types of words and phrases is going to assist you
constructing effective sentences. The EEE Technical Vocabulary you’ve learned
previously, can be considered as content words. Linking words and phrases can
be considered as structure words which act as glue for your sentences.

The more linking words you master, the better communicator as an Electrical
Engineer in English you will become.

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

6

Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

Step 6 - Learn Nouns, Verbs, Adverbs and Adjectives used to Describe
Charts, Graphs and Tables

A useful method to learn how to describe data shown in charts, graphs and tables,
is to practice the IELTS Academic Writing Part 1 Tests. Learning how to describe
data shown in these tests is going to equip you with being able to describe data
more effectively.

Here is a good website what contains a list of good adverbs and adjectives you
can use:

https://ielts-up.com/writing/ielts-describing-graphs.html

And here is a website which contains many Academic Writing Part 1 practice
tests to complete:
https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-practice-tests.html

https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/support-files/ielts-academic-writing-practice-test-1.pdf

https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/support-files/ielts-academic-writing-practice-test-2.pdf

https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/support-files/ielts-academic-writing-practice-test-3.pdf

https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/support-files/ielts-academic-writing-practice-test-4.pdf

https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/support-files/ielts-academic-writing-practice-test-5.pdf

Step 7 - Network with Likeminded Electrical Engineers

After you’ve completed the steps discussed above, you want to find other electrical
engineers who want to build their English communication skills as well.

Finding other electrical engineers who want to improve their English

communication skills gives you the opportunity to grow and evolve together. In
addition, can make you more accountable in your journey.

An important point to remember is to connect and partner up with electrical

engineers who speak a different native language to you. This will force you to
speak in English and not slip into your native language.

Preferably you want to find electrical engineers who have a similar proficiency in
English to you.

Not sure where to find likeminded electrical engineers?

Join this group here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14099420/

When joining the group, please make sure to introduce yourself, what is your
native language, and what your specific challenges and goals with regards to your
English communication skills.

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

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Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

Step 8 - Hire an Expert Coach to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

For this step, you can to hire a coach who has the skills to correct and improve
your general AND your technical English communication skills.

A general English teacher will be able to give you feedback on your grammar,
pronunciation (for most general words) and general vocabulary. You can find an
abundance of general English teachers in language marketplace websites such as
Cambly and iTalki. Be warned, you are unlikely to find an expert on these types
of websites, that is going to be able to help you with your EEE Technical
Vocabulary.

To get the most benefit from a coach, you need to find one who has a strong
background in Electrical Engineering and ESL combined.

One analogy you can use for this is to think of a scenario where you have serious
heart problems and require surgery. You can request for a newly qualified doctor
at a budget rate, who doesn’t have any experience of performing heart surgeries.
Or alternatively, you can find an expert heart surgeon who is an expert on the
human heart, and has completed hundreds of heart surgeries in his/her career.
Which one would you want to perform your heart surgery?

“This will be my first heart operation. But I remember all my notes from class last year.”

I know the scenario above is an extreme example. However, if you are serious
about wanting to improve your English communication skills for your electrical
engineering career, you need to ask yourself: “Do you want an expert heart
surgeon or do you want an inexperienced junior doctor?”

If you think you want an “expert heart surgeon”, I can help you.

I have helped electrical engineers from all over the world improve their English
communication skills. Currently from 4 different continents; Europe, Central
America, South America and South Asia.

I’ve helped clients from these parts of the world go on to take their electrical
engineering career to next level.

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

8

Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

I have a Bachelor’s degree (BEng(Hons)) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
and a Master’s degree (MSc) in Electrical Energy Systems. And also 5 years’
experience as an electrical engineer in the UK.

In addition to helping you improve your EEE Technical vocabulary, I can also
help you with the following:

 Advanced General Vocabulary

 Pronunciation and Fluency
 Listening to Native and Non-native English Speakers
 One on One Conversations and Meetings
 Report and Email Writing Skills
 Presentation Skills
 Job Applications and LinkedIn Profile
 Job Interview Preparation
 And more……

All of these areas I cover in the Electrical Engineering English Excellence

Program.

This program is customised to transform the specific English communication

skills you need to take your Electrical Engineering career to the next level.

Here are some testimonials of the clients who I’ve helped:

“Before meeting Simon, one of the biggest problems for me was speaking in English
with native and non-native speakers. Now after finishing my course with Simon, I
feel more confident when speaking in English with clients or suppliers.

My favorite part of learning with Simon is the methodology that focuses on your
interests. So, if you are an Electrical Engineer thinking of taking English classes to
improve one or more skills, Simon is an excellent option.”
San Juan Fuentes Loredo - Electrical Design Engineer en VoltrakMexico - Mexico

“I still remember, while I was completing my dissertation, I was really struggling

with my dissertation report write up. Simon helped me improve my writing skills for
this report substantially.

Partially thanks to his help, I was able to get a DISTINCTION for my Master's
Degree. I would highly recommend him. If anyone wants to get any help or advice in
terms of report writing skills, so your reports are delivered in a concise and precise
manner, Simon is your guy.”

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

9

Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

Ir. Shazri Shafie - Operation and Maintenance Manager, JK-1 (11kV) - Malaysia

“It is unbelievable how my CV/Resume improved through our classes. Together we

improved its content, grammatical errors and layout. Also, Simon constantly gave
me suggestions of how I could improve it even more accordingly to the country I
would aim to.

Part of my coaching program with him included a LinkedIn Profile coaching as well.
Again, the improvement was so clear that about two weeks after I started to receive
more messages and interview invitations.”
Juliana Franco – Electrical Transmission Line Engineer, Inova Energy - Brazil

Here’s a recap on the steps to take to improve your electrical engineering

technical vocabulary in English:

 Identify your Target EEE Technical Vocabulary

 Find the Relevant Industry Documentation in English

 Build a Vocabulary List

 Create Technical Questions and Answer them

 Become Confident using Linking Words and Phrases

 Learn Nouns, Verbs, Adverbs and Adjectives used to Describe

Charts, Graphs and Tables

 Network with Likeminded Electrical Engineers

 Hire an Expert Coach to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

I hope you find this guide helpful for you to progress in your electrical
engineering career.
You might think it’ll take a long time; many months or even years of dedication to
solve these kinds of problems such as enhancing your EEE Technical Vocabulary.

Here's what I've found to be true after helping many Electrical Engineers improve their
English Communication Skills. It's easier than you think to get the transformation
you've always dreamed about.

All you need is commitment to take action, and the right guidance, and you can get
there in the shortest period of time.

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

10

Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com

Please book for a call to have a chat about your situation, and we can create a
plan together for you to start to transform your English Communication Skills:

https://calendly.com/simmseng/30min

Alternatively, you can get in touch me via:

Website: https://simmseng.com/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simmsengconsultancy/

WhatsApp: https://wa.me/5511976211920

Step by Step Guide to Improve your EEE Technical Vocabulary

11

Simon Fletcher – MSc, BEng(Hons), TEFL [email protected] simmseng.com