TecCOM - Profession of Technical Communication

Transversal Competencies

Language skills

Information products are basically communicative instruments, using predominantly language as the means to communicate. Therefore, students need insight into communicative and linguistic categories with relevance for a systematic description of such information products.

Competence is relevant when developing and assessing information products in the mother tongue as well as in foreign languages and when presenting and communicating in mono- and multilingual workplaces.

The focus is on the four traditional skills of language learning (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) as well as on interacting in typical TC situations.

Native language: Reading
  • Be able to understand and interpret informative work-related documents
  • Be able to understand and follow written instructions
  • Identify and interpret main points in written texts
  • Find specific information in work-related documents
  • Judge quality and accuracy of text content
  • Be able to use context clues to clarify meaning
  • Identify and interpret non-verbal (visual) information like drawings, graphics, diagrams, and charts complementarity between text and pictures (Molitor, Ballstaedt & Mandler 1989)

see also communication theory models

see also personal competencies

Native language: Listening
  • Listen for specific work-related information
  • Listen for precise detail
  • Be able to understand and follow verbal instructions
  • Be able to understand suggestions and implications
  • Be able to understand spoken feedback

see also communication theory models

see also personal competencies

Native language: Writing
  • Use correct grammar and spelling
  • Use appropriate format and style for writing
  • Recognise and produce relevant business genres (e.g. formal correspondence, internal memos, reports, ...)
  • Recognise and produce TW genres
  • Critique and edit own writing
  • Take notes of lecture or meeting

see also content development

see also communication theory models

see also personal competencies

Native language: Speaking (presenting)
  • Address an audience
  • Present a topic fluently based upon notes
  • Make a business presentation
  • Read aloud
  • Develop and present information

see also communication theory and models

see also personal competencies

Native language: Interacting
  • Respond to non-verbal cues
  • Take part in (in)formal discussions
  • Engage in a conversation
  • Participate in a meeting
  • Ask for clarification
  • Explain viewpoint and opinion
  • Give and receive feedback
  • Exchange information with peers and with specialists
  • Interview customers (SMEs)
  • Take turns in conversation

see also communication theory and models

see also personal competencies

 

Foreign Language(s): Reading
  • Be able to understand and interpret informative work-related documents
  • Be able to understand and follow written instructions
  • Identify and interpret main points in written texts
  • Find specific information in work-related documents
  • Judge quality and accuracy of text content
  • Use context clues to clarify meaning

see also communication theory and models

see also personal competencies

 

 

Foreign Language(s): Listening
  • Listen for specific work-related information
  • Listen for precise detail
  • Be able to understand and follow verbal instructions
  • Be able to understand suggestions and implications
  • Be able to understand spoken feedback

see also communication theory and models

see also personal competencies

 

Foreign Language(s): Writing
  • Use correct grammar and spelling
  • Use appropriate format and style for writing
  • Recognise and produce relevant business genres (formal correspondence, internal memos, reports, …)
  • Recognise and produce TW genres
  • Critique and edit own writing
  • Take notes of lecture or meeting

see also content development

see also communication theory and models

see also personal competencies

Foreign Language(s): Speaking (presenting)
  • Address an audience
  • Present a topic fluently based upon notes
  • Make a business presentation
  • Read aloud
  • Develop and present information

see also communication theory and models

see also personal competencies

Foreign Language(s): Interacting
  • Respond to non-verbal cues in foreign culture
  • Respond to cultural differences
  • Take part in (in)formal discussions
  • Engage in a conversation
  • Participate in a meeting
  • Ask for clarification
  • Explain viewpoint and opinion
  • Give and receive feedback
  • Exchange information with peers and with specialists
  • Interview customers (SMEs)
  • Take turns in conversation

see also communication theory and models

see also personal competencies

see also interculturality