English: Professional Foreign Language for IT Students (Astra)
Professional English for IT students at B1–B2 level. 28 units in two strands: Hard skills covers technical texts and terminology; Soft skills develops professional communication. English-language materials, explanations in English, vocabulary practice and explanatory diagrams. Estimated workload: 125 hours.
Explanations are in your language: your assistant gives them.
- Teaches: English
- Material: Ukrainian
- Exam: English — taken on the site, not translated
How it works
Your assistant takes the course material from our server and leads the lesson in your language.
Your assistant explains in your language, but examples, samples and the names of what is being explained stay as the course has them: translating them would lose the subject.
The exam is taken on the site, without an assistant, in the language being taught. Exam questions are not translated: this is decided for every course.
Path through the course
· 28 unitsthe order is free · the steps below are the order the author suggests, not a conditionView: map · steps
Stage 1
~17 h
1 · Hard skills
~4 h
2 · Hard skills
Data Storage and Representation
~6 h
4 · Hard skills
~4 h
15 · Soft skills
~3 h
Stage 2
~14 h
3 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Data Storage and Representation”
~4 h
5 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Algorithms”
~3 h
10 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Data Storage and Representation”
~4 h
16 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Discussing a Technology Stack”
~3 h
Stage 3
~16 h
6 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Programming Languages”
~5 h
7 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Computer Hardware”, “Algorithms”
~4 h
9 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Computer Hardware”
~3 h
17 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “T-shaped Professionals”
~4 h
Stage 4
~26 h
8 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Data Structures and Databases”
~3 h
11 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Data Structures and Databases”
Data and Information for Decision-Making
~4 h
13 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Cloud Computing”, “Information Security Threats”
~8 h
18 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Key Soft Skills in IT”
Project Organization and Agile
~3 h
19 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Key Soft Skills in IT”
Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams
~4 h
20 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Key Soft Skills in IT”
~4 h
Stage 5
~21 h
12 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Software Development”, “Data and Information for Decision-Making”
~6 h
21 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Project Organization and Agile”
Communication in GitHub and Jira
~4 h
22 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Project Organization and Agile”, “Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams”
Effective Meetings and Teamwork
~5 h
24 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Discussing a Technology Stack”, “Productivity Planning”
Freelancing and Professional Independence
~6 h
Stage 6
~14 h
14 · Hard skills · by the author’s design, after “Data and Information for Decision-Making”, “Systems Analysis”
~3 h
23 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Effective Meetings and Teamwork”
~6 h
25 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams”, “Effective Meetings and Teamwork”
~5 h
Stage 7
~11 h
Soft skills
26 · by the author’s design, after “T-shaped Professionals”, “Leadership in a Team”
Tech Companies and Corporate Culture
~6 h
28 · by the author’s design, after “Effective Meetings and Teamwork”, “Onboarding New Employees”
Client Visits and Kick-off Meetings
~5 h
Stage 8
~6 h
27 · Soft skills · by the author’s design, after “Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams”, “Tech Companies and Corporate Culture”
~6 h
Exam
closed · enrol on the course
final · in the browser, without the assistant
Exam
The path in words
- Stage 1 · History of Computing — ~4 h
- Stage 1 · Data Storage and Representation — ~6 h
- Stage 1 · Algorithms — ~4 h
- Stage 1 · Discussing a Technology Stack — ~3 h
- Stage 2 · Computer Hardware — by the author’s design, after “Data Storage and Representation”; ~4 h
- Stage 2 · Programming Languages — by the author’s design, after “Algorithms”; ~3 h
- Stage 2 · Information Security Threats — by the author’s design, after “Data Storage and Representation”; ~4 h
- Stage 2 · T-shaped Professionals — by the author’s design, after “Discussing a Technology Stack”; ~3 h
- Stage 3 · Software Development — by the author’s design, after “Programming Languages”; ~5 h
- Stage 3 · Data Structures and Databases — by the author’s design, after “Computer Hardware”, “Algorithms”; ~4 h
- Stage 3 · Cloud Computing — by the author’s design, after “Computer Hardware”; ~3 h
- Stage 3 · Key Soft Skills in IT — by the author’s design, after “T-shaped Professionals”; ~4 h
- Stage 4 · Machine Learning — by the author’s design, after “Data Structures and Databases”; ~3 h
- Stage 4 · Data and Information for Decision-Making — by the author’s design, after “Data Structures and Databases”; ~4 h
- Stage 4 · Cybersecurity — by the author’s design, after “Cloud Computing”, “Information Security Threats”; ~8 h
- Stage 4 · Project Organization and Agile — by the author’s design, after “Key Soft Skills in IT”; ~3 h
- Stage 4 · Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams — by the author’s design, after “Key Soft Skills in IT”; ~4 h
- Stage 4 · Productivity Planning — by the author’s design, after “Key Soft Skills in IT”; ~4 h
- Stage 5 · Systems Analysis — by the author’s design, after “Software Development”, “Data and Information for Decision-Making”; ~6 h
- Stage 5 · Communication in GitHub and Jira — by the author’s design, after “Project Organization and Agile”; ~4 h
- Stage 5 · Effective Meetings and Teamwork — by the author’s design, after “Project Organization and Agile”, “Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams”; ~5 h
- Stage 5 · Freelancing and Professional Independence — by the author’s design, after “Discussing a Technology Stack”, “Productivity Planning”; ~6 h
- Stage 6 · Economic Cybernetics — by the author’s design, after “Data and Information for Decision-Making”, “Systems Analysis”; ~3 h
- Stage 6 · Leadership in a Team — by the author’s design, after “Effective Meetings and Teamwork”; ~6 h
- Stage 6 · Onboarding New Employees — by the author’s design, after “Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams”, “Effective Meetings and Teamwork”; ~5 h
- Stage 7 · Tech Companies and Corporate Culture — by the author’s design, after “T-shaped Professionals”, “Leadership in a Team”; ~6 h
- Stage 7 · Client Visits and Kick-off Meetings — by the author’s design, after “Effective Meetings and Teamwork”, “Onboarding New Employees”; ~5 h
- Stage 8 · Job Interviews — by the author’s design, after “Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams”, “Tech Companies and Corporate Culture”; ~6 h
Programme · 28 units
| 1 | History of Computing Understand a historical account; describe inventions and the sequence of events in English. | ~4 h |
| 2 | Data Storage and Representation Explain data representation; read the labels on truth tables, disks and tapes. | ~6 h |
| 3 | Computer Hardware Compare computer components; explain the functions and the memory hierarchy. | ~4 h |
| 4 | Algorithms Describe the sequence of steps, conditions and repetition in English. | ~4 h |
| 5 | Programming Languages Compare paradigms; explain input, function, output and class/object. | ~3 h |
| 6 | Software Development Describe the development stages and requirements; distinguish between coupling and cohesion. | ~5 h |
| 7 | Data Structures and Databases Explain structures and relationships; use the vocabulary stack, queue, tree, relation. | ~4 h |
| 8 | Machine Learning Read definitions of ML; match types of learning and key terms. | ~3 h |
| 9 | Cloud Computing Compare IaaS, PaaS and SaaS; formulate advantages and limitations. | ~3 h |
| 10 | Information Security Threats Describe threats and consequences; use the vocabulary of information protection. | ~4 h |
| 11 | Data and Information for Decision-Making Distinguish between data and information; explain the results of analysis. | ~4 h |
| 12 | Systems Analysis Describe the analysis process, dependencies, causes and recommendations. | ~6 h |
| 13 | Cybersecurity Read three thematic texts; explain threats, domains and means of protection. | ~8 h |
| 14 | Economic Cybernetics Explain feedback, control and decision-making in professional texts. | ~3 h |
| 15 | Discussing a Technology Stack Justify technology choices in terms of business needs and trade-offs. | ~3 h |
| 16 | T-shaped Professionals Describe professional competencies and career development. | ~3 h |
| 17 | Key Soft Skills in IT Discuss responsibility, uncertainty and team interaction. | ~4 h |
| 18 | Project Organization and Agile Explain workflows and use Agile set phrases. | ~3 h |
| 19 | Communication Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams Explain technical ideas in plain English; check understanding. | ~4 h |
| 20 | Productivity Planning Discuss priorities, workload and work routine. | ~4 h |
| 21 | Communication in GitHub and Jira Understand and discuss change messages and work tasks. | ~4 h |
| 22 | Effective Meetings and Teamwork Discuss the agenda, decisions and next steps. | ~5 h |
| 23 | Leadership in a Team Describe delegation, coordination, goals and responsibility. | ~6 h |
| 24 | Freelancing and Professional Independence Compare professional formats and discuss client relationships. | ~6 h |
| 25 | Onboarding New Employees Clarify expectations; discuss onboarding and interaction with newcomers. | ~5 h |
| 26 | Tech Companies and Corporate Culture Describe culture, values and opportunities for professional development. | ~6 h |
| 27 | Job Interviews Answer interview questions and explain your experience. | ~6 h |
| 28 | Client Visits and Kick-off Meetings Use polite phrases; discuss scope, deliverables and expectations. | ~5 h |