Block 1 · Why English in the workshop

O inglês é a língua da oficina

• Manuais de reparação, diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) e software de diagnóstico são maioritariamente em inglês.
• Peças, catálogos e faturas de fornecedores internacionais chegam em inglês.
• Clientes estrangeiros e frotas pedem orçamentos e explicações em inglês.

Objetivo da UC: comunicar com fluência funcional — ler, ouvir, falar e escrever — em contexto de reparação e manutenção automóvel.

As três realizações do referencial

1. Interpretar e selecionar informação especializada, verbal e não verbal, em suportes variados.
2. Transmitir enunciados orais coerentes.
3. Redigir textos articulados e coesos.

E as três aptidões-chave:

• Pesquisar informação técnica e comercial sobre viaturas.
• Mobilizar recursos linguísticos, relacionando fontes diversas.
• Distinguir informação essencial da acessória.

Block 2 · Technical vocabulary

Types of vehicles & bodywork

• Vehicle types: passenger car, van, truck (lorry), SUV, hatchback, saloon (sedan), estate (wagon), pick-up, motorcycle.
• Powertrain: petrol (gasoline), diesel, hybrid (HEV/PHEV), battery electric (BEV).
• Bodywork: bonnet (hood), boot (trunk), bumper, wing (fender), windscreen (windshield), tailgate, sill.

UK vs US: bonnet/hood, boot/trunk, tyre/tire, gearbox/transmission, spanner/wrench, petrol/gas. Aceitam-se ambas — coerência é que conta.

Systems & components (1/2)

Systems & components (2/2)

Aprender vocabulário por sistema é mais eficaz do que listas soltas: o cliente e o manual falam por sistemas.

Block 3 · Maintenance areas & documentation

Areas of intervention

• Scheduled maintenance (revisão programada): oil & filter change, fluids top-up, inspection.
• Diagnosis (diagnóstico): fault finding, reading DTCs, road test.
• Repair (reparação): replace, refit, adjust, overhaul.
• Wheels & tyres: alignment, balancing, rotation, puncture repair.

Verbos de oficina: to check, to replace, to tighten, to loosen, to bleed (brakes), to top up, to refit, to torque, to diagnose.

Vehicle documentation & the business side

• Documents: logbook / registration document, service book, MOT (roadworthiness test), insurance certificate, warranty.
• Money & admin: estimate (quote), invoice, labour cost, parts cost, VAT, deposit, means of payment (card, transfer, cash), fees.
• Warranty & liability: covered / not covered, claim, guarantee period.

"Documentação da viatura, licenças e registos, orçamentos, seguros, formas de recebimento e taxas" — tudo isto é vocabulário examinável.

Block 4 · Functions of language & register

Functions of language

A mesma mensagem muda conforme a função:

Register: formal com o cliente (Could you...?), neutro/técnico no relatório, informal só entre colegas.

Block 5 · Sounds & pronunciation

Sounds, stress and phonetics

• Word stress muda o sentido: RE-cord (n.) vs re-CORD (v.); en-gine (ˈen.dʒɪn).
• Sons difíceis para PT: /θ/ thread, /ð/* *the*, /v/vs/w/*valve/well*, o schwa/ə/`.
• Símbolos IPA úteis: /iː/ seal, /ɪ/ ship, /æ/ bracket, /ʌ/ clutch.

Termos que se dizem mal: gauge /ɡeɪdʒ/, chassis /ˈʃæsi/, torque /tɔːk/, diesel /ˈdiːzəl/, hydraulic /haɪˈdrɔːlɪk/.

Block 6 · Grammar toolkit

Tenses that matter in the shop

Nouns, connectors & sentence building

• Countable/uncountable: a filter (count.) vs oil, coolant, information (uncount. → "some oil", "how much coolant").
• Determiners/articles: the ECU (específico), a new battery (indefinido).
• Connectors (coesão): because, so, however, therefore, first/then/finally, although.
• Sintaxe: SVO — The mechanic (S) replaced (V) the pump (O); passiva útil em relatórios: The pump was replaced.

Fault → Cause → Action → Result
"The car overheats (fault) because the thermostat is stuck (cause),
 so I replaced it (action); now it runs at normal temperature (result)."

Block 7 · Reading fluently

Reading technical documents

• Skim para a ideia geral, scan para um dado (torque value, part number).
• Ler símbolos e ícones do painel e do manual (informação não verbal).
• Estrutura típica de um manual: warning → tools required → procedure → torque specs.

Reading fluency = ler à velocidade certa e compreender, não decorar palavra a palavra. Sublinhar verbos de ação e valores numéricos.

Block 8 · Listening & speaking

Talking with the customer — service reception

Greeting & problem:

• "Good morning. What seems to be the problem?"
• "There's a strange noise when I brake."

Clarifying (perguntas):

• "When did it start?" · "Does it happen when cold?"

Explaining & advising:

• "It looks like the brake pads are worn."
• "I'd recommend replacing them today."

Ouvir ativamente: reformular ("So, the noise happens only when braking, right?") confirma que percebeste.

Block 9 · Writing

Writing an estimate / work order

Regras de produção escrita: claro, coeso, cortês.

ESTIMATE — Ref. 2045
Vehicle: VW Golf 1.6 TDI (2018) · Reg.: 12-AB-34
Customer: Mr. Smith

Work required:
- Replace front brake pads and discs
- Bleed brake system

Parts: 145.00 €   Labour (2h): 90.00 €
Subtotal: 235.00 €   VAT (23%): 54.05 €
TOTAL: 289.05 €

Estimated completion: tomorrow, 5 p.m.

Writing an email to the customer

Subject: Your Golf — repair completed

Dear Mr. Smith,

Your vehicle is ready for collection. We have replaced the
front brake pads and discs and bled the brake system.
The total, as agreed, is 289.05 € (VAT included).

We are open until 6 p.m. Please bring the service book.

Kind regards,
AutoTech Service — Workshop

• Opening/closing formais: Dear… / Kind regards.
• Coesão: um parágrafo por ideia; conectores.

Block 10 · Courtesy, phone & complaints

Courtesy & telephone conventions

• Polite forms: "Could you…?", "Would you mind…?", "I'm afraid…".
• On the phone: "AutoTech, good morning, how can I help?" · "Could you hold, please?" · "May I take your registration number?"
• Handling a complaint: apologise → understand → offer a solution.
  • "I'm sorry to hear that. Let me check what happened and we'll sort it out."

Regras de cortesia e convenções linguísticas = soft skills que valem tanto como o vocabulário técnico.

Block 11 · Searching information

Researching technical & commercial info

• Where: manufacturer manuals, TSBs (technical service bulletins), parts catalogues (part numbers, OEM/aftermarket), supplier price lists.
• How: keywords in English, part number search, filtering by make/model/year/VIN.
• Commercial: compare prices, delivery time, warranty of the part.

Aptidão: mobilizar recursos linguísticos relacionando informação de áreas e fontes diversificadas — cruzar manual + catálogo + cliente.

Block 12 · Essential vs accessory

Distinguish essential from accessory information

Num texto/manual longo, foca o que decide a ação:

Ler com objetivo: "o que preciso para fazer o trabalho e informar o cliente?"

Block 13 · Putting it together

The full service scenario

1. Receive the customer (listening/speaking, courtesy).
2. Read the fault & the manual (interpret, essential vs accessory).
3. Diagnose and search parts (research, vocabulary).
4. Write the estimate and get approval (writing, register).
5. Repair and report (technical vocabulary, tenses).
6. Hand over: explain the work and the invoice (speaking, courtesy).

Cada passo mobiliza uma das competências do referencial — a UC treina o ciclo completo em inglês.