The automotive mechanic profession


What is my profession ? Professor because mechanic above all ? Mechanic because technician, by formation ? Technician because passionate by the cars ? Professor because passionate by the teaching ?
It is not easy to make a choice...
The teaching of the automotive mechanics, theory and application, is founded on a strong culture : a culture of the gesture, for the practice, an encyclopedic culture for the theory.

Languages of the mechanic

The mechanic possesses his own gestural language, composed of a particular, universal alphabet. (annexed document 1)
The knowledge of these gestures is the first condition of his expertise.

He uses also the language of his profession, particular, sometimes, but always precise.
If it is easy to translate a technical term, it is sometimes less easy to know what it represents (see annexed document : english-french-... dictionary and toolbox).
To place a screw... It is easy, a screw. But, screwing on the right or on the left ? Metric or english thread ? What tool for what head ? Washer or not washer ? And what kind of washer ? And how much for the tightening torque ?
It is not about providing a lexicon, of course, but to increase his usual vocabulary in each concrete situation.
The first words of a language are easy to learn, quickly, but the technical language needs a longer patience, a longer experience, acquired on gestures facts, on the met of problems, on the found of solutions.
This knowledge is the "language of communication" of the mechanic, that helps him to make the other mechanics understand him, in other countries.

The automotive culture



The history of the car, the history of the automotive technique, informs us on the different cultures of our professions.
France had Joseph Cugnot, the precursor, André Citroën, the man of brilliant innovations, but also Armand Peugeot, the pragmatic...
Great Britain knew James Watt, the precursor, Alec Issigonis, the man of the Mini, Colin Chapman, the father of Lotus...
It is the country of the S.U. carburetors., of the Lucas injection, of the Hydragas suspension, the country where people drive on the left side of the road.
If France is a country of constructors (Peugeot, Renault, Citroën), England was a country of group (Nuffield, BMC, BLMC, British Leyland, Rover Group) before losing a big part of its automotive identity, but it's still the country of the "kit-cars", these cars that you build yourself.


André Citroën structured the automotive repair in France, creating concessions, methods of repair, books of time. The technical communication is reserved, there, secret.
England is the country of the "amateurs" (in the french meaning : "someone who like") and the " Do It Yourself " is still dominant there.
The comparison of professional magazines back up this idea : the Revue Technique Automobile (Automotive Technical), in France, is written for mechanics, against the Haynes magazine, more explanatory, more educational.

The collector of cars also knows this difference.
In France, the car must be like it was at its origin, even though it must stay immobile, or it must travel on a trailer.
The English collector drives his car on roads of the whole Europe, night and day, in the sun or under rain, and he approves the necessary modifications.

Finally, Internet confirm this idea. Sources of information are very large, in English often, very often, and researches punctuated by "DIY" give some interesting results.
The exchange of information is remarkably quick, the exchange between the different knowledges, of the different experiences.

The professional teaching

In France, the school path is based on recognized diplomas.

Levels of qualification:
Level V : Certificate of Faculties Professional - Maintenance of Vehicles Cars - Particular Vehicles (CAP - Certificat d'Aptitudes Professionnelles Maintenance de Véhicules Automobiles - Véhicules particuliers) ; Patent of Professional Studies - Maintenance of Vehicles and Materials - Particular Vehicles (BEP - Brevet d'Etudes Professionnelles Maintenance des Véhicules et des Matériels - Dominante Véhicules particuliers) ; Complementary Mention - Maintenance of Electric Systems of the Car (Mention Complémentaire Maintenance des Systèmes Embarqués de l'Automobile)
Level IV : Final Professional Exam - Maintenance of Cars - Option Particular Cars (Bac Pro - Baccalauréat Professionnel Maintenance de Véhicules Automobiles - Option Voitures Particulières), Final Exam - Sciences and Industrial Technology - Mechanical Engineering - Motorized Systems (Bac STI - Baccalauréat Sciences et techniques Industrielles - Génie Mécanique - Systèmes Motorisés)

Level II : Patent of Superior Technician - After-sale Car - Option Particular Vehicles (BTS - Brevet de Technicien Supérieur Après-vente Automobile - Option Véhicules Particuliers)

In Britain, after the reform of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ, 1989-1987), and the Education Act, in 2002, pupils move toward the Further Education College, for the Modern Apprenticeship (GNVQ level 3), toward the National Traineeship (NVQ level 2) or toward "Private work-based training providers" (Youth Credit, Youth Training) for the Vocational Vocational Certificate of Education (diploma of the professional teaching).
Some other reforms (2005, 2007) restructured the professional teaching in England.
The training (learning experience) is framed by enterprises that validate a certification or a qualification (Increased Flexibility programme).

Levels of qualification (BTEC - Business and Technician Education Council) :
Level 1 : basic knowledges in the semi-qualified professions (BTEC Introductory Certificate / Diploma)
Level 2 : semi-qualified professions (BTEC First Certificate / Diploma)
Level 3 : technician, qualified technician, craftsman (BTEC National Award / Certificate / Diploma, Ordinary National Certificate / Diploma)
Mechanical Engineering ; Operations and Maintenance Engineering (Electrical ; Electronic ; Mechanical ; Process) ; Vehicle Technology ; Vehicle Technology (Motorsports) ; Vehicle Repair & Technology (Auto Electrical ; Heavy Vehicle ; Light Vehicle)
Level 4 : technician, administrator,
Level 5 : management (Higher National Certificate / Diploma)

The teaching in English



It is therefore about teaching in English, and not about teaching English, to exercise this language in concrete situation, in the repair-shop and in the class-room of technology, by the using of English manuals, the using of the English language in the diagnosis computers or tools, etc.
Besides, the research of information on Internet, in English, of course, will help to increase the technical vocabulary of our pupils, as well as the contact, by way of this media, with other European pupils.
Finally, periods of education in enterprise, in garage, in England (like those that followed our pupils of Bac Pro / BTEC National), will complete this training.

Therefore, it is about teaching the automotive mechanics, in the respect of the "administrative referentials", of the official programs...
But we don't form only future candidates to exams.
We are also there to transmit the culture of our profession, the "language" of the mechanic, of the technician, and it his a great luck, for him, to learn this language in French and in English.

Appendix 1 - The Basic Technical Gestures

To check without tool
To check by eye
To check by hand
To define a process of verifications
To specify the chronology of each sequences
To make the verifications
To establish the anomaly listing
To associate each anomaly with a deficient component
To establish the list :
- of parts or systems to change,
- of parts or systems to repair,
- of adjustments to do

To mark
To mark the relative positions
To mark the chronology of operations
To respect the matching of systems or sub-systems

To adjust
To identify the points of adjustment and the values of reference
To decide the action of adjusting
To respect the prescribed method of adjsuting
To choose the tools rationally
To check the stability of the adjusting

To find an information
To make the listing of the necessary informations to intervention
To ask for the missing informations
To find the necessary information
To decode and to appropriate information
To use a computer and its softwares
To use the in line services (Internet) : directories, websites

To screw / to unscrew
To stop a screw / to unscrew
To approach
To tighten to the value of reference (torque)

To drain / to fill
To check a level
To re-establish a level
To drain
To bleed

To connect / to disconnect
To interrupt links (mechanical, electrical, fluid)
To re-establish links of circuits
To establish the necessary links to make measurments

To check with tool
To define a process of verifications
To establish the listing of the necessary tools
To choose measure tools rationally
To specify the chronology of each sequence
To make the mesures or the verifications
To adapt the ladder of reading of the tool to the measure to do
To respect the prescribed measure method
To compare results gotten with values of reference
To measure and to control

To put down / to put, to disassemble / to assemble
To handle the vehicle and subsets
To put down and to put back mechanisms or equipments :
- the relative positions don't require the use of measure tools
- the relative positions require the use of measure tools or specific control
To clean systems and sub-systems
To put an equipment or an accessory
To try the equipment or the accessory

To smear of..., to grease

To use the tools
To arrange all the tools and the materials rationally on the station after work
To put in order the station after work
To identify the modes of maintenance of tools and equipments
To select tools and equipments :
- that need an operation of maintenance
- that need to be replaced
To maintain the toolis and the equipments
To signal the possible faultiness of materials

To manufacture
To do operations of machining, of installation, of modification, of adaptation


Sources

- Les chiffres clés de l'éducation en Europe, chapitre E. Enseignement Secondaire, Commission Européenne / Eurydice / Eurostat, 1999/2000
- Les rencontres de la DESCO - Conférence-débat : La formation professionnelle en Europe : regards croisés - 2002
- Structures of Education, Vocational Training, and Adult Education Systems in Europe - United Kingdom ; Eurydice, 2003
- National summary sheets on education systems in Europe and ongoing reforms - United Kingdom ; Eurydice, june 2007
- Recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning for VET teachers and trainers in the EU Member States, Cedefp, 2007

- Buid your own sports car for as little as £250 - Ron Champion - Haynes Publishing - 2000 ( (ISBN 1-85960-636-9)

- Bulletins officiels de l'Education National)

- Sites web
http://www.centre-inffo.fr
http://europass.cedefop.eu.int
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/leonardo/leonardo_en.html
http://www.eurydice.org/portal/page/portal/Eurydice
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.edexcel.org.uk
http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv/Information_resources/Bookshop/list.asp

http://pboursin.club.fr (site ouvert en 1994, plus de 4 millions de visiteurs à ce jour)
- Des pages sur la pédagogie, sur l'enseignement de la technique et de la technologie automobile. Il s'agit de partager mon expérience et mes recherches en ce domaines, surtout en ce qui concerne le décodage des référentiels.
- Des pages techniques sur 'l'automobile, bien entendu. (dont un dictionnaire bilingue)
- Une synthèse sur l'histoire automobile, et plus particulièrement sur l'automobile électrique, nos voisins anglais ayant une compétence particulière en ce domaine.
- Une recherche sur l'enseignement professionnel en Europe. Il s'agit de réunir des informations sur les différentes structures et de faire un premier pas vers des échanges avec des établissements d'autres pays européens.
- Des pages sur ma province, le Berry. Nous avons des liens très forts avec nos amis écossais (qui remontent à Charles VII, le bien servi), et les fêtes de juillet, à Aubigny-sur-Nère, en sont une démonstration souriante.

Enfin, un lien vers le site du Silver Lord (http://thesilverlord.free.fr/), livre écrit en anglais dont j'ai assuré la traduction en français.