Project Summary
The main task of this project is to develop a research based concept of advanced training in the fields of language acquisition, multilingualism and creative language learning. This concept, developed from the personal experience of teachers who teach according to the principles of Progressive Education, is based on the latest research results and approaches, including modern technical aids that promote the learning of foreign languages and multilingualism.
The partners that participate in VISEUS consist of schools with classes at primary and /or lower secondary level from six countries and one academic institution working in the field of teacher training and teacher in-service training from each of these countries take part in VISEUS.
This project is one of many activities designed under the aim of promoting children’s abilities to learn foreign languages as early as at primary school level, and to develop intercultural competences. In particular the programme should address those pupils who already speak several languages (some of the schools that participate in our project show a high percentage of pupils from migrant families, sometimes of up to 80 % or a high percentage share of pupils with ethnic minority background, Roma etc.). This diversity of languages is seen and used as highly valuable resource.
Our target is to set up language workshops in all participating schools and to connect them through a virtual communication platform. The participants can thus communicate with each other and share materials and experience.
The main activity in the language workshops consists of the work with the interactive children’s encyclopedia “Euroklex”. Within this project the software for Euroklex will be extended to eight languages (Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Italian, Romani, Turkish). It will be the pupils themselves who will develop the software for the language programme.
The experience gained in the different schools as well as the results of the accompanying research will be part of the general concept of advanced training.
All these activities in the field of language learning and multilingualism will help to increase the general attention and importance attributed to the linguistic diversity that exists in Europe.
The new proved and tested methods are supposed to allow creative work in the language classes and to enhance pupils’ motivation for language acquisition.
Project Targets
Major goals of the project are
- To encourage the acquisition of foreign languages and an increasing interest in linguistic diversity. The learners communicate in the languages of the project.
- To encourage the development of innovative, ICT-based curricular contents, services, pedagogical ideas and teaching methods under the aspect of life-long learning
- To encourage the best implementation of results, innovative products and processes as well as an exchange of reliable methods in those fields that are covered by the programme for life-long learning to enhance the quality of general education and vocational training
- To encourage the learning of modern foreign languages
- To gain knowledge about and insight into the diversity of the European cultures and languages, and to help young people and teachers to acknowledge their value
- To apply a holistic approach to the teaching of foreign languages
- To disseminate adequate instruments for teaching and learning foreign languages
- To develop concepts for the support of teachers in their effort of using new methods for promoting the motivation of their students