Empowering Language Teachers including non-specialist volunteers Erasmus Project

Project Title

Empowering Language Teachers including non-specialist volunteers

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Integration of refugees; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

This two-year project involves 5 partners from 5 countries and focuses on the upskilling both volunteers and existing language teachers who are working on the teaching of the home language to asylum seekers and refugees.
It addresses shortfalls in both provision and quality. The Council of Europe Report (2017b) highlighted the key role of volunteers in providing language tuition to newly arrived asylum seekers and refugees in both formal and non-formal contexts. However, they rarely have access to training. Furthermore, research by the Fundamental Rights Agency, in 2017, highlighted that even in formal settings, many teachers are not trained or have no experience with general issues of migration and diversity, to work with refugee students and their particular needs or to teach the national language as a second language.

This project aims to address these shortfalls by creating a model of training provision that focuses on the specific needs of the target groups of asylum seekers and refugees, and the quality of teaching and learning. It aims to explore such issues as knowing the needs and expectations of the target groups, different techniques to improve engagement, and learning models to meet those needs, including non-formal learning. It will share existing expertise and develop new strategies. The aim will be to provide a model methodology and set of resources that have been tested in a range of contexts with a variety of target groups, which can then be more widely adopted.

The resources to be developed will be a set of 5 training modules. The approach taken by this project is very much learner orientated and linked to their specific needs and ambitions – this is covered in the first module of the training. Evidence shows that all too often, there is a one size fits all approach and that this is de-motivating. The learner-centred approach will focus on the individual need and use individual plans to tailor provision and measure progress.

This project also aims to ensure that formal approaches are supported by non-formal learning, and that there is a synergy between them.

The 5 modules are:

1. Getting to know your target groups and their needs – including using a self-evaluation tool
2. Active engagement techniques including creating a positive climate for learning
3. Structuring learning including preparation, planning, and resourcing
4. Teaching Models including lesson design for inclusion incorporating both formal and non-formal learning, learning styles, guided learning, and group work
5. Assessment for Learning
These will be trialed in two cycles with volunteers and trained teachers and it is anticipated that they will reach 400 learners. The outcomes of the trials will be reported in an impact report.

The project addresses the Adult Education priority of extending and developing the competence of educators and other personnel who support adult learners and the horizontal priorities of supporting individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competences and social inclusion. 

The overall anticipated result will be a new training model and resources with evidence that they can impact on the quality of teaching and learning of those working with asylum seekers and refugees, despite different educational and cultural contexts. They will be made freely available to NGOs working with asylum seekers, voluntary organisations, training providers and regional authorities across the EU.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 185290 Eur

Project Coordinator

edEUcation ltd & Country: UK

Project Partners

• AINTEK SYMVOULOI EPICHEIRISEON EFARMOGES YPSILIS TECHNOLOGIAS EKPAIDEFSI ANONYMI ETAIREIA
• Les Cultures
• WISAMAR BILDUNGSGESELLSCHAFT GEMEINNUTZIGE GMBH
• Associacio Programes Educatius Open Europe