Creating a new meaning in language education for senior learners Erasmus Project

Project Title

Creating a new meaning in language education for senior learners

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: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The AIM of the project is to develop guidelines for English language teachers in order to respond better to the learning needs of senior students, to motivate and activate seniors to learn and participate in lifelong learning. To find way to help senior learners with learning proces to improve their language skills and to reach better results in English language learning.
To reach the goal the project team will also develop guidelines on how to learn and study a language combined with the usage of learning strategies and technics.
Futhermore, to equipped senior students of English language with the ability to express themselves in English, to reduce the stress during English classes and to improve the quality of English language learning for seniors in the partnership countries by the development of this project. The guidelines will be also a colection of ideas for language teachers and ready to use materials in the classroom. All studies confirm that brain exercise has a positive effect on our health, mind and longevity. People who do not stop learning enjoy better health, later experience the symptoms of cognitive impairment and find it easier for them lives.The AIM of the project is to develop guidelines for English language teachers to respond better to the learning needs of senior students. To find way to help senior learners with learning proces to improve their language skills and to reach better results in English language learning.
The project envisages to produce intellectual outputs and other results as listed below:
IO1 Framework and research. Since the course/guidelines and ready to use cards for seniors language learning does not exist as such online or in practice, research must be done to identify the needs of teachers and seniors in order to create materials that address the target group exactly right in order to make the described impact.
IO2 Partners will develop training materials for language teachers working with seniors. The development of those materials will start with training day during partners meeting – workshop based on the desigh thinking idea and human centered design that will help in ideas development and multiplication
IO3 During the partners meeting there will be 2 workshops based on design thinking to develop cards for teachers/seniors to use during the lesson/course. There will be about 60-70 cards with short instructions.
IO4 E-learning platform. The hub will contain all materials from the Intellectual outputs and training as well as extra learning materials provided by partners. It will also include a small evaluation form to improve the hub during the project lifetime. The platform will be for language teachers and trainers working with senior learners.
IO5 Pilot/workshops. Workshop is designed to help teachers become more creative and innovative, it will turn teachers’ creative potential into a reality. The aim is to build creative confidence and competence.

The project MEANING will cause a possitive impact on SENIORs:
– improved, better experience in English language learning – evaluated by questionnaires
– improved knowledge of English – evaluated by self assessment on the e-learning platform
– language learning as a less stressful experience – evaluated by questionnaires
– gained motivation to learn and stay active,
– some materials translated into mother tongue of some content of the coursebook
– more technics to memorize the material made during a language lesson
– more topics to discussion based lessons to encourage them to speak
– gained ability to use e-learning and benefit from it in the English learning

MEANING will also possitivelly impact language teachers:
– motivated to work with seniors – evaluation by questionnaires
– flexibility of the learning proces – instructions included in guidelines
– new technics/ways of corrections – included in the guidelines
– will have an additional tool to work
– will have been exposed to new methodologies in adult learning
– will have an increased motivation for work
– will exchange experience, knowledge and ideas
– will be strengthened in their cooperation between institutions

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 171554 Eur

Project Coordinator

Fundacja “Parasol” & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Kauno apskrities viesoji biblioteka
• speakeasy Berlin GmbH
• Solution: Solidarité & Inclusion
• Eurospeak Language Schools Ltd