VINTAGE- VET Integrated Language Learning
Integrating language learning and educational and professionalization pathways is the opportunity and the challenge faced by the project. Interlinking formal and informal learning, taking in account workplace settings and new enablers of learning, the project aims at supporting teachers and trainers develop their competences in managing these processes, providing them with a powerful Resource Centre, including hints, suggestions, tools for designing, planning and managing personalized language learning pathways.
The Vintage project, moving from the results already achieved in order to integrate workbased contents in language learning, aims at developing an innovative approach addressing difficulties and challenges of teachers and trainers in overcoming constraints of a specialized approach to language learning (sectorial didactics, standardized curricula and scholastic learning settings, etc.), enabling them to design personalized didactical activities valuing VET learning settings, and respecting at the same time individual needs, autonomy and responsibility of the learners.
Year(s): 2013
Target group(s): Vocational teachers/trainers, workplace instructors, and Migrants students and trainees
Website: http://www.vintage-language.eu
Methodology
The project aims at designing and testing:
- An innovative learning approach, based on the integration between language learning, professional training, development of key skills and competences (see the European Reference Framework - “Key Competences for lifelong learning”), valuing the 3 key principles of language learning: exploit the actual use of the target language, take into account learners’ needs and preoccupations, respect and value autonomy and responsibility of the learners;
-A workbased/workplace learning program, based on a needs’ analysis considering communication patterns emerging at the workplace (identified by companies and learners) but also communication settings characterizing qualification processes; the project will develop a comprehensive learning strategy, testing it in different sectors: manufacturing and logistics, caregiving, touristic services, cleaning, etc.
- A flexible set of tools for designing and planning learning (focusing on competences from A1 to B1), aiming at ensuring personalized teaching, activating diversified learning methods and resources, in order to meet learning modes and styles of an highly differentiated target group, composed by learners active in different sectors, both by low educated and by quick and well educated learners.
- assessment (summative) and formative evaluation procedures enabling the recognition, validation and accreditation (when possible also certification) of linguistic and professional competences gained by the learners in informal and non-formal learning settings (verifying entry level and learning outcomes)
- A web Resource Centre addressed to teachers and trainers. The partnership of Vintage include 7 countries (Swiss, France, Italy, Germany, Norway and Greece) able to activate their expertise in diverse areas: from training of adult migrants workers (ECAP Foundation dealing since 45 years with language and vocational training addressed to migrants, in the 3 linguistic regions of Switzerland, and Centro EDA Gallarate, hosting about 250 migrant learners per year in its language courses), to language training in mobility projects and active labor market policies addressed to youngsters and unemployed (Arbeit und Leben and IRIV) until language learning at higher education level (University of Perugia).
Type of product
Paper-based material
Online resource
Course / Training
Learning program
Brief description of the product / outcome / method
- learning program
- set of tools for designing and planning learning
- assessment and formative evaluation procedures enabling the recognition, validation and accreditation of linguistic and professional competences gained by the learners in informal and non-formal learning settings
- web Resource Centre addressed to teachers and trainers
Impact on target groups / Transferability potential
The project will help teachers and trainers of VET in overcoming constraints of a specialized approach to language learning (sectorial didactics, standardized curricula and scholastic learning settings, etc.), enabling them to design personalized didactical activities valuing VET learning settings, and respecting at the same time individual needs, autonomy and responsibility of the learners.
Promoter of the initiative
Name of organization / individual: Fondazione ECAP Svizzera
Website: http://www.ecap-fondazione.ch
Contacts: Furio Bednarz Fondazione ECAP Svizzera via industria 3 Lamone CH-Switzerland Tel: 0041 091 604 2035 fbednarz@ecap.ch