Detailed Project Description
Project Description
1.2. Language awareness, intercultural competence, multilingual matters
1.2.1. The introduction of language awareness into the curriculum
Co-ordination: Michel Candelier,
France
Working languages: English, French
How can education prepare
individuals to face the cultural and linguistic diversity of the society they
are living in? Learners experience this diversity since school, through language
multiplicity which they face and learn, but also, more frequently through the
diversity of their origins.
It is in this context that a certain number of innovations have been started
up in several countries, mainly in primary schools, under different titles (éveil/ouverture
aux langues, language awareness, Sprachaufmerksamkeit). They have led recently
to the Comenius and the Evlang (Socrates/Lingua) programmes. The latter is still
under way.
In this approach, every pupil faces a considerable diversity of languages, of
different status, in which s/he performs exploring activities. The aims are
to develop both a positive attitude towards linguistic diversity (including
lesser used languages, migrants´ and regional languages), and to build
metalinguistic skills, which will be used again when learning other languages
(foreign languages and languages at school).
The project "Ja-Ling" ("Janua Linguarum", "The Gateway
to Languages" following the title of a work by Comenius) aims at more widespread
dissemination and curricular insertion of activities promoting linguistic and
cultural education in their diversity. It would start in the kindergarten and
run through the lower secondary school years. The project will engage in pilot
experiences (of varying scope), including the elaboration of curricula, materials,
training of teachers and evaluation.
The main objective is to create synergy between linguistic learning, within
the framework of the teaching both of more languages and more diversified languages.
In order to strengthen the basis of the project, an application for support
within the framework of Comenius was submitted which was subsequently accepted.
Set of activities: 2000,
workshop, network meetings
2001, network meetings, fellowships
2002, network meetings, fellowship
2003, workshop, publication