The first asset that an immigrant needs upon his arrival in a new country of residence and the lack of which is a key factor that hinders his inclusion is the knowledge of the spoken language in the host country. This fact makes the work offered by the sector of adult education in the field really valuable and useful for the immigrants themselves and for the society as a whole. For the successful implementation of this work it is necessary the sector to be continuously supplied by new methods and practices and the skills of the people that are active in this sector to be continuously improved. Whether it's learning within formal education institutions either non-formal education institutions (the latest show growing preoccupation with this issue and cover the majority of programs in the field), teaching is usually based on specific textbooks and performed with traditional methods and formal learning techniques. On the other hand non formal learning methods are gaining more and more recognition and are indicated as highly effective means of acquiring knowledge and skills and are able to offer a more innovative and participatory learning process that can develop simultaneously varying abilities and skills of apprentices. In this context, the proposed project aims to: 1) Explore the potential of non-formal learning methods in adult education and more specifically in language learning. 2) Promote peer learning among people offering or organizing language lessons for adult immigrants in formal and non-formal education. 3) Improve the skills of educators already working in the field or wishing to work in the application of non-formal learning activities. 4) Create a series of activities based on non-formal learning methods that can be incorporated in language teaching for immigrants. 5) Make learning process more attractive for immigrants and enrich it with participatory and innovative activities. 6) Change perceptions about the validity of non-formal learning methods. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve the sector and better serve the linguistic needs of immigrants that will decisively contribute to their personal development and social integration. During the project a booklet with innovative activities based on methods of non-formal learning and information material on the principles, the nature and dynamics of these methods will be created. Big part of its content will be created by educators active in the field and through the participation of the latest in different activities such as focus groups and workshops. Meetings with institutions and organizations for collecting practices and methods will also be held. The final creation of the booklet will be held by an experienced team and then events and meetings for presenting the booklet will be held while educational seminars will prepare the target group for its effective utilization. The proposed project will directly involve about 195 current or potential adult educators while more 300 people are expected to get the booklet without participating directly in the project activities. Project’s methodology is based on three main foci: ongoing dialogue and information sharing, collaborative learning and active participation of the target group. The project has been divided into interlinked work packages that require the active participation and engagement of all partners for their implementation. Non-formal learning methods are in the core of the project’s methodology and will be applied in almost all the planned activities. The main results of the proposed project is the booklet, the enhanced skills of adult educators and institutions working in the field, increased understanding and cooperation between educators in formal and non-formal education and the more positive attitudes towards non-formal learning methods. These in long term will lead to improvements in adult linguistic learning sector that will be more capable to meet immigrants’ language needs and to create favorable learning conditions for adult immigrants. These will significantly enhance the integration process of this particular social group in society and will help them to improve their everyday life.
The current project is an attempt to incorporate non-formal learning methods into the language teaching of adult immigrants. The lack of immigrants / refugees’ communication capacity in the host country's language is a key reason for their isolation and an obstacle to their successful integration into the host country. The partnership organizations are active in the field and their experience has shown that when the teaching is based on only one particular textbook and is performed exclusively by traditional and teacher centered methods is less effective. Non-formal learning can, on the other hand, offer a more innovative and participative learning process that can simultaneously develop a variety of apprentices' skills and competences. In this context, the project was implemented and succeeded in achieving the following objectives: 1) Explored through the various activities (workshops, focus groups, meetings and research) the dynamics of non-formal learning in adult learning, and more specifically in language learning. 2) Promoted the peer learning among educators in formal and non-formal education, offering them many opportunities to meet, exchange views, ideas and reflections. 3) Resulted in 30 practical teaching activities based on non-formal learning methods that can be integrated into language teaching for migrants and in a complete booklet on the topic. 4) Enhanced and will continue to strengthen the capacities of individuals who are active or who wish to be active in language learning as a second language for immigrants on the implementation of non-formal learning activities. The goal was achieved through the creation and free dissemination of the booklet as well as the training seminars that were held later. 5) The changes that will incur in the teaching process through the application of the booklet’s content will make the latter in the long run more attractive to the learners and will enrich it with participatory and innovative activities. 6) Increased people’s trust for the non-formal learning methods and their effectiveness. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve the sector and better serve the linguistic needs of immigrants that will decisively contribute to their personal development and social integration. During the project a booklet was created that includes original activities based on non-formal learning methods and information on the principles, the character and dynamics of non-formal learning methods as well as rich material for the learning needs and learning profile of adult immigrants. For its creation, various activities such as focus groups, workshops and meetings with educational bodies were held and managed to directly involve the target group in the creation of the booklet. A research, an examination of the above activities’ conclusions and the final drafting of the booklet by the working group followed. Booklet’s presentation sessions as well as training sessions for its proper use were also held. The project implementation was undertaken by 3 organizations from Greece, Spain and Cyprus experienced in language teaching of immigrants / refugees, adult education and non-formal education. The project’s methodology has been based on three main focal points: ongoing dialogue and exchange of information between the working groups, cooperative learning and active participation of the target group in all the activities. The project’s implementation was facilitated by its separation into interconnected working packages, requiring the active involvement of all the partners. Non-formal learning methods were applied to all the activities, (training seminars, focus groups, workshops and multiplier events). The main results of the proposed project is the booklet, the enhanced skills of adult educators and institutions working in the field, increased understanding and cooperation between educators in formal and non-formal education and the more positive attitudes towards non-formal learning methods. These in long term will lead to improvements in adult linguistic learning sector that will be more capable to meet immigrants’ language needs and to create favorable learning conditions for adult immigrants. These will significantly enhance the integration process of this particular social group in society and will help them to improve their everyday life.