The project is intended to support the groups of the Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing persons who face many barriers in higher education and encourage their participation in European mobilities. Academic and career mobilities play a crucial role in students’ academic success and their consequent career opportunities. In order to make this happen, they need to improve their communication skills in English and /or another sign language, have the chance to enrol in courses that use deaf-friendly methods and approaches. In order to find out the best way to support the Deaf, deaf and hard of hearing students and ensure their skills the in foreign languages are enhanced, the project develops several outputs to achieve it: - The project combines a survey and case study research into language learning and usage of the Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing with the practice of language teaching to these groups and these groups’ mobility. One of the major aims of the project is to collect information about study opportunities for hearing impaired university students across the EU countries. - A set of practical materials for teachers of English as a foreign language for Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing students which will include lesson plans, teaching tips, and recommended methods. These materials will benefit from the data collected in the survey, during the online English course, and the summer university in 2019. The aim of this online publication is to improve language education of Deaf, deaf and hard-of-hearing higher education students. - An online course in written English for Deaf, deaf and hard of hearing higher education students will help students build on their language skills using the format and methods that resonate with them. The course aims at development of literacy skills through focused and graded practice together with continuous teacher feedback. Enhanced reading and writing skills in English will help the participants get better access to information needed for their academic activities, future careers as well as active participation in international exchanges both within and beyond Europe. - An online course of BSL focusing on practical communication in ALS will prepare students for communication in the international Deaf community and for their stay at the summer university, but it will also prepare the ground for further research into international communication of the Deaf. An integral part of the projects are two International Summer Schools for students with hearing impairment with participation of Czech, Austrian, Hungarian and British students in 2019 and 2020 in Bristol. These educational events are designed as a mini experience of EU mobility, during which students meet and communicate with local hearing people as well as Deaf people from different cultural backgrounds and study, learn and live together. The project also wants to empower their teachers and thus has prepared two Intensive Programmes for their teachers attached to the Summer Schools. As foreign language education of the Deaf, deaf and hard of hearing students has only been gaining more attention in recent years, the number of teachers and researchers dealing with this issue is limited and needs to be enhanced thanks to closer international cooperation, sharing good practices and ideas on methodology. To spread the good practices of teaching English to these groups of students also locally, seminars for teachers will be organised by each partner. The online materials created in the project as a joint effort will be made publicly available.
The main aim of the LangSkills project is to encourage the participation of Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing higher education students in mobilities. The project focuses especially on increasing language skills of the students to enhance their readiness for academic mobility to foreign countries and competitiveness in the labour market, and inclusion in European social life. To achieve this aim, the project seeks to get a better insight into the foreign language needs of the target groups thanks to research findings, contribute to the existing language learning and teaching methodology, and produce suitable teaching and learning materials.