The EU policy on multilingualism supports the aspiration to be united in diversity. Languages can build bridges between people. giving us access to other countries and cultures, and enabling us to understand each other better.” (https://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/multilingualism_en). However, recent findings of the “European Strategy for Multilingualism: Benefits and Cost”(Sept 2016) revealed that after 2014, multilingualism ceased being one of the priorities of the EU institutions and despite all the previous efforts by the EUC, there still remains a large percentage of EU citizens who do not have sufficient language skills which is likely to have an impact on both their professional and personal opportunities. For ICT competences, 45% of Europeans do not have basic digital skills. (2016 "European Digital Progress Report": unequal progress towards the Digital Single Market, May 2016). This project addresses both needs. The primary target group of the project are adults in general – both European citizens, either in jobs, unemployed, NEETS, and migrants and refugees. A secondary target are teachers of adult learners in language schools. The project aims to : - support and enhance the learning of different European languages as well as cultures (English, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek and Danish). - promote European linguistic and cultural diversity - provide the chance for self-study -equip the users better for the labour market through an increased level of language and cultural knowledge and digital skills. To achieve these objectives, EUROSIM will use a digital immersive language learning platform, using content integrated language learning method. The learning environment is an interactive, browser-based, language- and culture learning platform, which enables the learner to quickly acquire spoken language competency and cultural understanding via increased individual focus and the possibility of self-study. The platform is a Serious Games category development, and integrates an interactive learning environment coupled with Automatic Speech Recognition where the learner acquires the necessary language- and culture skills which are subsequently practiced and employed in a realistic 3D environment. It can be used in-class in a blended learning environment where the learners can practice under careful supervision, or it can be accessed online by the learner anytime, anywhere the learner wishes to continue practicing pronunciation and spoken language in the 3D world or the interactive lessons. EUROSIM will consist of three separate but interdependent skill sections: 1) The Pronunciation Trainer which allows the learner to practice the pronunciation of single words and receive feedback on main problem areas. 2) The skill builder section which teaches both the pronunciation of single words as well as sentences and the culture information relevant to the various environments covered in the 3D sections. This section will also contain interactive exercises and quizzes, focusing on both perception and production issues, ensuring that the student has mastered the material. 3) 6 different but connected 3D environments, each one representing and depicting a culturally significant area of a partner country, in which the learner has to perform a given assignment. The overall storyline of the game-part is the discovery of the cultural identity of Europe. Transnationality EUROSIM involves several European cultures and languages, targets the wider European public. The game is developed in collaboration amongt multiple cultures, as such, the in-game interactions are richer. The focus of the serious game is European heritage, identity through the cultural arenas (game levels), it must have levels that all Europeans can relate to. The theme of the game itself – “Hunt for Europe” -- increases Europeans’ awareness of our common heritage, and prods the learners to search for Europe, starting from our own countries, moving to other places and cultures in the continent.
FRAMING: "You are Steve Miller. An aspiring composer from England who's come to Austria to find inspiration from Ludwig Beethoven’s work. You've arrived in the city of Vienna, where you are to meet your friend Maria and get the address to the Vienna concert hall. There you want to meet the conductor of a current Beethoven concert and to get some further information about what makes Beethoven’s compositions so special. But first, you have to learn the language and culture of Germany - and then, you'll meet Beethoven himself."CONTEXT & BACKGROUND:Insufficient language skills by a large group of EU citizens (and of migrants in the EU), of which some 3% reside in a member state which is not their own, and shared by the large flow of immigrants and refugees from third-countries, will most likely impact their professional and personal opportunities negatively. This fact, coupled with the observation in the application referenced 2016 Benefits & Costs report, which revealed that after 2014 multilingualism ceased to be an EU priority, while the aspiration to support "united in diversity," remains, prompted the desire to develop a tool which could support that aspiration.The main aim of the EUROSIM project is to support the multilingualism aspiration, by providing the project's target groups: EU citizens or not, employed/unemployed, NEETS, migrants & refugees as well as teachers of foreign languages, with the means and tools of learning and teaching the language and culture of additional languages. OBJECTIVES: The project's main aims were to: - Support and enhance the learning of at least 2 different European languages and cultures (EUROSIM includes: English, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek and Danish). - Promote European linguistic and cultural diversity / increase intercultural competencies - Provide the chance for self-study / in-class teaching / blended-learning opportunities To achieve these objectives, the EUROSIM/HUNT for EUROPE (HFE) Platform was developed. EUROSIM is a Serious Game which combines:1. "the Skill Builder/Pronunciation Trainer(PT):" an interactive lesson-filled, digital bookstyle learning environment, where the learner acquires the target language (words and sentences) and culture, while practicing his/her oral proficiency against an Automatic Speech Recognition system. The Skill Builder is very multi-media based, also containing interactive exercises and quizzes.* The learner then accesses: 2. The "Game environments," or 3D simulations of real places, with curriculum based objectives to accomplish and tasks to do. Here the learner is asked to navigate one of the target languages 5 3D environments, while utlizing the linguistic and cultural knowledge obtained in the skill builder, in order to fulfill a series of objectives, finally locating one of the cultural icons of the games.NUMBER & TYPE OF PARTICIPANTThe project's primary target group is adults in general: EU citizens or not, employed/unemployed, NEETS, migrants and refugees. The secondary target group is teachers of adult learners. The project partners were chosen based on their contact to the target groups, their ability to reach them both during and after the project and their interest in integrating the EUROSIM platform in their ongoing effort.Approximately 15 teachers/educators were involved in the development of the actual curriculum; Approximately 70 testers (native or near-native speakers) were involved in User Testing and bug reporting of the developed platform; Approximately 270 teachers/educators/learners were directly involved in the actual testing of EUROSIM. MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITIESThe 5 parter meetings; Development and adaption of 30 language and culture learning lessons for all partner languages, to make it suitable for the VIFIN Course Creator E-learning Platform; Description and development of story-line for the games (5 game scenes per country, 30 scenes in all). Description of places, people and their dialogue and the happenings.10 person, per partner, usability testing of the e-learning curriculum and games40-60 person, per partner, end-testing of the e-learning curriculum and gamesRESULTSThe results of the project are that there is now an online curriculum available for teachers, learners and interestees via huntforeurope.eu, where the language and culture of all partner languages can be learned both via the e-learning platform, but also via computer games giving the learners a chance to practice their skills in a simulated real environment, with realistic cultural and verbal interaction. In addition, based on user feedback the partnership decided to develop apps for IOS and Android (not stated in application), to increase use and dissemination*originally intended as threesections, but the skill builder & PT sections were merged as it was found that simply saying a list of 500 words and receiving feedback was too tedious a way of learning.