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Creating a new meaning in language education for senior learners

2020-1-PL01-KA204-0816052020Strategic Partnerships for adult educationfinalized
Countries: PL|LT|DE|FR|UK · Grant: €171,388
Teaching and learning of foreign languagesNew innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project summary

The AIM of the project is to develop guidelines for English language teachers in order to respond better to the learning needs of senior students, to motivate and activate seniors to learn and participate in lifelong learning. To find way to help senior learners with learning proces to improve their language skills and to reach better results in English language learning. To reach the goal the project team will also develop guidelines on how to learn and study a language combined with the usage of learning strategies and technics. Futhermore, to equipped senior students of English language with the ability to express themselves in English, to reduce the stress during English classes and to improve the quality of English language learning for seniors in the partnership countries by the development of this project. The guidelines will be also a colection of ideas for language teachers and ready to use materials in the classroom. All studies confirm that brain exercise has a positive effect on our health, mind and longevity. People who do not stop learning enjoy better health, later experience the symptoms of cognitive impairment and find it easier for them lives.The AIM of the project is to develop guidelines for English language teachers to respond better to the learning needs of senior students. To find way to help senior learners with learning proces to improve their language skills and to reach better results in English language learning. The project envisages to produce intellectual outputs and other results as listed below: IO1 Framework and research. Since the course/guidelines and ready to use cards for seniors language learning does not exist as such online or in practice, research must be done to identify the needs of teachers and seniors in order to create materials that address the target group exactly right in order to make the described impact. IO2 Partners will develop training materials for language teachers working with seniors. The development of those materials will start with training day during partners meeting - workshop based on the desigh thinking idea and human centered design that will help in ideas development and multiplication IO3 During the partners meeting there will be 2 workshops based on design thinking to develop cards for teachers/seniors to use during the lesson/course. There will be about 60-70 cards with short instructions. IO4 E-learning platform. The hub will contain all materials from the Intellectual outputs and training as well as extra learning materials provided by partners. It will also include a small evaluation form to improve the hub during the project lifetime. The platform will be for language teachers and trainers working with senior learners. IO5 Pilot/workshops. Workshop is designed to help teachers become more creative and innovative, it will turn teachers' creative potential into a reality. The aim is to build creative confidence and competence. The project MEANING will cause a possitive impact on SENIORs: - improved, better experience in English language learning – evaluated by questionnaires - improved knowledge of English - evaluated by self assessment on the e-learning platform - language learning as a less stressful experience – evaluated by questionnaires - gained motivation to learn and stay active, - some materials translated into mother tongue of some content of the coursebook - more technics to memorize the material made during a language lesson - more topics to discussion based lessons to encourage them to speak - gained ability to use e-learning and benefit from it in the English learning MEANING will also possitivelly impact language teachers: - motivated to work with seniors – evaluation by questionnaires - flexibility of the learning proces – instructions included in guidelines - new technics/ways of corrections – included in the guidelines - will have an additional tool to work - will have been exposed to new methodologies in adult learning - will have an increased motivation for work - will exchange experience, knowledge and ideas - will be strengthened in their cooperation between institutions

Objectives

The project wanted to develop materials to facilitate the teaching and learning of English for language teachers, to find a better way of learning languages for seniors, to motivate language teachers to teach seniors with better methods, better results. Project team wanted also to develop new materials and reach a fresh/new approach. Indirectly, partners also wanted forseniors to have a deeper satisfaction from language learning, progres. Most partners worked in the language learning or provide language courses, therefore partners aim was to improve proffesional development of their staff workin and teaching seniors and they also try to search for a new meaning of language learning for seniors as ageing population probably needs a have new direction for education. Project goal was also to get a better/constructive midset of participants in terms of language learning for seniors and the improved feeling of fulfilment for teachers working with senior learners, increased quality of teaching and learning. The project contributed to increasing motivation of students to participate in lifelong learning, to decreasing the number of seniors witout basic knowledge of a foreign language.

Background

The project aim was to to develop guidelines for English language teachers in order to respond better to the learning needs of senior students, to motivate and activate seniors to learn and participate in lifelong learning by gaining a knowledge by language teachers. The goal was also to find way to help senior learners with learning proces to improve their language skills and to reach better results in English language learning. To reach the goal the project team developed guidelines on how to learn and study a language combined with the usage of learning strategies and techniques, cards. The indirect goal of the project was also to equipp senior students of English language with the ability to express themselves in English, to reduce the stress during English classes and to improve the quality of English language learning for seniors in the partnership countries by the development of this project. The project idea came from the partners needs and the research made by partners in the area of senior language learning and teaching. The results of the research was that there are not many materials available on the market for senior language learning and teachers working with seniors would appreciate gaining knowledge in this area.

Project partners (5)