The HeriTalk project was designed with the goal of enhancing the linguistic competences of adult learners by immersing them in culturally rich environments and engaging them in communicative heritage-based activities. By integrating cultural heritage into language education, we aimed to create meaningful learning experiences that go beyond traditional classroom settings. Our ambition was to demonstrate the added value of heritage experiences in language lessons, showing how such contexts can foster not only language acquisition but also key competences such as intercultural communication, digital literacy, cooperation, and cultural awareness. We envisioned heritage as a catalyst for personal growth and lifelong learning. Specifically, we achieved to: -Develop innovative methodologies and teaching materials that combine language learning with heritage education. -Enrich learners’ opportunities to practice language skills by situating learning in authentic heritage sites. -Explore and promote extramural learning environments, thereby supporting the professional skills of teachers. -Raise awareness of cultural heritage as a tool for dialogue, active citizenship, and social inclusion.
The project was initiated in response to a shared ambition among all partners to expand lifelong learning opportunities for adult learners, in line with the goals of the European Year of Skills. Our application was driven by a clear set of common needs identified across the participating institutions. Common needs addressed: Many adult learners only encounter the target language during formal lessons. We created opportunities for linguistic interaction beyond the classroom in authentic, heritage-rich environments. Teachers expressed a strong desire to grow professionally and enhance their expertise. This project offered them the chance to co-develop and test innovative language practice activities in heritage sites. All parters saw the need to collaborate more with external organisations. Through HeriTalk, we actively sought partnerships with local heritage organisations, museums, and municipal bodies to enrich the learning experience.