RAOUL – Raising Awareness Of the Use of Languages

To create a motivational tool for adults that will inspire them to undertake language training for use in workplaces.

The objectives include:

• Research outcomes from each partner;
• Language training for project participants;
• Content for the motivational tool;
• Materials for project publicity;
• Local, regional and national networks for the project;
• Dissemination.

Research via questionnaire was undertaken in the partner countries. A common questionnaire was produced and applied nationally in the most appropriate way; responses were analysed nationally and “European” messages extrapolated. The research focused on opinions about the status of languages in workplaces (employer; employee and potential employee perspectives); on the relative merits of language teaching methodologies and on the motivations of learners.

Linguistic preparation of new language learners to (a) to test alternative methodologies (b) to prepare people to participate in project meetings.

Dissemination was undertaken nationally and transnationally. A RAOUL CD-ROM was produced for distribution. The CD-ROM explains the objectives and work of the project. It was circulated via local and regional networks in the UK and will be distributed at national events where the project is showcased. It has also gone to partners for distribution (the headline information was translated into partner languages).

Lessons learnt from the project so far include the following:

• Europeans have more in common than expected in terms of attitudes to language learning;
• An effective partnership is critical to achieving project outcomes;
• Key elements include leadership; understanding roles and responsibilities; cooperation and communication;
• Partnership building is time consuming.

• Creating a sufficiently robust partnership for transnational outcomes to be achieved in year one of the project;
• Riding the storms within the partnership created by national funding turbulence (one partner was forced to withdraw from the partnership mid year);
• Successful completion of a complex research period.

CD-ROM (see above).

UK: LEA maintained adult education college

Germany: Volksholschule (regionally funded)

Norway: Universitetet Inherred (nationally funded)

Italy: voluntary organisation with educational remit

Turkey: voluntary organisation with educational remit

Hungary: private English Language School

There was learner involvement in the research phase; through linguistic preparation and participation at transnational meetings.

On the organisation
The project has added a new dimension to language provision. There has been cascading of interest in (and applications for) European funding for other curriculum areas (e.g. visual arts).

On staff
The project has provided staff development opportunities in project management and delivery and working in and with Europe. There have been opportunities to seek solutions outside national boundaries to an issue for the college languages department (i.e. how to demonstrate to individuals that languages can be a skill for employment).

On adult learners
A chance to learn a language for a legitimate reason i.e. take part in project meetings. Opportunities for adult learners to try out languages they may not previously have considered learning e.g. Hungarian and Turkish.

Outside organisations
The Regional Languages Strategy Group were briefed about the work. Understanding of Grundtvig was heightened and myths about European funding such as difficulty for adult educators to source; complex to manage; over-bureaucratic, were challenged through a local example that the group easily related to.

Pauline Swanton
Leicester Adult Education College
Wellington Street
Leicester
LE1 6HL

Telephone no.: 0116 233 4343

Email: Ps1@laec.ac.uk