LEONARDO DA VINCI TOI PROJECT TOOL TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY OF PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE SKILLS

LEONARDO DA VINCI TOI PROJECTTOOL TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY OF PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE SKILLS (TOOL - TIPLS)

PROJECT PARTNERS • Soros International House, LT – coordinator • Espoon seudun koulutuskuntayhtyma Omnia, FI • EuroEd Foundation • Technikum Smiltene Alytus vocational training centre • DHE Solutions Ltd., UK

AIM of the PROJECT to develop the tool to improve transparency of professional English language (as lingua franca) skills in the selected target sectors of Hospitality industry (receptionist, waiter, porter) to assure in the future relevant level of their foreign language competences and their evaluation to people employed or seeking employment in this area

GENERAL OBJECTIVES • to develop vocational skills through professional foreign language knowledge considering labor market at Hospitality industry needs • to enhance young peoples’ possibilities for mobility within the EU labor market • to induce intercultural learning and empathy in the Hospitality industry for international communication in different EU countries • to integrate professional language learning in theory with the practical use in occupational

Final product • Set of downloadable CDs with the tool of descriptors and user guide in all of the partner languages

Target groups Direct ( will participate in piloting stage) : • VET institution trainees • young people employed or seeking employment in the Hospitality industry Indirect ( will provide with the feedback information for improving the tool of descriptors) : • VET institution trainers and EL teachers • employers and representatives of employers’ organizations in Hospitality industry

Activities • Carry out the research among the VET language and profession teachers as well as among restaurant and hotel professionals on the needs of professional English language skills for future employees of these sectors. • Develop initial tool of the descriptors of English language skills in selected professions based on the research results. • Run international piloting on internet based platform using role –play model for selected hospitality sector professions (receptionist, cook and waiter) with direct involvement of all educational partners • Analyze the feedback and results of the piloting and implement improvements of the Tool descriptors for professional English language • Finalize the development of the Tool descriptors and final product

What will be transferred? Import of innovation: • the model and experience of the previous Leonardo da Vinci project “Inter Act–Developing New Basic Skills at the Workplace through Internet-based Problem-solving Role-play”, that was running from October 2004-April 2006, coordinated by VOX, Norway Export of innovations: • SIH - the experience for the language-teaching across national borders around a specific problem (tailor made courses in different sectors, professional language evaluation), the bank of vocabulary and evaluation descriptors creation in 2002 PHARE project No L19913-02 "Anti-Corruptive Measures in Security Service“ • OMNIA - the experience of trainers integrating vocational aims and language teaching from LdV VETRO-08-FI-8055 project "Pro Voc Lingua - International vocational language learning"

Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation projectOffice InterActors Developing transferable basic and professional skills for Business and Administration through Internet-based problem-solving role-play

Partners • Romania-coordinator • Spain • Lithuania • France • Bulgaria • UK

Learning objectives • Awareness and knowledge of the B&A culture in different European countries LT, RO, ES, FR, BG • Professional skills related to work in B&A : • information/financial/HR/quality management • Transferable New Basic Skills: • foreign languages (LT, RO, EN, FR, BG, Bascque), • computer skills (+Web 2.0), • teamwork and negotiation, intercultural awareness • Personal development for professional success: confidence, entrepreneurship, motivation for lifelong learning, time / stress /change management

Means: • Moodle platform • Scenario design • Role play • Synchronous & asynchronous activities • Build in evaluation

Course core features • Groups of learners in LT,FR,BG,RO,ES • Sub-groups: ‘basic’ and ‘advanced’ • Meet nationally face-to-face • Meet internationally online • To solve a scenario • Fictitious but relevant • Based on problem-solving and role-play • ‘Basic’ and ‘advanced’ tasks

Target groups • Educational / VET professionals and institutions • Employers and umbrella organisations representing employers • Students, recent graduates, employees and would-be employees

Methodology behind the Office InterActors model • Participants work together within scenarios of roles and tasks which, although fictitious are realistic and relevant to their profession • Participants and their tutors are organized in face-to-face groups in different locations (countries), from where they meet each other regularly on an online learning platform in order to carry out the tasks within the scenarios • The roles and tasks are designed in such a way as to require intense and engaging teamwork and negotiation at the level of both the national groups and internationally

Tasks Business Consultants: • Invent a name • Come up with a logo • Write a mission statement • Challenges suggestion Entrepreneurs Identify the main imports of RO, ES, LT, FR, BG Decide: what product should you manufacture? Establish your corporate identity Form departments in the company

TasksStep B Business Consultants • Gather information about social and business etiquette in RO, LT, ES, FR and BG. • Make a list of 10 do’s and 10 don’ts for business travellers. • Words and basic expressions a business traveller will need • Describe Sechuria (in English) Entrepreneurs Make up a list of 10 regulations concerning health and safety Write a report / proposal putting forward your suggested regulations with appropriate explanations Make up a list of 10 corporate guidelines Write a memo to all staff with your suggested guidelines.

Soros International House Konstitucijos ave 23, block A LT-08105 Vilnius Tel/fax:+370 5 2724839 Email:info@sih.lt www.sih.lt

LEONARDO DA VINCI TOI PROJECT TOOL TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY OF PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE SKILLS