lango - contexts and challenges: intercultural competence and multilingualism in a changing europe

Dr. Alan BruceUniversal Learning Systems – Dublin

Sofia, Bulgaria6 December 2013

LANGO – designed to explore opportunities offered by new advanced information and communication technologies to encourage adult learners of less widely used and taught languages.

Interactive language learning approaches are combined with a strong intercultural component so that integrated advanced technological tools motivate language learning and give insights into culture, traditions and everyday habits.

Conceptual backgrounds on multilingualism

Contours of change Interculturalism and the Other Understanding diversity Shaping required competencies Engaging with inclusion - best practice European added value in a time of

crisis

Globalization process and impact

Labor market and workinnovation, competitiveness, adaptability

Paradigms of inclusion equality and diversity

Standards, skill, quality and transferability learning and development in unequal environments

Seismic shift in human relationshipsCompetitive pressuresNew forms of work organizationNew diversities Instant, multidimensional

communicationsAdvanced learning: from mobiles to

MOOCsQuality standards

Patterns of constant change Permanent migration mobility Identity and threat: where are we? Demographic time-bombs Knowledge, innovation and democratic

deficits Minorities and inclusion

InteractionEmpathyCommunicationKnowledge and shared insightsRemoval of prejudiceLinked themes: gender, power, work,

values

Permit exchangeGreater knowledgePresumed growth in tolerance,

acceptance, non-discriminationEnhanced learning

Vladimir Spidla (9.6.08) Promoting tolerance not enough Racism requires policies on

diversity, laws, anti-discrimination measures

Ongoing issues around cost implications, ambiguities, resistance, rights

• Intercultural learning - integral part of language learning and needs greater attention.

• European migration patterns increase number of people required to learn and speak another language.

• Overcoming cultural differences, misunderstanding and disengagement key components of communicative competence.

• LANGO integrates cultural knowledge with language learning to develop mutual accommodation in multicultural societies.

Mutual interaction or structured exclusion?

Linkage to realities or past models?Shared memories or shared hatreds? Integration or exclusion?Access to learningUsing advanced technologiesMobile learning

AbandoningArrivingApplyingAdapting

Integrating in civil societyParamount importance of labor

marketCitizenshipLanguage competenceMulti-agency partnerships

Managing diversity - principles involved

Avoiding conflictAchieving integrationReinventing schoolingDeveloping innovative learningDeriving mutual benefit

Interculturalism trainingMentoring: diversity championsResearched best practice: reviewedLinguistic skillsComfort with difference: trustContact and observational listening

Valued linguistic diversity Community empowerment Mutual benefit ICT-transformed schooling Added value Mobile learning Shared learning Multilingual futures EU funding and support – 2014 and

beyond

Challenging norms - what is our Europe? Challenging stereotypes Talent, competence and communicative

empathy Engagement with difference Embedded vision Recognition - seeing the Other

seeing ourselves

Dr Alan BruceULSDublin

abruce@ulsystems.com