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The project Lingua+ goes straight into the heart of the urgent matter of immigrant integration in Europe. A basic knowledge of the host -country language is a crucial factor in determining integration success across Europe, including Iceland as a relatively new destination for immigrants. Our experience tells us that existing methodologies and learning scenarios designed for adult immigrant learners lack a holistic approach. To support this view please see as en exemple the latest research curried out in Iceland regarding host language teaching for adult migrants: https://www.unak.is/english/news/60-of-immigrants-dissatisfied-with-quality-of-icelandic-instruction Lingua+ brings innovation into the linguistic integration of immigrants by offering tools to language teachers through state of the art methodologies and practices embedded into socio-cultural interplay. The acquisition of means to express the learner’s own diverse identity through the process of adaption to a new cultural environment are essential components of the Lingua+ approach. Lingua+ addresses target groups on two levels: •Adult educators (teachers, trainers, volunteers) as a primary group needing innovative teaching/training tools and pedagogic resources to facilitate integration of migrants through effective, holistic language teaching; and •Migrants themselves as main target and reference group for testing out and valuating project outcomes.During the project, the following outputs were delivered:• Repository of innovations in teaching host country language to migrants and refugees http://linguaplusproject.eu/repository.html#O1 • Study on existing practices for social inclusion of migrants and refugees and empathy enhancement in adult interactions http://linguaplusproject.eu/practices-on-social-inclusion.html • Lingua+ Handbook for language teachers, trainers, volunteers available in 5 languages: English, Czech, Greek, Icelandic and Italian http://linguaplusproject.eu/handbook-.html • Lingua+ Learning Paths Multimedia presentation available in 5 languages: English, Czech, Greek, Icelandic and Italian http://linguaplusproject.eu/learning-paths.html • Lingua+ Teacher Training Course Guide and MOOC http://linguaplusproject.eu/ttcg-and-mooc.html available also on EPALE https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/blog/lingua-coming-final-stage-implementation • Platform http://linguaplusproject.eu/index.html#home• Lingua+ Mobile App http://linguaplusproject.eu/mob-app.html A series of workshops in partner countries were held in the second half of 2018 with the aim to test Lingua+ tools for host-country language teaching. More than 10 language teachers and adult educators were directly involved in designing and piloting 15 Innovative Lingua+ Learning Paths. In total 134 migrant learners participated in piloting workshops of Lingua Learning Path. Feedback from teachers and short videos from piloting sessions are available on YouToub Lingua+ channel. Working versions of the main tools were handed to the educators and trainers for further practical testing. Feedback, advices, recommendations and other insight is a priceless added value and it was taken into account for adjusting the outputs according to the migrants' needs. Lingua+ objectives were:•Developing and implementing innovative, language learning programs for adult migrants, refugees, asylum seekers in line with their needs of cross–cultural adaptation and orientation particularly addressing illiterate learners; learner- cantered; based on plurilingual education and linguistic diversity and using participatory approach and ICT.•Enhancing the professional competence of language trainers, educators and volunteers by supplying didactic tools and hands-on experiences in holistic migrant language teaching.•Increasing capacity and professionalism of participating institutions to work at international level by increasing quality in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and follow- up of international projects.Project training activities started with the short stuff – training in Florence 2018 and brought together 10 participants including adult educators and practitioners as well as group of three experts within the field of immigrant education offering valuable input to the success of Lingua+ development of innovative tools. Series of multiplier events took place in Cyprus, Italy, Czech Republic and UK. Participants in the workshops came from different types of organizations, including migrant organizations, community volunteering initiatives, Councils integration offices, colleges and universities. They were volunteers, social workers, language teachers, and private individuals with an interest in languages and welcoming society. In total 193 participants shearing a valuable feedback after each event by use of on-line self-evaluation questionnaires. Throughout the duration of the project over 4,000 individuals were approached by the project partners via various tools of comuncation (Facebook, YouToub, MailChimp, emails, conferencies, meetings). As regards to conferences partnership presented Lingua+ to the Association of Teachers of Czech as a Foreign Language and published article in proceedings (Prague, 02/2018, at the ATTEE Winter Conference (Utrecht, 02/2018) and publishing three articles in EPALE (05/2018, 05/2020). More than that, project involved EPALE unit at Erasmus National Agency in Italy to launch a call for paper on the issue of Language Learning with a Socially inclusive approach. Articles will be published on a special number of the EPALE Journal on Adult Learning and Continous Education (http://www.erasmusplus.it/adulti/epale-journal/). Lingua+ Facebook page during the lifetime of the project was followed by over 350 individuals from more than 30 countries. Three Lingua Newsletters reached over 500 mailboxes in total.Facilitating development of growth mind-set for adult educators by developing and implementing innovative education tools is seen as longer-term benefit. Moreover, project outputs will increase quality of educational programs tailored for adult migrants to facilitate social-cultural adaption and wellbeing of this particular group in situations of higher risk of social exclusion and lower civic engagement. Benefits for migrant learners in long will bring more enjoyment of intercultural dialogue, creativity and, increased participation in the community as well as increased personal network at local and European level.Education authorities acquired example of practices to mention for advocacy and reforms, and obtained a set of didactic tools to support teachers working with migrant/refuge. Lingua promoted linguistic diversity and its value as enhancer of more effective, responsive and diverse education and societies. Overall, successful dissemination activities increased openness toward social inclusion, intercultural understanding, communication, creativity and empathy.
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