Background to the LACS project
This website results from a project run within the ECML's (European Centre for Modern Languages) Empowering Language Professionals programme entitled "Language associations and collaborative support"
Project Abstract
The project will focus (initially) on dissemination of the work of the ECML to those national multilingual and international monolingual teacher associations which are members of FIPLV. Its primary purpose is to facilitate greater collaboration between the associations and with the ECML in order to better support language professionals across Europe through more effective dissemination of new language pedagogies, including teaching and learning methodologies as well as language policies and curricular models appropriate to the 21st century. In order to do so, the project will map the ways in which a wide range of language associations are organised (nationally, regionally and locally) and how they support their own networks of members through practical interventions (workshops, publications, newsletters, websites and web fora etc.) as well as through opportunities to have an impact on policy reform (both within their own institutions and locally and nationally) towards the development of a vibrant, high quality and inclusive environment in which multilingualism can flourish.
In disseminating the work of the ECML, it will explore not only the content of the projects, but also ways of enhancing the process of dissemination itself in order to enable larger numbers of teachers in all sectors to benefit from them. In order to do so, it will create spaces in which associations can interact, both face to face and virtually, in order to optimise the impact of their efforts. Through such collaboration, it is intended that the language associations will be empowered to support teachers more effectively, who in turn will be empowered by the increased opportunities to develop their competence and confidence.