Lifelong Learning Programme

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basic information

Title of the Project
Lingueo, Cours particuliers de langues
Brief description
Lingueo is addressed to internet users and strives to make language learning more accessible and wide-spread through the development of a more affordable and ready-to-use learning platform, which gives a wider range of people the opportunity to learn a wider variety of languages, by offering not only the more commercial English, Spanish or Chinese language programs, but also regional languages or sign languages. Lingueo’s mission is to constantly bring an edge of innovation into language learning, making the learning experience more entertaining, targeted and motivating. The novelty of this site comes from the learning methods: the learner selects a tutor from the database according to his/her personal interests. The quality of the course is rated by the learner by grades and comments.
Country
France
Year
2008
Target Language
English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Other
Sector
Transversal (more sectors addressed)
Further Information

THE INITIATIVE PROMOTER’S PERSPECTIVE

Background

The information for the Case Study was collected during an interview with Guillaume le Dieu de Ville, co-founder of the “Lingueo” project.

The background of the “Lingueo” project is based on the observation according to which today the learning process of a foreign languages is facilitated by the multiplication of the possible channels but it is impoverished in terms of contents and oral practice. For this reason, Lingueo represents an alternative tool to have person-to-person virtual lessons with mother tongue teachers, according to the availability of the students. Lingueo is a simple, international and flexible method whose main intention is to democratize the learning process of a foreign language.

The project target groups are all the users of the project portal who intend to use in order to pass an exam, to obtain a job, to improve their skills, etc. At the same time, the project is addressed to all the tutors who gave an important contribution to the “teaching spect” of the Lingueo initiative.

The project target languages are: English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Russian, Sign language.

Objectives

Lingueo’ objective is to make language learning more accessible and wide-spread through the development of a more affordable and ready-to-use learning platform, which gives a wider range of people the opportunity to learn a wider variety of languages. Lingueo’s other mission is to constantly bring an edge of innovation into language learning, making the learning experience more entertaining, targeted, and motivating.

Approach

The first step of the project consisted in the realization of a user friendly web site which could contain all the didactic units and answer the practical needs it was created for. Then, the search of motivated and well prepared teachers, helping the link between the students and the most appropriate teachers for their specific needs and requests. Finally, the practical aspects of the site, with a customer care and a specific section where students could receive an appropriate feedback for their performances.

Results

Ten thousands users is the most evident result of this project. The site further developed its contents and improved the matching between teachers and students. Most of the users positively passed an exam or obtained a work thanks to the help of the Lingueo web site.

Why the European Language Label?

The Lingueo group decided to submit the application for the European Language Label with the aim to receive a greater visibility, to obtain a qualitative recognition and to share an innovative practice of learning.

The reasons of the candidature were positively confirmed. First of all, the project received a great visibility thanks to this qualitative recognition and a lot of people approached the web site for the first time thanks to the Label. Then, Lingueo showed to an European audience how an innovative method based on new media can be positively used in teaching a foreign language.

Activities following the award of the European Language Label

The institution put the Label logo on its portal as an added value for its activities. Then, the Lingueo group produced an official press statement which was transmitted to local and national networks.

Assessment of the Impact of the European Language Label

Thanks to this award, the project obtained a better credibility, an indispensable added value for the online activities which usually have to pay a high level of mistrust. Then, the label also produced a motivational push on the project promoters, convincing them to keep on following this innovative direction.

Recommendations for future applicants for the ELL

In order to develop a quality project in the field of Language learning, the Lingueo group advices to focus on transparency. It is necessary to explain all the details of the initiative and to afford the Label committee to all the sections of the project.

The European Language Label is a qualitative recognition, not a commercial initiative. Exploiting it as a commercial product means to degrade the noble intentions it has been created for.

THE NELLIP NETWORK’S PERSPECTIVE

Consistency with European Policies in the field of Language Learning

The NELLIP Network selected the Lingueo project for its consistency with the political priorities of the European Commission in the field of language learning. In particular, the Lingueo project enhances the quality of language teaching through the participation of well prepared and motivated teachers. Then, it promotes multilingualism (being structured in 14 languages), and new approaches to language teaching and learning (using the potential endless opportunities offered by new technologies). Finally, the project offers different teachers on multiple subjects, with the aim to meet the specific needs of well targeted groups.

THE NATIONAL AGENCY’S PERSPECTIVE

Motivations

The project was selected as case study by the French National Agency “Europe-Education-Formation”.

According to the French evaluator, as stated in the “Label des Labels – 10 ans de projets” publication, this project shows how a small enterprise can autonomously realize an online teaching platform, able to reach an important number of possible end users.

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Comments on this Case Studies

Your comments are welcome


Date: 2014.08.05

Posted by Itala Ceccacci (Italy)

Message: I am a retired woman, interested in learning English in order to speak with my nephew, whose father is American. A friend of mine suggested me the Lingueo website and I found it immediately helpful and user-friendly. And this comment is the best result of what I learnt in the last few months

21 December 2014

Audio- video presentation of the NELLIP project

An audio- video presentation of the NELLIP project has been created and made available in the Information section of the NELLIP portal. To access the presentation please click here: http://nellip.pixel-online.org/IF_intro.php.