ACA Newsletter nr 1

20 Decemebr 2000

Contents:

• New ACA Newsletter service
• Coming soon: EC Study on the availability of European language learning materials
• EURYDICE report: The position of foreign languages in European education systems

New ACA Newsletter service to members

Academic Cooperation Association will with this newsletter try to increase its information service to the member organisations and related partners. One of the goals of the association is to function as an early warning system for developments in EU education policy and programmes, as well as consultancy opportunities. We also hope that this initiative can create stronger links between the member organisations. If you have news from your organisation that may be valuable for other members, please give us a hint. The letter will be released on an in-frequent basis, depending on the amount of news we have that might be of interest.

If you have colleagues who might be interested in the letter, please do not hesitate to forward it to them and ask them to subscribe.

European Language Learning Materials Study (ELLMS) A survey made for the European Commission, DG EAC, to be released 21 Dec 2000

What language learning materials are available in the official EU languages throughout Europe? What languages and materials are NOT available? And how can the EC, European publishers and project partners in the educational field – for instance under the LINGUA programme - join forces to fill the gaps?

The European Commission will soon publish a study on the availability of and the needs for European Language Learning Materials. Through the SOCRATES and LEONARDO programs, the EC gives financial support to the development of innovative language teaching materials. The aim of the study was to provide a better background for directing the support towards languages or types of material that are needed but currently not available in the market. The report may therefore also be of interest for programme administrators and for existing and potential project participants in planning future projects.

The study resulted in a searchable database of which materials in each of the EU official languages are available in a sample of ten European countries. The second part of the study is a survey among language school staff, publishers and book store owners on what types of materials they feel are missing or in demand in the market.

Several publishers were invited for the EC presentation of the study and seemed interested in cooperation with the EC on publishing materials developed under the EU educational programmes. The study revealed that many of the products listed in the LINGUA catalogue are in reality not available in the market. This shows a need of joining forces to disseminate products made under the LINGUA programme.

The ELLMS report – also containing recommendations for the European Commission - will be published 21 December. The database will be available at http://www.icc-europe.com

EURYDICE:Analysis of foreign language teaching in 29 European countries

EURYDICE, the information network on education in Europe, is producing a report called "The Position of Foreign Languages in European Education Systems". The report contains an analysis of the position of foreign languages in each country and of the organisation of training of language teachers. The report is expected in February 2001.

Eurydice has published a pre-report with a graphic presentation of the organisation and status of foreign language teaching within the European school systems, with diagrams of the successive stages of each country's school system. All 29 countries participating in the Socrates programme are covered. The diagrams are introduced by a brief analysis of main trends evident from a comparison between the diagrams. The pre-report can be found under Press Releases at Eurydice's website http://www.eurydice.org

The ACA secretariat wish you all a merry Christmas and a brilliant new year!