European Award for Languages
What is the European Award for Languages?
The European Award for Languages (EAL) recognises creative ways to improve the quality of language teaching, motivate students and make the best of available resources. If you are involved in an innovative language-learning project which could benefit others, you may be eligible for an award. The award is presented on the European Day of Languages each year.
Award-winning projects provide a potential source of inspiration for others, in different languages, contexts and countries, underlining the importance of the one of the criteria used for judging the award, namely that the project be replicable. To date, over 100 UK projects have proved that such criteria can be met and that creative thinking can lead to improved teaching provision and learner achievement.
Prizes
In addition to the European label, which can be used on corporate stationery, winners receive prizes of books, teaching resources or vouchers from a range of sponsors, including embassies, publishers, public bodies and private companies. All winners receive a certificate signed by the European Commissioner for Education and Culture and a DfES Minister.
European Award for Languages 2008
Who won an award in 2007?
You can see the full list of winners on the CILT website - congratulations to all involved. There were three Scottish winners this year.
Guthan nan Eilean - Island Voices, Sabhal mor Ostaig
This Scottish project involves the creation of video and audio materials to form an oral archive reflecting the lives of a bilingual, Hebridean community. The videos comprise of short, informative documentaries on key issues in community and business life. They are scripted in plain language and use authentic interviews with individual community members. These materials are an excellent resource for Gaelic learners and those with a particular interest in community life in the Hebrides.
Easy Spanish, Playbusters
Easy Spanish was conceived as a family learning experience in which the teaching of Spanish engages the whole family unit from pre-fives to older siblings, parents and grandparents. Parents learn Spanish side by side with their child through a variety of fun activities, such as role play, song, dance, games and arts and crafts. It promotes an appreciation of Spanish language and culture across the different age groups. Read more on the MFLE.
Coffee Break Spanish, Radio Lingua Ltd
Coffee Break Spanish uses a relaxed and non-threatening approach to introduce Spanish to learners around the world. Participants download and listen to a weekly 15-20 minute Spanish lesson during which teacher 'Mark' teaches student 'Kara'.
The podcasts are available free of charge and in essence work like a radio show teaching Spanish to adult learners. Since the launch of the series there have been in excess of 4.5 million downloads of the show, and coffee break Spanish has been in the top three educational podcasts in the UK, the USA and Canada on itunes. Find this podcast and many others in our Radio and podcasts section.