Meeting the needs of students, in-service workers and enterprises in a multilingual and multicultural Europe: A challenge for language centres

Abstract

As the number of university students taking part in exchange programs abroad increases, students are becoming more aware of the importance not only of improving their general language skills, but also of developing academic language skills that will prepare them for their stay and study in transnational higher education contexts. Concurrently, the growth and development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has allowed materials developers to create a wider range of interactive and dynamic learning materials which learners can easily access whenever they want, wherever they are, choosing the activities they wish to focus on and working at their own pace. Communicating in Multilingual Contexts (CMC; www.cmcproject.it) is an open access Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which offers two modules in seven different languages containing innovative language activities specifically created to meet the needs of mobility students prior to taking part in exchange programs abroad. While the materials in the different languages follow common guidelines, they are unique in that they reflect the different linguistic, social and cultural aspects of each country. Indeed CMC also aims at promoting linguistic and cultural diversity as well as developing multicultural awareness in accordance with EU policies.