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Join Dr. Del Morgan in exploring innovative ways to provide language skills for adults. Discover Unilang's approach to boosting confidence and fostering interest in language learning, with a focus on empowering learners for business and pleasure.
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Sector, what sector? Dr. Del Morgan
An experiment in providing language skills for adults • What can be done for these people? • How can we encourage them into the fold? • Can we help them find their confidence? “A university course – me …??!!!”
Language Skills - Unilang • Traditionally, small numbers studying languages academically and in depth ... • But, now, dwindling numbers and lack of interest and take-up ... • However, increasing demand for basic skills in language for business and pleasure ... • So target large numbers to gain additional language skills “on top”
Unilang Facilities • Multi-media language skills packages • Satellite television and video channels • Database of recorded/able audio tracks • Access to Internet language sites • Six native language versions of MS Word • Magazines in various languages • Student Support Officers on duty
Meanwhile … (Out there in the community)
The Community Challenge • Increasing numbers interested in languages • Traditional adult learners – “HE-averse” • However, latent abilities and confidence • Need to tap/overcome these to succeed • Delivery model needs flexibility
Incremental Roll-out • Initial pilot – one-off • Issues with recruitment, attendance, support materials, assessment, demographics, length of module, level of module, continuity, tutor consistency • One module delivered through Welsh • External examiners pleased
Tutor Comments • “A lively and pleasant group … some were stretched to attend classes due to personal commitments …” • “Assessments scheduled just before the Christmas holidays were badly attended” • “All the students managed to achieve a basic knowledge of the Spanish language” • “Accreditation is a definite incentive for learners”
Learners’ Comments • “The tutor made the learning experience very interesting … and fun!” • “I hope that there’s a follow-on course” • “To have the course local is important” • “There was a lot to learn in ten weeks”
Move with the times … • Use (and re-use) technology • Integrate personal/group learning methods • Innovate with approaches to assessment • Listen to students …
Build on the Foundation • Celebrate the success • Use existing cohorts to promote recruitment • Introduce further levels • Encourage progression – in any form … • Seek commitment from all quarters …
Sector, what sector? Dr. Del Morgan