3rd transnational meeting in Rende, Italy (June 2-4 2016)
On the 3rd and 4th of June, 2016 the third partners’ meeting took place in Rende (CS), a town in Calabria, southern Italy. Calabria is at the toe of the boot, the extreme south of Italy – lapped
by the splendid crystal blue Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and separated from Sicily by the Strait of Messina. Euroform RFS was the hosting organization and welcomed FL teachers and project
managers from the 5 other partner organizations (Slovakia, Malta, UK, France and Latvia). It was attended by 11 representatives. The project partners reviewed the activities implemented and the results achieved so far. In addition, this working group dedicated time to planning the future steps and activities within the project.
The main project objective is to enhance the professional development of foreign language teachers and trainers. The main activities being to:
• Create a vocationally oriented career path for foreign language teachers and trainers.
• Develop vocationally oriented sector specific language training programmes both for Tourism and Automotive industries (including methodology, course materials etc.)
• Carry out the training course for trainers
• Carry out local courses for students/employees from the specific industry.
During the transnational meeting in Rende, partners discussed the importance of being a cooperative team for the achievement of the project. After two days of hard work and a lot of brainstorming, finally, they agreed onthe synergy between the two leaders of intellectual outputs 3 and 4. France and Italy will produce a template for the trainer’s handbook in the automotive
and tourism sectors. Everyone together will cooperate in the development of lesson plans that will allow employers and businesses to become really competitive in the jobmarket. The trainers who will develop the specific lesson plans that will be assembled within the Prolant-Cap handbook, will be properly chosen and validated according to the criteria of within the EAQUALS grid for teaching foreign languages.
During these 2 meeting days, the work required intense dedication and effort but nevertheless the meeting passed at a dynamic pace. All partner organizations were actively involved in discussions
in order to achieve the planned project activities in the best way. In addition to working time there were also opportunities where everyone enjoyed the beauties of the city— its traditions and the pleasure of life typical of the ―Belpaese‖. The next meeting will take place in Malta in November, where trainers and teachers will also receive comprehensive training to develop themselves and to be professionals in the relevant industry sector.