TOOL TIPLS – TOOL TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY OF PROFESSIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS (Lifelong Learning Programme, Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation project)
TOOL TIPLS addresses directly one of the priorities set by the Copenhagen Declaration – to investigate how transparency, comparability, transferability and recognition of competences and/or qualifications, between different countries and at different levels, could be promoted by developing reference levels, common principles for certification, and common measures, including a credit transfer system for vocational education and training. Analysis of the current situation in all of the partner countries and research by project partners shows that professional foreign language competences are evaluated by different systems and criteria not only in each country, but also at institutional level according to their needs.
The aim of the project is to develop the tool to improve transparency of professional English language (as lingua franca) skills in the selected target sectors of the Hospitality industry. This will ensure future relevant levels of foreign language competences and their evaluation to people employed or seeking employment in this area.
The project’s specific objectives are to:
-define the levels of skills developed using existing VET curricula in each project partner country
-prepare the tool of descriptors of professional English language skills and competences(TOOL) based on CEF and ECVET
-implement international piloting in partner countries
-consult social partners–potential employers and professional consultants to implement the final improvement of the TOOL
-disseminate and valorise the project products via local, regional, national and international networks, via a project conference and other means as opportune
In addition the project's general objectives are to:
-develop vocational skills through professional foreign language knowledge, specifically in relation to the Hospitality industry
-enhance young peoples’ potential for mobility within the European labour market
-encourage intercultural learning and empathy in the Hospitality industry for international communication in different countries
-integrate professional language learning in theory with practical application within specific occupational sectors
The main output of the project is a tangible product- a set of downloadable CDs with the tool of descriptors and user guide in all of the partner languages. Through open dialogue and with involvement of the target groups, the project proposes a EC supported VET educational enrichment by developing a transferable TOOL, which would be adaptable and applied as a common evaluation tool at the VET and language teaching institutions, useful for the employers and employees, transferable from study to work, from one sector to another and from one country to another, creating common measures of an evaluation system in the EU.
The consortium of the project consists of VET institutions from Lithuania, Latvia and Finland, language teaching professional institutions from Lithuania and Romania and internal evaluator from the UK.
The project is coordinated by Soros International House and will be implemented through the year 2009-2011 (project duration 24 months).
International Conference
Aspects of the Professional Language Teaching and Evaluation for Learners Competences
3 June 2011 the Final Conference of the LLP LdV TOI project “TOOL-Tipls -Tool to Improve Transparency of Professional Language Skills” took place in Vilnius Neringa Hotel. Participants from various Colleges, Universities, VET and Adult Education institutions, Ministry of Education and Science, Lithuanian Adult Education Association, British Council of Lithuania, Education Exchanges Support Foundation, Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre, Public Service Language Centre along with the project partners from Latvia, Finland, Romania, Lithuania and UK attended the event.
International Projects Fair was organized during the conference.
Project coordinator Daiva Malinauskiene welcomed the participants and invited them to enjoy the concert given by Alytus Professional Education Centre students.
The third Partners Meeting in Latvia, February of 2011
The third partners meeting of the project "TOOL TIPLS" took place in Smiltene, Latvia on 17-18th of February, 2011. The partners from Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, UK and Romania attended the meeting. SIH was represented by director Daiva Malinauskiene, project coordinator Violeta Mirinaviciute and accountant Elvyra Mikeleviciene.
The meeting was run in two days. During the first day partners presented the results of the piloting in their countries. Later, Smiltene Tehnikums students, who had been directly involved in the piloting, shared their experience. All of them were of the opinion that the piloting was very useful: they could check their professional knowledge in real life simulations and at the same time develop English language skills. Then partners split into groups and brainstormed the ideas for the improvement of the tool of descriptors.
During the second day, project partners presented their ideas for the Guide, met with the social partners, representing local hotels “Lacites”, “Bruzis” and “Radison SAS” in Riga. Beingwell informed on the projectactivitiesandresults,the socialpartnersstressed thedirectbenefits ofthe productsbeing developed.All the partners evaluated the meeting as a very constructive one.
On Thursday evening partners were invited to visit a homestead and could participate in bread making process themselves.
Adult Learners’ Week, 15th - 21st November, 2010
On the 15th - 21st November, 2010 there was an annual (11th) Adult Learners’ Week coordinated by the Lithuanian Association of Adult Education. Like every year, Soros International House participated in the Adult Learners’ Week and organized various events: a competition “My beloved teacher”, open lessons “Visit each other, learn from each other” for public and students, teachers of SIH, a seminar for language teachers “Educational video films in a lesson”.
During the Adult Learners’ Week we arranged an exhibition of children and teenagers artwork who participated in the EUROCHILD talent competition and Lifelong Learning and Nordplus programme projects’ exhibition “Learning myself and teaching others”.
On the 26th of November teachers of SIH Lauryna Butrimienė and Robin Alexander Muck arranged a seminar “The Unity of Teaching and Learning Methods and Tools when Organizing a Successful English Lesson” for the emplyees of Pakruojis Adults and Youth education centre and teachers from Pakruojis region. International project coordinator Nijolė Šmitaitė presented projects being implemented by SIH under Lifelong Learning and Nordplus programmes.
International on-line based piloting, 2010 November
International on-line based piloting process of trainees relevant to the Hospitality industry (receptionist, waiters, cooks) has started on the 2nd of November as previously planned.
On-line piloting consists of 10 modules with the help of which we would like to assure that the initial tool of descriptors developed corresponds to the trainees professional English language basic competences in selected professions.
At the end of each lesson each trainee is filling a student’s evaluation form and a teacher is filling the teacher’s feedback form. Following the already filled in feedbacks, trainees are enjoying the lessons and so far teachers receive only positive feedbacks.
On the basis of summarized and analyzed piloting results we will prepare the final tool of descriptors of the professional English language basic competences, which will be coordinated with the social partners, potential employers.
The second partners meeting in Finland, June of 2010
The second partners meeting of the project "TOOL TIPLS" took place in Espoo, Finland on 3-4th of November 2010. The partners from Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Romania attended the meeting. The director Daiva Malinauskiene, director of studies Audrone Budiene, project coordinators Aurelija Babiliute and Violeta Mirinaviciute represented Soros International House.
The meeting was held in two days. During the first day SIH director Daiva Malinauskiene presented the activities of the project performed up to date, partners discussed about the draft of the initial tool of descriptors developed so fare, about the descriptors and English language levels necessary for different professions, agreed on common system for descriptors to be used in developing tool, developed improvements to the draft of initial tool.
During the second day project partners took part in the practical workshop where the project webportal was presented, explained and instructions for usage provided. Later on each participant of the meeting had a chance to try to use the portal individually, registering and uploading information, this way getting ready for piloting activities. All the partners evaluated this meeting as a very positive experience and useful for future implementation.
Last evening all the partners visited Helsinki and hosts of the meeting organised the boat trip in the Helsinki archipelago providing the possibility to admire beautiful nature.
Next partners meeting will be hosted in the city of Smiltene, Latvia.
Developed draft of initial tool of descriptors
The on-line discussions among the members of two separate discussion groups (Hotel and Catering) are over and both groups have reached the common decisions on professional English language descriptors essential for different selected professions.
The lead partner of the WP3 from Romania, EuroEd, had summarized all the data from discussion groups and developed common draft of initial descriptors.
Partners have selected one representative each to take active part in on-line discussion on the developed descriptors to clarify them, to express the ideas and suggestions for improvement of the draft seeking to develop initial tool of descriptors of professional English language of selected Hospitality industry professions.
When the initial tool of descriptors will be agreed among the partners it will be considered as a background for the programme of piloting activities development.
Discussions on the English language descriptors for the selected professions, 2010 March and April
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March and April of 2010 are dedicated for the project work groups’ discussions on the English language descriptors for selected Hotel and Catering professions in order to determine and develop unified descriptors for all the partner countries evaluating English language skills necessary for the selected professions.
Catering professions are being discussed in the work group, which consists of partners from Lithuania (SIH and AVTC) and Finland. This group is lead by Audrone Budiene, director of study at SIH.
The discussion schedule:
- cook profession discussions from 15th of February till 23rd of February
- waiter profession discussions from 24th of February till 5 th of March
- bartender profession discussions from 8th of March till 17th of March
- room service profession discussions from 18th of March till 26th of March
Hotel professions are being discussed in the work group, which consists of partners from Romania and Latvia. This group is lead by Rodica Vulcanescu from EuroEd (RO).
The discussion schedule:
- receptionist discussions from 15th of February till 23rd of February
- reservations discussions from 24th of February till 5 th of March
- concierge discussions from 8th of March till 17th of March
- chambermaid discussions from 18th of March till 26th of March
The lead partner EuroEd will analyze all the data from discussions and will develop initial toll of the descriptors of English language skills in selected professions.
Project promotion during The Education Fair in Vilnius, 2010 February
The Education Fair took place on the 4-6th of February in Vilnius, Lithuania. Soros International House actively participated in the fair presenting to the visitors spring and summer programs, studies abroad, langauge summer camps for younger learners and the projects. Project TOOL TIPLS were presented to the visitors by telling them about the ideas, activities and planned results of the project. Flyers were distributed amoung the visitors with the information about the project.
Research performed by the partnership on selected professions’ needs for professional English language skills
During January of 2010 the partners have performed the research among the VET language and profession teachers as well as among restaurants and hotels professionals on the needs of professional English language skills for future employees of these sectors.
Two separate templates were developed. One template was developed for VET language and profession teachers to describe their ideas and professional understanding on the English language skills of trainees. Another template was developed for the hotel and restaurant professionals – potential employers, to express their needs in potential employees.
Several restaurants and hotels in each partner country were visited for the interviews with the employers. Received data in each partner country were summarized and one common study was developed. This study will serve as a foundation for the discussion groups of specialists (profession and language teachers) to discuss on the descriptors of evaluation of professional English language skills necessary for selected professions.
Performed need analysis of professional English language among Hospitality industry professionals, 2010 January
In the framework of the project implementation activities partnership was performing needs analysis of the Hospitality industry professionals. The partners developed two separate templates of questionnaires for restaurant and hotel professionals as well as for VET institution English language and hospitality profession teachers. The mentioned professionals were interviewed in the partner countries in order to clarify their needs and expectations for the future employees of the Hospitality industry as concerning the skills of general and professional English language. Summarized received data will be used as a foundation for discussion groups to develop draft descriptors of professional English.
Meeting with the representatives of Methodological Centre for Vocational Education and Training in Vilnius
15th of December 2009 Daiva Malinauskiene had the meeting with representatives of Methodological Centre for Vocational Education and Training (Ministry of Education and Science) who are now confirmed responsible for the implementation and development of ECVET in Lithuania. Daiva has spoken with Giedre Beleckiene, the director of the centre and Vincentas Dienys, deputy director.
They have discussed ECVET situation for quite some time. Giedre has been recently in Brussels and have participated in the international meeting regarding this system (as well as have been participating in many meetings before regarding this matter).
ECVET system is beingdeveloped now and according to the EU documents has to be introduced in the EU member countries till 2012. According to Giedre, ECVET unified credit system with the possibility to transfer to other countries is going to be difficult to implementin the EU member states since each country has their own qualification system and each country has to follow their national specific situation. So the responsible institutions will have to work very hard to develop system to evaluate existingcertain modules of curricula, express them in certain percentile way and divide them to credit system. Maybe this way itwill bepossible to find some common denominator for transferring credits from one country to another inside EU in the same profession.
During the meeting Daiva presented Giedre and Vincentas with the partnership plan of developing tool of descriptors in trying to clear out the basic requirements for English needsinchosen professions and the research works the partners are performing. They agree with our chosen way and promised to think of the way they could help the project in correlation with ECVET. We have agreed to meet once again in January and discuss furthersteps. They said that it would be interesting experience for them to participate in the process of development of our tool of descriptors for professional English language so they will take this experience in implementing ECVET in Lithuania at their level. They are glad to be our social partner in the TOOL TIPLS project.
The initial partners meeting in United Kingdom, November of 2009
The initial partners meeting of the project "TOOL TIPLS" took place in Lancaster, UK on 25-28th of November 2009. The partners from Lithuania, UK, Latvia, Finland and Romania attended the meeting. The director Daiva Malinauskiene and project coordinator Aurelija Babiliute represented Soros International House.
The meeting lasted two days. SIH director Daiva Malinauskiene presented the activities of the project and partners commitments. She emphasized the importance of a good teamwork in the successful realization of the project ideas. The partners looked through the work plan and their individual tasks. Mutual cooperation, understanding, respect and tolerance towards each other are some of the characteristics necessary for a good teamwork.
During the second day project partners continued their discussions on the financial issues, work plan, project website, selected project’s logo from 17 variations proposed by SIH, worked on the selection of the vocations (jobs) and discussed the dissemination policy. All the partners evaluated this meeting as a very positive experience and useful for future implementation.
Last evening all the partners visited old Lancaster castle and then David, host of the meeting, invited all to the farewell intercultural dinner at his house where we had a chance to try home cooked British kitchen meals and all the partners presented their national appetizers, drinks and sweets.
Next partners meeting will be hosted in the city of Espoo, Finland.
