Context

Mobility programmes are promoted as unique opportunities for building up language competence and strengthening intercultural understanding. The popularity of mobility programmes today is also due to easier access to such initiatives (in particular through EU programmes) and administrative support provided by institutions in students’ own countries. Yet despite general recognition of the value and educational importance of mobility programmes there seems to be potential for improving the success of study abroad experiences. The approach of this project involves the initial training of teachers, who are offered a structured access to already existing instruments, such as the European Language Portfolio and the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters (see the abstract), which they can apply to the preparation and the follow-up of mobility experiences – their own and those of their future pupils. These instruments, which were designed with the aim of promoting plurilingualism as a skill and value, can help to acquire knowledge and, at the same time, develop open-minded attitudes towards otherness.

In this way, the project is in line with current endeavours of the COE’s Language Policy Unit and the ECML, and capitalizes on the results of the 1st and 2nd as well as 3rd medium term programmes. The project enables the creation of a network of teacher trainers and teachers responsible for mobility programmes in primary, lower and upper secondary school, who often work in separate institutional contexts. Thus, PluriMobil strengthens professional networks and supports the mobility programmes within the EU Lifelong Learning Programme (2007-2013).

The project has been developed with a modular approach: The 2010-2011 phase was aimed at primary and lower secondary trainee teachers and pupils. In the 2012-2014 phase, the work of the first phase will be finalized and further modules developed for teachers and pupils in upper secondary schools and secondary vocational training. In addition, a strong focus will be placed on implementation of the already accomplished work, reuniting stakeholders involved in mobility from all implied levels of education.