The LANGO project is funded by the EU Lifelong Learning Program. It creates a mobile language learning tool in four lesser taught languages in Europe: Maltese, Greek, Bulgarian, Russian. It uses a calendar based course of short daily lessons - 365, one per day of the year. partners in the project come from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta and Ireland.

1. CREATIVE LANGUAGE LEARNING IN MOBILE
ENVIRONMENTS:
ICT SUPPORTED CREATIVITY IN THE LANGO PROJECT
Dr. Alan Bruce, ULS Ireland
Dr. Hedva Vital, Ha’kibbutzim College, Israel
EDEN Conference
Oslo, Norway
12 June 2013

2. Overview
LANGO – project designed to explore opportunities
offered by new advanced information and
communication technologies in encouragement of
adult learners of less widely used and taught
languages.
Interactive language learning approaches combined
with strong intercultural components: advanced
technological tools motivate language learning and
give insights into culture, traditions and everyday
habits.

3. LANGO
Language On The Go: e-Calendar to Encourage Language Learning
Project No 519242-LLP-1-2011-1-BG-KA2-KA2MP
Target users:
 Adult language learners (18+)
 People participating in EU mobility for study and
work
 Immigrants
 Other people wishing to develop their language skills
in the target languages for personal reasons (cultural
interest, friends, business contacts, etc.)

4. Challenges of second language acquisition
• Modern research on challenges and issues around second language
acquisition focus on developing awareness, competence and fluency
• Role of ICT in building language competences, especially for learners
outside formal education systems
• Benefits of learning a language in informal settings
• Process of communicative competence acquisition often given little
attention
• New technologies give opportunities to develop modern learning tools
particularly in learning less widely used languages.

5. LANGO: Language On the Go
• Innovative e-learning tool to teach learners
Bulgarian, Maltese, Greek and Russian
• ICT assisted language learning
• Language learning through a mobile phone

6. Specific aims of LANGO
• Enable A1 learners gradually to reach higher levels of target
language
• Introduce and practice frequently used language patterns
• Develop communicative skills: listening comprehension,
spoken interaction, spoken production, basic reading skills
• Motivation: easy language input through real life
communicative situations
• Increase learner’s level of cultural awareness

7. Informing Issues
• Intercultural learning is integral part of language learning and
needs greater attention.
• European migration patterns increase the numbers required to
learn and speak another language.
• Finding ways to overcome cultural differences,
misunderstanding and disengagement is key component of
communicative competence.
• LANGO integrates cultural knowledge with language learning to
develop mutual accommodation in multicultural societies.
• Creates understanding, respect and dialogue.

8. Strategic aims
• Provide immediate benefits to adult learners who want
to further their competence in learning less widely
used languages
• Facilitate easy movement of citizens within EU higher
education for purposes of further study or employment
• Promote multilingual and multicultural awareness
among all user groups in the longer term.

9. Rationale
Addresses initial language learning
Focuses on what people typically need or want to say in initial
communication stages
Integrates technology for individualized and independent learning in
terms of pace, time and place (home, work, on the move, etc.)
Provides access to authentic online learning material
Uses applications which do not require advanced skills, providing
benefits for lower academic levels
Supports improvement of linguistic and digital competence at the
same time

10. Learning principles
1) functional-notional: learning to recognize
communicative functions and express concepts
and ideas related to these functions
2) situational-topical principle: taking into
account topics and the user needs related to the
most frequent everyday communication
situations

11. LANGO approach
Language learning activities delivered in a
calendar format: each daily lesson associated
with a particular day of the calendar.
Learner needs to allocate only 10 minutes every
day of the year to maintain and build on
language skills
Introductory part of each lesson and the
instructions are translated into English to
support learners and increase comprehension.

12. Lesson Structure
1. Introduction – listening and recording of dialogue, short text
or language patterns
2. Daily activity: matching, multiple choice, filling in blanks,
etc.
3. A wordsearch game
The daily wordsearch game available via Facebook widgets

13. Learning content
• The learning content for each of the four target languages is divided
between generic topics common to A1-A2 language curriculum (CEFR)
and country specific culture topics.
• The content is delivered inside a specifically designed template.
• On the last day of the month users receive a short quiz to check how
well they have learnt the monthly content. This helps users to control
their progress.
• Additional materials to support the learner:
a short grammar reference
a talking dictionary

14. Types of learning activities
Variety of entertaining learning activities designed to motivate the
learner to practice language patterns without getting bored:
Multiple choice with text, sound or picture
Matching pairs (text or pictures)
Ordering sequences
Media triggers
Categorizing different language areas
Listening to dialogue, recording oneself and listening to learner’s own recording
Wordsearch games based on a sound trigger

15. www.lango.eu

16. Splash Screen: user sees for 5-10 seconds before going to the home
screen. This shows the language that the user has downloaded

17. Language Screen: This is the main menu that leads the user to the 365 learning days of
the year. The user enters at a certain day of the year and follows the course from that day
on during an entire year.

18. Dimensions: Community
• Change
• Inclusion
• Institutional legacies (such as formal schooling)
• Migration
• Narratives of the migrant voyage
• Common connectivity

19. DIMENSIONS: learning
• Reflective learning
• Ease of access
• Relevance
• Applicability
• Flexibility
• Attractive learning architecture

20. Dimensions: Personal
• Engagement
• Link to daily life/activities
• Purpose
• Functionality
• Worth and value
• Motivation
• Validation.

21. Contact
www.lango.eu
Dr. Alan Bruce
abruce@ulsystems.com
Dr. Hedva Vital
hvital@marathon-group.net