Smarttalk: Human Capital Initiative project for modern languages.

Abstract

The future of modern languages in the Technological University sector in Ireland remains in the balance, as we enter the last year of the government’s Languages Connect strategy. Given the prevailing uncertainty around language provision in the sector, this Human Capital Initiative project carves out new digital spaces for language learning, preparing learners for the challenges of the modern workplace. The project aligns the newly merged Atlantic Technological University (previously Letterkenny, Sligo and Galway Institutes of Technology) with the Languages Connect Strategy and the National Digital Strategy, by widening access to language learning and enabling the government to reach its targets regarding upskilling in foreign language competence. While this project focusses primarily on the German language, the pathway created could be replicated for other modern languages. The target users are higher level students from all disciplines that have had no prior opportunity to learn language at primary of secondary level, however, it may be useful for students who had this opportunity but, for some reason, disengaged from their learning environment.  With a unique focus on building confidence in oral competencies, these virtual learning pathways include embedded mentoring channels for peer-assisted learning. These new learning spaces provide a sustainable solution to the current impasse regarding language provision at third level, creating easily accessible pathways into language learning, using interwoven synchronous and asynchronous tools.