Maybe you have already heard about the Online Linguistic Support for Erasmus+ participants, or maybe not. Today we want to share with you this amazing opportunity and to explain you how you can enjoy it as a mobility participant.
As known, ERASMUS+ is aimed at boosting skills and employability, as well as modernising Education, Training and Youth work, and contributing to promoting cooperation, diversity and multilingualism. As languages are the heart of mutual understanding and comprehension, it is essential to promote language learning among Erasmus+ mobility participants.
Online Linguistic Support (OLS)
For that reason it has been implemented the Online Linguistic Support (OLS). The OLS supports language learning by offering to participants in Erasmus+ long-term mobility activities (Key Action 1) the opportunity to assess and improve their skills in the foreign language(s) they will use to study, work or volunteer abroad. In addition, selected participants may follow an online language course to improve their competences.
What is the Language Assessment?
The online language assessment assesses participants’ language skills – listening, reading and writing – according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The OLS language assessment is mandatory for all participants to Erasmus+ mobility activities of at least two months (studies/traineeships/EVS volunteering) with one of the following languages as the main language of instruction, work or volunteering (with the exception of native speakers). Since 2015, the service is also available for Vocational Education and Training (VET) learners participating in a mobility of at least one month.
Erasmus+ mobility participants must take the assessment twice — before and at the end of their mobility period — in order to monitor their progress in the language of mobility. Based on their language proficiency, participants may have the opportunity to access the OLS learning platform to follow an online language course before and during their mobility period. This should be agreed between the participant and the institution/organisation in charge of his/her selection.
For more information you can consulte the Language Assessment Users Guide.
How does the Online Language Course work?
After taking the first language assessment, participants who have been selected by their sending institutions/organisations will have the opportunity to take language courses for free. The participants will have the possibility to improve their knowledge in the main language used to study, work or volunteer during their Erasmus+ mobility period.
The language course is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: you can connect anywhere to practise your language skills. Courses are unlimited: you have access to all modules and all language levels, from A1 to C2 (beginners, intermediate or advanced learners). You can improve your skills in writing, reading, listening and speaking, by progressing through different modules.
Live coach
Last but not least, it is also available a live coaching service that will allow you to get learning tips, all the answers to your questions and to connect with other Erasmus+ participants to support each other through Forums, Tutoring sessions and MOOCs.
For more information you can consulte the Language Course Users Guide.