1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUCCESS CASE

 

1.1 Scope of the initiative

The Language Gateways into the Professions project is an innovative partnership project coordinated by CILT, the National Centre for Languages and funded by DIUS, the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Partners in the project include the modern languages departments and vocational (engineering or built environment) departments within the Universities of Bristol, Kingston, Loughborough and Salford working in collaboration with sector skills councils, professional bodies and employer to design and deliver contextualised language courses to students on engineering and built environment degrees.

The four partner HEIs developed courses autonomously from one another though shared and learnt from each other’s experiences over a period of one year during which the four HEIs and other partners met four times.

1.2 Range of languages learned

• French – 20 hour course delivered over 10 week face to face and online self-study
• Specifically for undergraduate students of aerospace and avionics engineering
• Entry level of French A level or equivalent
• Course was optional, though is accredited under existing accredited course
• All students are in the second year of an undergraduate degree in Aerospace/Avionic Engineering and are studying French on the Study in Continental Europe programme.
• They have been required to complete an this extra 20 hours worth of self-study using bespoke online packages specifically for aerospace and aeronautics
• French the only option though it is hoped that Spanish will be offered next year
• French was chosen because of the nature of the industry and partnership with Airbus UK as well as existing options offered at Bristol

1.3 Learning outcomes

• Course aims to develop aerospace and avionics context-specific language skills
• Develop the student’s ability to make oral presentations on aerospace and avionics
• Develop the student’s ability to write a report on aerospace and avionics related topic
• Develop the student’s ability to be interviewed for employment in the aerospace and avionics industry in the target language
• Enhanced learner autonomy – materials developed for online, interactive study

1.4 Practical realisation

• Development of a contextualised language curriculum including the history of avionics, specialist terminology, interviews with industry professionals, business French, vocabulary and grammar exercises, plus information and links to careers in aerospace and avionics
• Five online packages have been developed using Course Genie authorware, delivered on the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE ) Blackboard.
• Blended learning. Online self-study integrated into the Language for Specific Purposes curriculum.
• Course conducted entirely in target language
• Development of online materials for self-study, including audio materials
• Contextualised language learning as an optional but credited component of students’ programme – open to engineering students taking French on the Study in Continental Europe programme
• Integration of language learning with student’s mainstream academic subject
• Collaboration with employer (Airbus UK) and professional body (ECUK)
• Collaboration between language department and engineering department
• Collaboration with careers advice services
• Improve graduate employability

 

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