European Language Label - 2009.

The European Label for innovative projects in language teaching and learning

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Karinthy Frigyes Gimnázium

The European Label is an award that encourages new initiatives in the field of teaching and learning languages, rewarding new techniques in language teaching, spreading the knowledge of their existence and thereby promoting good practice. It is co-ordinated by the European Commission, but managed by the individual Member States, with national juries deciding on detailed criteria. The Label is open to all aspects of education and training, regardless of age or methods used, with its main focus being to promote innovation in language teaching. By supporting innovative projects, at a local and national level, the Label seeks to raise the standards of language teaching across Europe. Each year, the Label is awarded to the most innovative language learning projects in each country participating in the scheme. In 2009 the Karinthy Model United Nations Conference programme was awarded.

The general criteria for winning an award are agreed at European level, but individual countries can introduce their own requirements.

The European criteria

1. Initiatives should be comprehensive in their approach. Every element of the language project - from students to teachers, methods to materials - should ensure that the needs of the students are identified and met.
2. Initiatives should provide added value in their national context. This means a tangible improvement in the teaching or learning of languages, either in terms of quantity or quality. "Quantity" might refer to the project stimulating the learning of several languages, particularly those that are less widely used, whereas "quality" might refer to the introduction of an improved methodology.
3. Initiatives should motivate the students and teachers to improve their language skills.
4. Initiatives should be original and creative. They should introduce previously unknown approaches to language learning, but also make sure they are appropriate to the students concerned.
5. Initiatives should have a European emphasis. They should be adapted to Europe's linguistic diversity and make use of this advantage - for example, by liaising with contacts across national borders. The initiatives should actively improve understanding between cultures by promoting language skills.
6. Initiatives should be transferable. They might potentially be a source of inspiration for other language initiatives in different countries.