Introduction
VIVACE is a Lingua 1 Socrates project that aims to make language learning accessible to disadvantaged learners.
VIVACE aims to increase confidence and self-esteem, improve social and communication skills and spread the message that “language learning is valuable for everyone” to as many social and community providers as possible.
At the same time, it also investigates ways in which the barriers of finance and attitude to providing these opportunities can be overcome.
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Learners
The VIVACE project brings opportunities for language learning to disadvantaged groups. Our understanding of disadvantage is broad and can vary from one culture to another. We have learned that disadvantage may be interpreted in a variety of ways in different cultures and may often be hidden.
The VIVACE Project has worked with many different groups. Some learners may never have had the opportunity to learn a language, or may have had to abandon it because traditional classes do not cater for their needs. Others have started learning at school but have not felt confident enough to continue. Some learners' circumstances have changed, so they need a new approach which will cater for their current needs. |
Impact
VIVACE is continuing the work started by the award winning ALLEGRO project, by raising awareness among agencies and organisations outside the field of language learning and teaching, convincing them of the benefits to their clients of becoming involved in learning a new language and providing them with innovative and accessible approaches to language learning and teaching.
The impact on all involved in the ALLEGRO project and subsequently in the VIVACE project, has been unexpectedly marked. Learners have gained in confidence and gained a wider view of the outside world. Teachers have found inspiration in teaching new groups in new ways. Most importantly perhaps, the message of the value of language learning has been spread widely among organisations in the field of social provision and into the community at large. |
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