GMIT lecturers win top EU award for language learning website

Two lecturers in Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) have won a top European award for developing a free innovative language learning kit as part of a European team. The web-based language kit called “EuroCatering” www.eurocatering.org caters specifically for workers and trainees in the hospitality and tourism industry.

GMIT’s Anne Brindley, French lecturer, and Colin Gilligan, Hotel lecturer, represent Ireland on the seven country EU project which won the European Language Label of the Labels, a prestigious European Commission award. They were presented with the award in Cyprus by the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Mrs Androulla Vassiliou and the Vice-President of the European Parliament Mr Miguel Angel Martinez.

www.eurocatering.org is now available in seven languages; English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwwegian, Slovenian, Galician with five additional languages German, Irish, Italian, Finnish and Polish from October. The website provides realistic language training with virtual scenes in the kitchen and restaurant; illustrated glossaries of professional terminology in each of the languages, a pedagogical tool with interactions and exercises for reinforcements, a glossary of pertinent cultural work-orientation facts, a video of pertinent gesture and more.

GMIT’s Anne Brindley, says: “We are absolutely delighted to receive public recognition for this collaborative language learning package which will fill the language gap for trainees and workers in the hotel industry as identified in Key Skills for Enterprise to Trade Internationally (Forfas, June 2012). The language learning package is already available in seven languages, with 12 languages including Irish available later this month (Oct).”

Dr Larry Elwood, Head of International Affairs, GMIT, says the Institute is delighted to be involved in developing this excellent learning product with other EU partner: “This award combining language training with interactive technologies is a wonderful example of how GMIT continues to play a leading role in the hospitality and tourism sectors, both nationally and internationally.”