EU Programme: Socrates II, Lingua 1: Learning European languages.

Description: The Lingua Action is divided into two parts, corresponding to different sub-objectives.

"Lingua 1 is intended to:

(a) raise citizens’ awareness of the Union’s multilingual wealth, encourage people to learn languages throughout their lifetime, and improve access to foreign language learning resources across Europe;
(b) develop and disseminate innovative techniques and good practices in language teaching."

Who may apply?: The following are eligible under Lingua: educational establishments, local or regional authorities; local, regional, national or European associations active in the field of language teaching or learning; cultural and language support associations; radio, television or media companies with an Internet presence; publishing houses and software companies.

EU Support: 3 kinds of project are foreseen: (a) Awareness-raising and information about the benefits of language learning; (b) Improving access to language learning resources; and (c) Disseminating information among decision-takers.

Relevance for Lesser-Used Language communities: All of the official languages of the EU institutions; Irish and Luxembourgish; the national languages of the EFTA/EEA countries (Iceland and Norway) and of pre-accession countries (Bulgaria and Romania).
Special priority is given to the less widely used and taught official languages (LWULT) of the European Union. These are: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Irish, Luxembourgish, Portuguese and Swedish, but the definition depends on the situation in the country.

“Since Lingua mainly supports the teaching and learning of foreign languages via transnational language- learning projects it would at best be of limited relevance for the teaching of regional and minority languages.”

Indeed, languages such as Catalan, Welsh, Frisian, Breton, etc. are excluded.

Contact :
European Commission
Lingua 1
Tel: +(32) 2 295 096
Fax: +(32) 2 299 6321
E-mail: william.aitchison@cec.eu.int
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/lingua/index_en.html

Socrates, Leonardo & Youth Technical Assistance Office
Tel: +(32) 2 233 0142 / 0186
Fax: +(32) 2 233 0150
Website: http://www.socleoyouth.be/static/en/overview/lingua_overview.htm

More information:
Lingua 1: Overview
National Agencies responsible for Socrates / Lingua
Decision No 253/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 January 2000 establishing the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education 'Socrates'.