BI-NATIONAL TRAINING - Next trainers' training (funded by the EU): 17-22.06.2012 Info here -
Bi-national training, what for?
For a better mutual understanding
To cooperate effectively, it is necessary to speak a common language and to understand how the other person acts and thinks, etc. Bi-national training suggests working together on these two aspects.
The method is particularly very useful in cross-border regions, so that the borders can meet each other, speak together, undertake joint projects and thus create a common identity in the long-term.
It is equally very interesting for companies established in two countries, the students (engineers, R&D executives or other) in any case being specialists in their technological field and thus the best people to teach.
- You will learn the target language with a native speaker in the same professional field as you, within a bi-national group, accompanied by a pair of bilingual teachers specialised in this educational method.
- At the same time, you will discover the other culture perhaps even though you did not suspect that there were any differences...
- You will integrate professional particularities with your partner in your pair, who is your equivalent in their country.
Language acquisition is quick, exchanges are enriching and learning is fun!
The objective is to better understand one another in terms of language and intercultural aspects
- To carry out projects together
- To be enriched by differences
- To open up new paths
How it works: Example
A French group and a Spanish group get together for 3 days to learn French and Spanish. They are going to work in pairs, each one teaching his language to the other, accompanied by a pair of bilingual teachers specialised in bilingual education in a relaxed and productive atmosphere, alternating between role plays (photo left), lexical work phases (photo right) and large group discussions.
The intercultural dimension of the language is an integral part of the training in order to provide you with the means to see behind the clichés that are the authentic modes of functioning and thus to discover the national cultural codes.
This educational approach provides excellent results whatever the starting level and field targeted, whether professional or technical, or common everyday language, the participants in all cases being specialists in their mother tongue and their professional field.
The training is experiential in order to understand things from the inside.
The encounter is the driving force of the training
Advantages
"I'm no longer afraid to speak" (Florence)
- The exposure time to the language is very long
- The speaking time is increased
- The training situation is highly privileged and “almost-intimate” among the participants
- The communication is authentic
- The course is led by facilitators specialised in this educational method
- Learning is free, creative and “secured” within the educational setting
The origins of this educational method
It was “set up” by the French-German Youth Office (OFAJ), an official French-German organisation. The founders of the Atelier des Cultures have been working with the OFAJ for 20 years as bi-national trainers.
After having conducted bi-national training with French and German teachers for many years, Françoise Sanssené became a member of a research group on bi-national education at the OFAJ and she has been running training seminars for bi-national teachers at the Office since 1996.
At the Atelier des Cultures, we have now decided to open up this educational method to other language combinations, for example French-Spanish, of course, because we are at the French-Spanish border, but also French-Chinese, in partnership with Tchin-Tchine and even Greek-Turkish!
Bi-national training: multiplying efficiency and… enjoyment
Quality: Top-of-the-range services
- Each seminar is tailor-made to meet your needs as closely as possible. The training is designed for you!
- We have 20 years of experience in bi-national education, notably for the French-German Youth Office (OFAJ), a body of reference on a European level that “invented” this educational method.
- We have also been responsible for training the bi-national trainers for the OFAJ.
- Our trainers are multi-lingual with higher education degrees and specialists in bi-national education.
- The teaching methods are based on didactic language research (CECR)
It is a beautiful adventure that will notably improve communication
Participants answer your questions
Is it an effective method?
""A highly effective method in terms of language learning. " (Claudette)
"The immersion into the language was such that I managed to reactivate numerous acquisitions (both grammatical and lexical). I found the training very rich." (François)
"Being almost continuously in a pair provides a lot from a linguistic point of view." (Michel)
Is bi-national training also appropriate for beginers?
"With this method, it is above all the beginners who have the opportunity to overcome the fear of speaking thanks to the almost intimate situation of working in a pair."(Michael)
" The different levels of the participants enabled me to overcome the fear of having to be perfect! I quickly realised that others had the same problems as me (vocabulary, pronunciation, etc.) and that we could learn from one another."(Synke)
"I feel accepted with my lack of understanding of the other language. I am no longer afraid to speak."(Florence)
What is the course content?
It is targeted according to the specific needs of the participants for each training course. They are always as close as possible to real-life situations in which the language will be spoken.
What about grammar?
The native-speaking participants clearly use the correct structures and the teachers provide the theoretical explications when necessary.
And intercultural issues?
".I understand what the word culture means for a country: I convey the notion of "citoyen" without even realising, like all the other French members of the group. "
(Florence)
"The training provides a lot with respect to the differences between words that seem identical, although they may be opposite, for example, the word "nation"."
(Michel)
".Bi-national training is an effective method that enables prejudices to be abolished, opening up to the other. However, it should be handled very carefully (like in this training course) to avoid tension, false ideas and the further creation of prejudices."
(Bernard)
Bi-national training is:
- "Learning a language with pleasure through play and humour
- Enjoying giving as much as receiving
- Taking what you need when you need it (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation) in a simple manner in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect for the other.
And beyond the language
- It is sharing laughter, temporary misunderstandings and emotions.
- It is the pleasure of exchange and communication in a group with no judge, everybody at their level.
- It is (re)discovering the other language without fear of making mistakes". (Florence)