Posted on: 28 September 2011
Authentik Language Interactive, a Trinity College campus company, was recently awarded a European Language Label award in recognition of the creative and innovative approach to learning it offers European language learners. The awards recognise those companies who have found creative ways to improve the quality of language teaching and learning and are presented on the basis of excellence, creativity and the project’s ability to serve as a model for others. Four Irish projects received awards in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the European Day of Languages on September 26th.
Speaking about winning the award, Director of Authentik and lecturer at Trinity College’s School of Education, Dr Ann Devitt said: “The European Language Label awards innovation and creativity in the teaching and learning of languages. Authentik Language Interactive harnesses innovations in web and multimedia technologies to provide language learners with a language-rich, media-rich, empowering environment which scaffolds learning across the range of language skills. We are very proud of the product and delighted to win this award.”
Authentik was founded as a result of extensive groundbreaking research into the benefits of using authentic materials for language learning. The company provides language learners with high quality materials in French, German, Spanish, English and Italian including magazines, cassettes, CDs, photocopiable exam practice books, teacher development books and digital products. All of these features are then accessible in a single high spec web environment allowing learners to integrate their language skills with full control over resources and activities using a range of media.
At the awards ceremony Maura Clancy, former Assistant Chief Inspector at the Department of Education and Skills, said: “The winners of today’s European Language Label awards illustrate how it is possible to overcome the challenges of current curricula by thinking ‘outside the box’. The winning projects highlight the importance of language learning in the creation of an inclusive multicultural society and the significance of real-life situations in providing motivation for learners to develop and enhance their linguistic competence.”
The European Language Label awards are run simultaneously in over 20 EU countries and are administered in Ireland by Léargas, Ireland’s National Agency for the management of national and international exchange and cooperation programmes in education, youth and community work.
