Luan BICAJ (The Cambridge School Kosova)
Language Learning Programs in South-East European Countries
VISION STATEMENT
It is beyond any doubt that the human component for education is still of the biggest importance, and it will still be for generations to come. It is the most reliable, it works without fuel, nor electricity, and it has reasoning. These are some advantages that human resources can offer, and which cannot be covered by technology. A speedy calculation, memory, Internet, reliable functioning all this is a part of technology that has proved to make life much easier. Therefore, in order to make life easier, and more productive, and in our case to introduce a much more effective teaching, using IT technology in language learning networks is a must. It covers most of the aspects that humans cannot cover.
vate education. This was not allowed during the socialist era. Private Language Centers have been set up across the countries, which use a rather reformed curriculum, with a group-oriented approach and studentcentered learning. They have welltrained staff usually, as they offer courses where competition sets standards, and customers can choose what they like. Language learning in these centers is rather expensive and it can limit the number of participants, but the quality of language knowledge is higher, the facilities used are in better condition, and the IT equipment to some degree is used more. Tape recorders and VCR are used.
We are witnessing the development of Information Technology (IT) in the globalized World, with fast steps beyond what anyone could have imagined. Its use is beyond anyone's expectations, and yet these machines have improved and enlightened our lives CURRENT SITUATION – forever. One of the main REFORM development factors, edu- In the Eastern countries, until recentcation, has also been af- ly the education system was only fected by IT technology functioning in the public sector, and it since the 1980s, which has was based on the „ex cathedra“ style, which is professor-centered, and not now become a precondi- so much student-centered. There are tion to the development of hardly any practice hours, and facilieducation. Unfortunately, ties for its performance, and there are not all countries had the hardly discussions that are limited with the relations between professoropportunity to fully ex- student. The IT equipment is used plore the benefits of this only in computer rooms to some limcontemporary method of ited extent and mainly by students. education, due to a set of There have been numerous initiatives problems in the political for the reform of the present system, and economical sphere, as and currently the system is following it is the case with South- the changes according to the 'Bologna Eastern Europe in general, process', which had effects for instance, on the Department of Lanand Kosovo in particular. guages, Faculties of Philology at the
GOAL AND OBJECTIVE – Building a National Network
With the development of education at the Universities and Private Centers, there is a need for creating the network that would support a better streamlining of curricula, ideas, and communication within the national structures for language learning. In this way there would be a self-assessing factor, and a quality assurance factor, where everyone can see results. This would create better preconditions for creating an International network that would be committed to networked language learning that could be developed later.
Building an International Network
Using the success from the National network, the International Network can be provided more easily, and having in mind certain criteria that have to be met. Moreover, even if a national network is not in place, we can use the International network to support building up a national one, with a modern approach. In this respect, the Academic and Private sector would be useful and responsible for this initiative.
Prishtina University, in Kosova. Other parts of the Balkan region which have more success in this area are Slovenia and Croatia, which have fairly advanced programs. Only after the changes from the past decade, the possibilities appeared for new way of education and that is pri-
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Language Learning Programs in South-East European Countries
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
There are numerous options and methodologies that should be followed for the creation of networked language learning, but I only want to point out some, especially in regards with the South-Eastern countries. The first option would be to support the overall educational and economic reform in the Eastern countries, and in the developing countries. This would create better conditions for payment, better funds, and most importantly, better quality. In this regard, I believe there should be initiatives to establish academic centers for language learning and training, especially for academics who intend to study abroad or the ones that intend to study here in a host country. One of the crucial benchmarks have been set in the feedback from the joint Copenhagen meeting between European Network Quality Assurance, European University Association and ESIB, 12 September 20011. There are a number of conditions that
1. The meeting resulted in four concrete projects for future cooperation: 1. Promotion of a quality culture within the universities. A crucial question to address in this respect is how the students can be more involved in this process. A means to start this discussion is to address it at the regional level. 2. Description of various quality assurance approaches and the different uses of these in the same contexts. The description should have a similar form as the Nordic report on accreditation-like practices and should incorporate the issue of the use and definition of standards and criteria. 3. Description of possible scenarios of European quality assurance strategies and identification of strengths and weaknesses of the different strategies. 4. Description of the relationship between recognition and quality assurance systems and its possible enhancement.
would support these benchmarks according to the European streamline, and funds are needed to cover this idea: Teaching staff trained abroad as an asset for the development of the new methods. Appropriate literature Proper funding and motivation for the teaching staff and administration;
supports the Eastern countries in these programs, especially the countries that have just been through a crisis, which is currently happening. One of the other risks is that the reform is not so successful, or only partly so, and that the National and International partnerships might not function properly. Moreover, human resources can also be lost due to unsatisfactory conditions of work. Nevertheless, there is the advantage that most of the population of this region is young, and energetic. They are eager to make changes and to learn more, and they are trying to do so every day. This can be used, as well as certain IT equipment and experts which are not so few, and engage in this respect to create together with the international friends and partners, an everlasting sharing of ideas, streamline of educational reforms and sustainable partnerships. I think that the will of the international partners is also there, and we can make use of that, and bring similar projects to their attention.
BETTER FACILITIES
Regarding the private centers, there should be an increased use of modern facilities and IT equipment, and there can be support addressed to them from other centers abroad, in particular for curriculum design, teaching staff and IT equipment. Also we need to raise the awareness for cooperation between private and public institutions, so that we bridge the educational and academic gaps. Another option is to support national networks, if they exist, or create new professional centers, that would engage in creating partnerships and improve language-learning programs. Curriculum reform within public as well as private sector is an important step towards unifying the programs in the line with the European programs, and in the line with the use of networked language learning. As far as the international partnership networks are concerned, there is a need for special programs to create partnerships that would boost the development of the professional language learning, that is useful for building faster relations with the European community and the globalized world, where language is a tool for development.
RECOMMENDATION
I hope that I have drawn some attention to some ideas and problems that occur in our region regarding language learning. Now we need all the help and support, and we want to use it, although there are difficulties. We will learn fast how to do it, we will need your advice, and I am sure we will make it. There are funds needed, there are project proposals needed, but the foremost the will is needed, which can make miracles. Luan Bicaj
The Cambridge School (Kosova) Address: Dardania SU 5/8, Lam. F, #44 38000 Prishtina, Kosova Tel: +377 44 126 007 Fax: +381 38 549 979 Email: luanbicaj@yahoo.com
RISKS AND ADVANTAGES
In every initiative, we should also count on the risks, which can be predicted. The first one is that no one
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