The 2014 Calls for Proposals of the European Language Label now published in Italy. Deadline for applications: 13 October 2014.
A significant contribution to the promotion of multilingualism is provided by the European Language Label (ELL) initiative, which has been encouraging new initiatives in the field of language teaching and learning and fostering good practice for the last 15 years.
If you are an Italian organisation, active in the field of vocational education and training (VET) or school education and you have conceived an innovative project on language learning, you can participate in the ELL 2014 Italian campaign. In Italy the ELL is managed by ISFOL – Erasmus+ National Agency (for the vocational training field) and by INDIRE – Erasmus+ National Agency (for the education field), with the coordination of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and the Ministry of Education, University and Research. Specific Calls for Proposals and application forms have been published for each of the two fields. The deadline for submission of applications is 13 October 2014. More...

The Online Linguistic Support (OLS) is a new opportunity for Erasmus+ participants to assess and improve their language skills. The OLS was presented for the first time at the European Day of Languages conference in Florence.
The new free linguistic support service for participants in Erasmus+ long-term mobility (at least two months abroad) will be available online as from 1 October, 2014.
In 2014, the service will benefit all higher education students going on mobility and young volunteers undertaking European Voluntary Service (EVS). As from 2015, it will be extended to Vocational Education Training (VET) learners. More...

I'd like to start with the first European Survey on Language Competences, which we carried out in 2011 in close cooperation with the Member States. The results showed that the level of language skills as taught in schools throughout Europe is insufficient. The survey provided the basis for future Europe-wide assessments of proficiency in two foreign languages among 15 year-olds.
In May this year, all Member States reached political agreement about the need to better assess language skills in education in order to be able to improve the outcomes of language learning and progress towards the target levels. They will work on making language teaching in schools more efficient by introducing new teaching methods like content language integrated learning and by taking advantage of modern technologies. More...

A European-themed cocktail bar in Budapest, multilingual concerts in Zagreb and Vilnius, a 'speak' dating session in Prague, a travelling exhibition in Paris featuring translations of Homer's Odyssey and mini-language courses at libraries in Berlin: these are just some of the events planned tomorrow and over the next week to celebrate the annual European Day of Languages and linguistic diversity. European Commission offices in Member States are organising or supporting many other events including the 'LinguaFest' awards in Bucharest, a Shakespearian storytelling session for children in Madrid, a language-based treasure hunt in London and the Drongo festival in Amsterdam. The historic Piazza Ognissanti in Florence will be the setting for an open-air gathering to promote EU-funded initiatives to support language learning such as Erasmus+. More...

Think you know a thing or two about languages? Test your knowledge with our Language Quiz in 22 European languages.
The EU language quiz is a fun game to play in the language classroom or at home, with lots of quirky questions that will challenge your brain cells.
Facts & Fun
Interested in  facts and trivia about languages? You can self-evaluate your language skills, learn country names in internatational sign language, listen to celebrities speaking different languages and find facts and fun information about langauges on the the Council of Europe's website for the European Day of Languages . More...