HERMES: Development of resources to support the language training
of students at Universities and Colleges of Agriculture and Related
Sciences
Who we are and what we
do?
Hermes acts as a resource and support network for foreign language
trainers and institutions.
The initial project DEMETER started in 1996 within the activities
of ICA, (Interuniversity Conference for Agricultural and Related
Sciences in Europe), and carried out a number of surveys on the
situation of language teaching at UCARS (Universities and Colleges
of Agriculture and Related Sciences) and on the needs of our students.
The results of our surveys showed very quickly that there was a
strong need for new syllabuses and for professional development
programmes for language teachers, not only in Eastern European countries,
but also in Western Europe. Internationalisation and globalisation
of our society, of academia and the world of business have increased
the need for language competence, especially in the area of oral
skills.
These changes led to a change of approach in language teaching:
no longer do the students have to improve their competence in reading
academic publications, but in personal contact situations, where
oral skills and intercultural competence are required. Thus, language
teachers have to change the methods and the content of their language
courses.
The key areas where teachers need support are methodology, material
development, new approaches to assessment, forms of interaction
with scientists of agriculture and related sciences, and the use
of ICT in language learning and teaching.
Hermes works within the activities of AFANet (Thematic Network in
Agricultural and Related Sciences) and aims at the improvement of
language teaching and training in the area of languages for agricultural
purposes. Our project has been approved for a dissemination year
(2003-2004) following a second three-year TNP project AFANet and
the group is working actively on the following 'Workpackages':
-
developing assessment and certification
of foreign languages specifically for UCARS students within
a European framework
-
providing Professional Development courses
for language teachers at UCARS
-
providing ICT training for language teachers
at UCARS
-
working to improve communication between
subject specialists and language teachers at UCARS and to identify
common projects
Can you join in?
One of our main goals has always been to stimulate discussion and
exchange of experience among this particular group of language teachers!
We are a small group and are constantly looking for new members
and new ideas.
Activities during Dissemination
Year 2003/04
Questionnaires:
- Questionnaire
on language co operation at UCARS
- Fragebogen
zur Kooperation im Bereich Sprachunterricht an agrar- und naturwissenschaftlichen
Hochschulen
- Questionnaire
on language testing in Europe
HERMES-Flyer
Newsletters:
- Hermes Newsletter 2000/01
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2001/01
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2001/02
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2002/01
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2002/02
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2003/01
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2003/02
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2004/01
(PDF-File)
- Hermes Newsletter 2004/02
(PDF-File)
Useful links
Further Information
Activities of other Institutions
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HERMES - Language Teaching at Universities and Colleges of
Agricultural and Related Sciences
|
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| is part of AFANet -
Thematic Network in Agricultural and Related Sciences |
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