Developing European Language Portfolio for the Deaf
2. Project Parners
ECET – European Centre for Education and Training
ECET’s activities include developing and implementing language training programmes, vocational courses, IT, computer and management training. Promoter and coordinator, ECET is responsible for all project management activities. It develops and hosts the project website; takes part in the Analysis of needs, constraints, practices and challenges to the deaf or hard of hearing learners of languages; the development of all Deaf Port materials; the Piloting, Translation and Production phase; Dissemination, Exploitation and Quality Assurance activities. ECET assures implementation of the project products in the training curricula both for the teachers and for the deaf and hard of hearing learners.
Boian Savtchev, the coordinator of the project has experience in developing and implementing training programmes, teaching and training tools; training of trainers;
training through the use of ICT; assessment and evaluation; developing and coordinating educational and training projects.
Secondary Special School for the Deaf
The Special School for the Deaf in Sofia was found by a German teacher of the Deaf Ferdinand Urbih in 1898. It is the first school for Deaf students on the Balkan Peninsula and the biggest special school in Bulgaria. There are individual classes as well as group work for speech – hearing rehabilitation, musical stimulation, and phonetic rhythmic and motors skills in the kindergarten.
Human Resource Development Centre
The HRDC is host institution (National Agency) for Lifelong Learning Programme decentralised actions, European language label initiative, National Europass Centre, National Euroguidance Centre, National Support Services for the eTwinning action and Refernet – the EU network for sharing expertise and experience in VET. HRDC activities are related to administration of EU Education and training programmes in Bulgaria; projects coordination, preparation of analysis and development of databases in the field of Education, Training and Labour market; information and dissemination of European policy initiatives and good practical examples; valorisation of successful projects in national and regional context; dissemination of Bulgarian experience through good practical examples of projects and policy initiatives in the field of Education and training in EU context .
University of West Bohemia in Pilsen
The University of West Bohemia is a public higher educational institution created in 1991. It has 7 faculties covering fields such as Applied Sciences (applied mathematics, applied biomechanics, computer science, and mechanics), Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Economy, Fine Arts, Education, Philosophy and Law and Public Administration. The university has 907 staff members and 17270 students. It provides education in seven fields of study focusing on applied research and development, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning both in the Czech Republic and abroad. It supports scientific, technical and humanitarian orientated innovation applicable in everyday life and creative partnership with the public as well as the private sector on national and international level.
International Certificate Conference (ICC)
The ICC is a non-government organisation with participatory status at the Council of Europe whose mission is to promote and improve the learning and teaching of languages in post 16+ education and lifelong learning through joint developments and the good practice of its members. With 45 members in 18 countries, the ICC represents the field of language learning and teaching at a local and regional level through individuals, institutions and networks of members, at national level through involvement in national initiatives and government committees, and at an international level through activities and representations at the European Commission, the Council of Europe and other supra-national bodies.
Institute for Language and Speech Processing
The Institute for Language and Speech Processing (ILSP) was founded in Athens (Greece) in 1991 under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Research and Technology of the Ministry of Development. LSP / R.C. "Athena" develops technologies on the following
axes: digital monolingual, multilingual and multimedia corpora and dictionaries, computational lexical databases; ext processing and analysis for information retrieval and knowledge extraction; multimodal and multilingual information processing and retrieval;
machine translation and translation aid tools; stand-alone and integrated voice recognition and text-to-speech systems; assistive technologies for disabled persons; digital curation and presentation of cultural content; multimedia e-learning platforms for language and music.
Public Service Language Centre
PSLC was established in 1994 by a number of international organisations (UNDP, British Council) and the Latvian government. PSLC has expertise in language training – English, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Latvian as a foreign language.
The University of Westminster - Department of Diplomacy and Applied Languages
The Department specialises in the teaching of languages at all levels and contains many experts and published authors in the field of language teaching. It offers 26 languages from beginner to postgraduate level (the largest selection in any UK HE institution). DDAL runs an MA in International Liaison and Communication which places a strong emphasis on intercultural competence. The department also provides bespoke training in language, intercultural competence and professional expertise to diverse professional groups ranging from the Beijing Police to Diplomats from the UAE. All staff at the University of Westminster are trained in facilitating learning for those with disabilities as part of our diversity programme.
Language Training London
Language Training London (LTL) offers applied linguistic consultancy for specific target groups, such as the military, interpreters, the disabled, and agriculture.
Projects have involved all countries in Europe, and many in the Far East, Middle East and Africa.
The University of Piteşti
The university has approx. 19,000 students, 800 teaching & administrative staff and 10 faculties offering Bachelor diploma, Master diploma and Doctor diploma. Areas of activity: education & training; scientific & applicative research; guidance & counselling;
professional orientation; international co-operation in different fields; publishing activities.
The University of Piteşti is actually involved into a series of transnational cooperation projects. It represents a strong educational factor for the SMEs in the region. These are usually searching its support in solving their economical, technological or managing problems. This way it has developed a collaborative network of partners. This network interconnects the university with the main employers and the local economic agents in the region.
References
Bellugi, Ursula & Klima, and Edward S. - What the Hands Reveal about the Brain, Cambridge, Massachusetts/London, 1987
Crystal, David -The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, 1997 Heiling, Kerstin - Education of the Deaf in Sweden, in: Brelje, H. William (ed.) – Global
Perspectives on the Education of the Deaf in Selected Countries", Butte Publications, Oregon, U.S.A., 1999
Sallop, Marvin B. - Pantomime and Gesture to Signed English, in: Stokoe, William C. (ed.) - Sign and Culture - A Reader for Students of American Sign Language, Linstok Press, Maryland, USA, 1980
4th International Conference "Education Facing Contemporary World Issues"
Piteşti, Romania, 2010, 2010, October