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8 Linguistic preparation ✓ CLES, TOEFL and TOEIC certifications, and the preparations for these
qualifications
✓ intercultural events throughout the academic year.
Today, one of the requirements linked to the international dimension of training ✓ conversation workshops
is the acquisition of language and intercultural skills, especially in professional ✓ tandems
situations.
To take a course abroad under good conditions, it is necessary to master the Cultural Institutes
language of the host country, or the language used by the organization. It is These institutes aim to promote the culture, education and language of some
therefore important to prepare well in advance of the course. European countries. There are resources to assess, prepare for tests or
Many resources can improve the level of language: self-assessment tools, examinations, take courses in a classroom or online, etc
language platforms, online courses, websites and linguistic and intercultural ÷ Institut Cervantes :
exchange associations. www.cervantes.to/french/test_inicial.html

European tools for the assessment of language skills ÷ Goethe Institut:
Among the five documents of the Europass, the objective of which is to facilitate www.goethe.de/ins/fr/fr/sta.html
the expression of skills and qualifications in Europe, the language passport allows ÷ British Council :
for the evaluation and listing of language skills: www.britishcouncil.fr
europass.cedefop.europa.eu/fr ÷ Italian cultural institutes: www.esteri.it/mae/it/politica_estera/cultura/
reteiic.html
An example of a Skills Booklet has been developed in the context of the Erasmus+
project PC IMPRESS. This allows skills acquired in the course of international The ESN network: Erasmus Student Network
mobility projects to be recorded, including at linguistic level: yourcompetences. This international network aims to promote international mobility among young
com/boite à outils/avant départ/tests linguistiques people and to participate in the integration of international students by encouraging
them to open up to the culture of the host country and to that of Europe. It offers
The Erasmus+ platform of linguistic preparation a system which allows for discussion, to open up to other cultures as well as to
The European Commission has established the Online Linguistic Support (OLS) improve the level of language by sponsoring an international student: ixesn.fr/
device within the Erasmus+ programme: this is a linguistic test and preparation buddysystem
platform for students undertaking an Erasmus+ mobility in studies or courses:
erasmusplusols.eu Linguistic tandems
Tests before and after the mobility are mandatory for all beneficiaries of the The principle of the tandem is based on reciprocity: learning or improving a
Erasmus+ programme. The results do not, however, affect either the departure foreign language while helping the tandem partner to learn the mother tongue.
abroad or the payment of the Erasmus+ grant. The first test opens access to free, Exchanges can be done online or direct.
unlimited courses on the platform, the second allows progress to be measured Examples of tandem sites:
÷ seagull-tandem.eu/
University language centres ÷ tandem-linguistique.org/
The University Language Centres are open to students who wish to learn, revive,
maintain or develop one or more languages. They normally offer different schemes: ÷ www.tandem.net/fr/
✓ language courses ÷ www.ofaj.org/cours-binationaux-en-tandem (franco-allemand)
✓ self-training programmes ÷ polyglotclub.com
✓ transverse teaching units (EUs) which allow the question of interculturality
and language learning to be addressed

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