On 12-13 September 2018 thirty-nine experts from all over Europe and even from Canada met in Graz to discuss and exchange ideas on ways in which early language learning can be implemented.

During this workshop, entitled “Towards inspiring language learning and teaching in the early years”, the project’s website was launched. Applying the principle of “more is less”, the website aims to present the different sections in a clear and structured way which is easy to use. Guiding principles aim to develop a common understanding of what elements characterise language education in the early years; and examples of inspiring practice, educational resources, including ECML publications, allow different learning scenarios to be created for everyday use. The section dedicated to language learning myths and facts encourages a reflection of one’s own attitudes towards multilingualism/plurilingualism.

The response and feedback received from the workshop participants emphasised the importance and relevance of this project and the materials presented. The exchange and sharing of experiences enriched the discussion during the two-day workshop and confirmed the need for a platform that makes existing resources and projects accessible for a wider audience. This project is dynamic and evolving – based on the contributions and shared experiences of the different ECML member states.

The project team:
Flore Schank (project coordinator), Ingeborg Birnie, Deirdre Kirwan, Dana Musilova, Jakob Patekar

• Project website "Inspiring Language Learning – why it matters and what it looks like for children age 3 to 12": English – French

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