Europublic - Institutional Case Studies

LACE - Languages and Cultures in Europe

Europublic, in collaboration with an academic team from 12 European Member State universities, completed a study for the European Commission, DG Education and Culture, on the intercultural skills taught in foreign language courses at each stage of compulsory education in primary and lower secondary education, called LACE, Languages and Cultures in Europe.

The Final Report together with its Annxes is now available in German, English and French on DG EAC's website. A dedicated website www.lace2007.eu allows access to the research data.

...“the teaching of foreign languages can be enhanced by the proper promotion of intercultural competence alongside linguistic skills”.

The authors conclude from the study’s findings that, as a matter of principle, the teaching of foreign languages can be enhanced by the proper promotion of intercultural competence alongside linguistic skills. To pursue this aim, certain steps can best be taken at the European level. They concern the areas of strategy on the one hand and mobility, professional development and teaching resources on the other.

Other steps can best be taken at the Member State level. These cover the areas of strategy and administration, initial teacher education, professional development of teachers, curriculum design (including assessment) and teaching and learning resources.