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Project Recommendations

• RLN SW seeks funding to create further cross-sector partnership projects across the region to promote language and cultural skills in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. 

• LSC prioritise the development of an initial award in cultural skills, including an element of foreign language, to be nationally accredited and funded.  This would be suitable for pre- and in-service training. 

• Volunteering capacity for people with high level language and cultural skills be developed through a partnership between RLN SW and the voluntary sector, to provide quality assurance, infrastructure, training and opportunity. 

• Dorset Adult Education Service develop a course for Volunteer Languages Classroom Assistants and introduce this type of volunteering into their mainstream provision. 

• RLN SW seek to sustain project activities through feeding volunteers into locally funded ESF training provision. 

• RLN SW join the list of key players in Olympic thematic groups, so that its specialist advice is readily available and achieves a high profile. 

In the Experian report commissioned by the LSC in 2007, The Skills Impact of the 2012 sailing events, intercultural skills are not mentioned alongside languages. It states: "There will need to be appropriate, flexible, quality provision of education and training in hospitality/customer service, marine leisure, business administration and languages." (p33).

Our experience confirms the importance of intercultural competence, as a means to offer improved customer service. In-service training will be required for permanent or seasonal staff to develop their cultural and language awareness.

Forward-thinking companies in tourism are beginning to recognise the benefits of language and cultural skills in their business planning eg, accommodation providers. The following paragraphs give examples of what a cultural and language module should contain. This can be adapted for use in a Volunteer Passport or as part of other accredited training.

Language courses-volunteers

These should involve training session of 3-4 hours, with a selection from these activities:-

• Using the European Language Portfolio as a model, learners could complete their language biography to draw from and build on previous experience

• Generic or specific cultural briefing with hands-on activities and access to first-hand experience should be included

• Trainers should be specialist tutors and volunteers

• Some verbal and non-verbal communications awareness should be included

• There should be an introduction to cultural differences

• Basic phrases in chosen language(s) can be taught by peer learners, volunteers or tutors

• There should be an emphasis upon providing improved customer experience.

Short work-related training courses in languages.

This is based on experience of working with the National Sailing Academy using language volunteers to enrich the training.

• Courses should be from 3 hours upwards, starting with basic phrases

• Language volunteers should be used to enrich tutor-led learning

• Training should be integrated with work-based materials, eg, signs, maps

• More intensive courses over a weekend or 2-3 days could be considered.

General comment

The RLN SW has been pleased to develop this project for the LSC and hopes that we will be able to work together in the future. Some ideas that can be developed from the project are attached to this report.

This project sowed seeds on how cultural understanding can be used to improve community cohesion. Our experience of using native speakers as classroom assistants has been extremely positive, as has running a course on Islamic Diet and Culture. It is these small acts that can move out into the wider community to promote understanding and tolerance.

Work with Paragon ITE (the largest provider of work-based learning in the Dorset sub-region) has raised awareness of the importance of the language and cultural skill set for employees across all their training sectors involved in staging the Olympics. This training could be provided as part of the drive to fill skills gaps identified in retail, hospitality, sport and transport.

For businesses working in a global economy experience of other cultures is essential, whether this is for developing products or for recruiting employees. This is in addition to its importance to international trade and in-bound tourism.

Training in languages and cultural awareness will provide an important legacy of transferable skills for the regional economy up to, during and after 2012.

- Gwyneth Leonard
Manager, RLN SW - August 2007