Multilingualism is a central EU priority; the AlphaEU project contributes to the further development of this essential educational area by promoting Early Language Learning (ELL) through the development and implementation of ELL practices in a systematic and organised way. The project builds upon theoretical underpinnings that are associated with the way young children become aware about and begin to learn new languages. Research shows that young children learn languages in intuitive ways, such as creative exploration stimulated by curiosity. The younger children are when they are exposed to different languages, the greater their ability to develop a feeling for the rhythm, phonology, and intonation of these languages.
AlphaEU uses digital media (ICT-supported image, sound, video, animation, hypertext, etc.) to enhance interactivity, stimulate curiosity, and encourage children to explore differences and similarities between languages and begin to formulate general ideas about how languages work. One of the project’s innovative aspects is its equal focus on comparing language symbols (i.e. letters) in correlation to sounds.

The AlphaEU project aims to:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of ELL practices in a more systematic and organised way.
• Make pedagogical ELL materials more widely available to parents and teachers.
• Enhance equity in children’s access to ELL education.
• Support pluralism in terms of the number of languages offered for ELL.
• Contribute to an improved communication and collaboration between families and the school in pre-primary ELL.
• Inform and train pre-primary staff and parents regarding the value and pedagogy of ELL.

The project partners are:

• CARDET
• The Language Center S.R.L. (TLC)
• Meath Partnership (MCRSDP)
• Instituto Politecnico de Castelo Branco (IPCB)
• Innovade Li Ttd
• International Council for Educational Media (ICEM)
• University of Pitesti (UPIT)

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
[Project Number: 531092-LLP-2012-CY-KA2-KA2MP]