The project

EuroCatering Language Training - a web-based interactive language course and social platform in 7 languages for the catering sector

This web-based language course will enable the student to learn vocabulary and communicative skills for placement abroad in a kitchen or restaurant. Realistic interactions with an animated chef and manager are the main ingredients of this course. The product also includes a portal which students will use to consult extra reference material about their placement, or to report on their stay abroad by means of a blog, photo album or video material.

Our target group consists of trainees and professionals in the catering industry. Available languages are English, French, Spanish, Galician, Dutch, Norwegian and Slovenian.

All developed materials may be used independently or as an add-on to any language course in the professional sector.

Project leaflet

Download the project leaflet in any of these languages:

English

Español

Français

Galego

Nederlands

Norsk

Slovenščina

Project history

An important new language-training project for transnational placement trainees in the catering industry was developed in 2006-2008, with funding of almost € 400,000 from the EU Leonardo da Vinci programme (EU Education and Culture division).

A project team from seven countries - Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain, have collaborated on devising and producing a web-based language-training package for EU trainee catering students.

The training materials are a direct response to the shortfall in the provision of language and cultural preparation for placement students. The training package has been based on the needs identified through surveys/questionnaires submitted by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and trainees in the catering industry, as well as promoters of transnational mobility projects and short-term placement trainees.

The two-year EuroCatering Language Training Project was formally launched in Galway (IE) on Thursday 9th November 2006. Its aim was to launch a web designed course, which provides audio-communicative scenes with a variety of situations, which relate to the demands observed in service in the catering industry. The official presentation conference took place in Antwerp and Mons (Belgium) in October 2008.

The project intended to raise awareness and training through foreign languages, not only through English, French and Spanish but also through the lesser-used languages - Norwegian, Slovenian and Dutch.

The product was designed and developed by language teachers and catering trainers in the seven selected higher education and vocational schools in the seven participating countries.

The web-based language training package is available for free to all vocational training organisations, hotel groups and SME's in the catering industry.