Why do some people learn a new language easily, while others struggle?  Why do some individuals have no interest in a language, while others become enthusiastic for it? How can the status of a language be elevated? These are the main questions addressed by the researchers involved in the "Language Bridges" project, both at EURAC and its partner institutions.

Project Description - Main Issues:
The project aims at deepening four common issues:
1. motivation and attitudes in language learning
2. status of languages
3. language and new technologies
4. raise awareness on language learning
In addition, public discussions and expert meetings address the role of languages in border regions.

Dialogues & Conference:
A series of public discussions and expert meetings in the participating regions are organised to stimulate broader language consciousness. An important goal is to strengthen consciousness in the population that linguistic variety in a united Europe is culturally valuable, as well as economically important.

Project Partners and Financing
Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol
Marc Bloch University, Conseil Régional d'Alsace, Strasbourg, France
Catholic University of Lublin, Poland
University of Basle, Switzerland
General Direction for Universities and Language Politics of the Navarra Region, Pamplona, Spain
Komotinì University, border region Delta-Rhodopi, Thrace, Greece

The project is conducted as part of the European Community Interreg IIIC initiative within the Regional Framework Operation "Change on Borders".

Timespan: 2005-2006

last update 13.12.2006