Starting point

The development of immigrants’ language skills is a key factor in employment and integration. The ability to learn a language varies: some learn the language quickly through traditional means, while others need more support and more creative and practical methods. Learning the language needed in working life often remains detached from everyday work situations, which slows down attachment to work and the construction of a career path. The MAKU project has been formulated as a response to this challenge. The project sought solutions that would closely link language learning to work, work tasks and work communities and support long-term commitment to the employer.

Measures

The project developed Laurea’s 4L living lab (Language Learning Living Lab), which researches, tests and pilots new approaches to language learning together with an extensive network of partners.

The development work is based on the living lab approach, in which learners, experts and working life actors are actively involved in the co-creation of solutions.

Key measures:

• development of multisensory and tactical methods to support language learning
• Utilising virtual and augmented reality in learning situations
• developing solutions that support language socialisation and multilingual communication
• planning the teaching of precision language skills and professional language in cooperation with employers

The project promotes

• faster employment of immigrants
• the development of language skills needed in working life
• employees’ commitment to the workplace and work community
• employers’ capacity to support multilingual and multicultural work communities

Partners and roles

Language learners, language teaching experts, language technology developers, employers, third sector actors and providers of integration and employment services are widely involved in the development of the project.

Partners

Laurea University of Applied Sciences, project coordinator and living lab method expert

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences Ltd, which brings its expertise in simulation pedagogy and virtual learning environments to the project

Arffman Oy, which is particularly responsible for the development of online working life-oriented language teaching and the testing and piloting of solutions

Lingsoft Oy, which is developing language technology solutions based on linguistic research in the project