INTEGRATION OF YOUNG REFUGEES Using mobile devices leading to better language acquisition and relevant career guidance

"context and background of the project:The so-called refugees' crisis is not a crisis, but a challenge to governments, societies and individuals all across Europe. And it is a European challenge not a national challenge. Many politicians draw attention to the fact that solutions and problem solving strategies can only be joint European approaches, not steps taken by any single country. Obviously the educational system in each country has to react, and to adopt. This project concentrates on the integration of young refugees in the VET-sector, and it wants to build up a network and connect stakeholders in order to share experiences and best practices. This YouRNI-project •addresses various aspects when it comes to second language learning with young refugees;•has a special focus on vocational language learning and didactics of L2 acquisition and integration training;•shares best practices of different countries about how to help refugees enter the labour market;•uses of educational biographies and other screening measures and in order to encourage the use of Europass.objectives:The main objective of the project is the better integration of young refugees. Therefore YouRNI focusses on two crucial aspects: 1.using mobile devices leading to better language acquisition; selecting, evaluating, testing and disseminating language learning apps that have proven to be successful in the language learning classroom; enhancing the individual learning time of each learner and improving the usage of these apps by creating accompanying materials for learning outside the classroom, e.g. written materials, ""explain-it"" videos or similar materials;2.relevant career guidance: using websites and links to and the expertise of the different project partners and spreading this expertise with the help of the project, among project partners, on a regional and national level through the project partners, and on a European level, e.g. with the help of an elaborated dissemination concept;project partners:•Berufliches Seminar Karlsruhe, Germany (coordinator)•Education Group, Austria•Escuela Professional Otxarkoaga, Spain (until November 2017)•Falun Borlänge Regionen AB, Sweden•Istanbul University, Turkey•Pädagogische Hochschule Zug, Switzerland (associate partner)•Veneto Lavoro, Italy•Ministry for Education Baden-Württemberg (associate partner)•Landesinstitut für Schulentwicklung Baden-Württemberg (associate partner until March 2018)•Profo VZW, Brussels (associate partner since May 2017)description of main activities:The main focus on transnational project meetings were two questionnaires leading to the usage and improvement of a learning package for learning inside and outside the classroom. A two-tier approach was the guideline, looking both into app-based language learning and career guidance supported by mobile devices. The training activities were as follows:1.Bilbao (May 2017): English as the European lingua franca for young refugees in order to participate actively in European politics and develop a better understanding of European common values;2.Bilbao (May/June 2017): examining and applying didactics of L2 acquisition using integration training as a means;3.Linz (June 2017): reviewing media and materials for young refugees in German-speaking countries;4.Veneto (October 2017): using educational biographies and Europass as a tool for career guidance to improve employability of young refugees;5.Karlsruhe (June 2018): designing a teacher training course for German as a Second Language, using ECTS as a European instrument in state-controlled teacher training;6.Karlsruhe (December 2018): developing a module on vocational language training for young refugees in order to raise language awareness for subject teachers and to foster intercultural competence;Besides, the project conducted a successful logo-contest among refugee classes to design YouRNI's project logo!results and impact attained:Main results are learning packages for each country, made up of best-practice regarding usage of learning apps and regarding career guidance. For more details follow http://www.yourni.eu/.long-term benefits:The project created an ever-expanding network of teachers focussing on teaching refugees. A sequence of 7 YouRNI-News informed the network and helped to connect. Other projects, e.g. UASM-Coach (Profo VZM, Brussels) and YouPädMe (Switzerland) connected to the project. In 2019, an Erasmus+ follow-up project was submitted and accepted by the German NA (YouALLS - Young Apprentices Need Language Learning Support, 2019-1-DE02-KA202-006468)."