International LATILL -Level-Adequate Texts in Language Learning Project

under the ERASMUS+ programme of the European Union's KA220 (Strategic Partnership for School Education)

Project registration number: 2021 - 1- AT01 - KA220 - SCH – 000029604

The project lasts 36 months (01/05/2022 - 30/04/2025)

The LATILL project aims to support teachers of German as a foreign language or German as a second language in teaching reading competence. To this end, digital tools will be developed to enable the search for texts of a certain level, of the required subject matter, for different teaching/learning contexts and for different categories of learners. The digital tools will be introduced and evaluated within the framework of international teacher training events.

The development of reading competence in German as a foreign language depends to a large extent on the selection of texts. The texts for reading should be relevant, authentic and, most importantly, appropriate to the level of the students' knowledge in order to increase their motivation and quality of reading. A web search engine is being developed to enable online search for texts of the appropriate levels and topics. The classification of texts corresponds to the GER levels and is based on the development of a GER reference corpus with German-language texts. Digital tools will be made freely available on an online platform for teachers of German as a foreign language and German as a second language, including search and analysis functions as well as supporting tools and materials for working with authentic texts.

Empirical studies will accompany the process of teachers' use of the developed tools and materials in their teaching and will allow to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the tools and materials and their improvement.

LATILL addresses the critical need to improve foreign language reading skills, recognising the importance of adapting materials to the language level of each learner. The project aims to provide foreign language teachers with digital tools to select texts at the appropriate level for different classes and students, promoting effective language learning and overcoming language barriers in an increasingly connected world.

The project is being rolled out in three phases: tool development, teacher trials, and platform improvements based on feedback. The LATILL platform, equipped with a search engine for selecting texts at the appropriate level, aims to strengthen teachers' positions by offering professional development modules and facilitating a community of practice. The impact extends beyond the classroom, with LATILL conferences in four partner countries engaging teachers and trainers, and publications in academic journals contributing to the global debate on foreign language reading.

In the era of personalised education, LATILL is emerging as a distinguished initiative, showing the way to effective language learning through customised, leveled texts. The project's innovative and collaborative approach positions it as an important player in the evolution of the language education landscape.

Advisory Board

The project boasts an impressive advisory board, which includes distinguished experts from institutions such as the University of Cologne, Seoul National University, DeutscheWelle, the University of Vienna, the University of Salzburg, USP Sao Paulo and the University of Bamberg.

Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University team in the project: Doctor of Pedagogy, Professor Bohdana LABINSKA (2022-2023), PhD, Associate Professor Tetiana KOROPATNITSKA (2022-present)