DOUBLE TROUBLE: INTEGRATED TEACHING OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

One of the eight competencies for lifelong learning defined by the EU Reference Framework is communication in foreign languages. Based on the assumption that formal education should prepare students for lifelong learning, foreign language learning (and teaching) at the graduate level of professional studies at the Baltazar Adam Krčelić College of Business and Management form Zaprešić, Croatia has moved into the area of LSP (Language for Specific Purposes) because of the demands of the students and the labour market. This paper will give an overview of this process.

The problem encountered was the lack of adequate teaching materials that would fit into the integrated model of teaching foreign languages and core courses. The solution was preparing our own materials that would be tailored according to the needs of our students and the specificities of our teaching reality, such as large multi-level groups and the dynamics of short intense courses.

The current result is one published LSP textbook (English for Project Management) and two textbooks in preparation. The emphasis in foreign languages teaching, and consequently in the preparation of teaching materials, is placed on combining foreign language competencies with the core subject competencies, while developing thinking skills and another EU Reference Framework competency – learning to learn.