IATEFL Learner Autonomy Special Interest Group
A website to share news and resources related to learner autonomy.
Self-access around the world
The Multingual Centre of Bolzano and Multimedia Language Centre of Merano, Italy
| Institution | The Multilingual Centre of Bolzano and the Multimedia Language Centre of Merano are the first public self-access language centres in Italy. The former came into existence in the 1980s with the aim of supporting teachers of German as a second language in the province of South Tyrol. |
| Users | Over the years the Multilingual Centre has evolved into a multilingual self-access centre, thus responding not only to language teachers' needs but also to those of autonomous language learners and offering resources for more than 10 languages. In 2002 the Multimedia Language Centre of Merano was set up. The unusual complete absence of books in its collection is supported by the use of new media and technologically advanced supports for autonomous language learners and teachers. |
| Purpose |
The main objective of the two centres is fostering independent, autonomous language learning, through a learner-centred, technology-centred and method-centred approach, an open and accessible advisory service, learning pathways and strategies, multimedia resources, and promoting non-formal and informal language learning pathways. |
| Facilities and materials | The resources available in the centres - language courses on cd-rom, dvd-rom and USB sticks, films, audiobooks, educational and edutainment videogames, music, etc. - can be borrowed for home-use or used on site, thanks to the PCs, televisions, iPods and game consoles available in the centres. Moreover, free on-line resources, such as web sites and podcasts, are offered as versatile resources for self-study as well as for class use. |
| Features | In order to keep pace with technological development and to offer an ever-wider choice of multimedia resources, the two centres also provide a free advisory service, both on purely technological issues (multimedia tutor) and for language learning. Among the aims of the two centres is the promotion of innovative projects related to language learning, and in particular of non-formal and informal learning pathways. . Some examples include: Language Through Cinema, Language Through Art and Kids Corner. |
| More
information |
Multilingual Centre, Via
Cappuccini 28, 39100, Bolzano - Italy centromultilingue@provincia.bz.it
Language Centre, Piazza
della Rena 10, 39012, Merano - Italy mediatecamerano@provincia.bz.it
|
Want to feature your self access center here? Contact Jo Mynard
[ Become a member ]