• EU-funded consortium of 8 Israeli and 6 EU institutions.
• Connects Israeli and European experts in the field of English language learning and assessment.

Project leader: Dr. Linda Weinberg, ORT Braude College, Karmiel.[wptab name=”Need for Change”]

In today’s age of globalization, English is the language of international communication. Many of today’s graduates will need levels of English that enable them to:

• communicate with colleagues, clients or customers.
• exchange emails.
• persuasively present their ideas and points of view.
• participate in videoconference calls.

Since the 1980’s, Israeli tertiary level EFL courses have focused mainly on teaching comprehension of academic texts published in English. In today’s changing world, this narrow focus is no longer enough – understanding texts in English is only one of the skills that the 21^st workplace demands.

Graduates’ changing needs were clearly identified in two surveys conducted in the last five years.  Results showed that over  7,400 Israeli graduates and undergraduate participants viewed college and university English courses which focus mainly on reading comprehension as ‘irrelevant’ and inadequate preparation for their future careers.

[/wptab]
[wptab name=”ECOSTAR’s Main Goals”]

• Develop a new framework for English teaching in Israeli colleges and universities.
• Align a framework for English Teaching in Higher Education in Israel  with Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)  to conform with European standards, while satisfying the requirements of the Israeli Council for Higher Education (MALAG).
• Ensure that tertiary level EFL courses in Israel share a common goal – preparing students to communicate more effectively in English.

[/wptab]
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