National Open Education Week in Lithuania 7-8 March, 2016

Contributing to the initiative of European Commission on “Opening up education”, National Open Education Week is organized in Lithuania for the first time. National Open Education week is organized by Lithuanian Distance and eLearning (LieDM) Association in collaboration with EDEN – European Distance and eLearning Network.

During National Open Education Week on March 8th, 2016 Vytautas Magnus University presents challenges of opening university for virtual mobility (as Erasmus+ project OUVM: Openning Universities for Virtual mobility results, project no. 2014-1-LT01-KA203-000550)

Events of the National Education Week March, 2016

(all times are local (Vilnius/ Helsinki/ Athens) CET+1 hour)

Opening universities through vitual mobility. Moderator – Airina Volungevičienė, VMU

https://ac.vdu.lt/vm

11:00 – 11:15 OUVM project presentation, Airina Volungevičienė, VMU
11:15 – 11:30 UNIOVI Open portal for sharing Asturian culture, an experience on improving sociocultural aspects on a VM experience, Aquilino Juan Fuente, University of Oviedo
11:30 – 11:45 Open professional collaboration for VM program development, Margarita Teresevičienė, VMU
11:45 – 12:00 VM organization and management, Estela Daukšienė, VMU
12:00 – 12:10 Discussion with participants

Webinar record: https://ac.vdu.lt/p5py3q1yycc

VMU Celebrated the European Day of Languages in the VMU Kaunas Botanical Garden

The 25th of September was marked by the annual celebration of the European Day of Languages at Vytautas Magnus University. This time the Institute of Foreign Languages invited the VMU community and guests to the VMU Botanical Garden where the tournament of orienteering was held in the open air. Members of the orienteering teams competed for the 2nd IFL cup “Fight for a Language”.

19 teams, 6 of which were from various Kaunas schools, fought for the title of the smartest. Each student and pupil group represented different languages and demonstrated extraordinary inventiveness in presenting themselves. Slogans in English, Lithuanian, Latvian, Japanese, Spanish, Italian and other languages could be heard everywhere. Each team also showed different attributes and symbols of the represented country – students of the Italian language decorated themselves with Italian national flags, students of Japanese wore stylized head ornaments and had martial art sticks. The youngest pupils representing the Lithuanian language and bearing the slogan “We are paving the road to the native language” stood out in bright vests.

In the course of the tournament, teams not only had to find different spots of the botanical garden, but also solved puzzles that required all possible knowledge in languages and cultures. According to the Director of the VMU Institute of Foreign Languages, assoc. prof. dr. Vilma Bijeikienė preparation of the tournament tasks and the places to be visited were predetermined by the garden environment itself. A Turkish hazel, trees typical only of North America, an oak planted to honour the President of Poland with the inscription in Polish and Lithuanian can be found in the garden. V. Bijeikienė expressed her happiness not only in connection to the advantageous venue but also about the support of the botanical garden staff during the event.

While waiting for the competition results and the announcement of the cup winners, the participants and guests took part in presentations of different cultures, tasted the celebration cake and herbal tea and listened to the concert of the VMU Musical Academy students.

Three pupil and three student teams were rewarded. The guest team from Juozas Dobkevičius pro-gymnasium who fought for the English language won the first place. The student team “Viva Italia” was the first among other student teams. They won the big prize – the opportunity to study one language of the 30 offered by VMU Institute of Foreign Languages free of charge.

It is not the first time that we are inventively celebrating the European Day of Languages at VMU by cherishing nature and promoting healthy life style. Last year students were invited to participate in the basketball tournament and fight for different languages. In 2012 owing to the VMU IFL a Lithuanian record was achieved – an open multilingual lesson, the biggest in the number of participants, the languages taught and the teachers who delivered them in their native language, was held in Vienybės square.

The European Day of Languages is officially celebrated on the 26th of September by the decision of the European Council.

Vigilija Žiūraitė

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Sustainable Multilingualism: Language, Culture And Society

Good competence of several languages has become one of the key characteristics of the 21st century citizen. The purpose of every contemporary higher education institution is to provide opportunities for graduates to acquire communicative skills in several languages to enable them to maintain intercultural dialogue and be competitive in the international academic, scientific and labour market.

On the 29-30^th of May, 2015, Language Teachers’ Association of Lithuania (LKPA) together with VMU Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) is organizing the 9th LKPA and the 3rd VMU IFL international scientific conference SUSTAINABLE MULTILINGUALISM: LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY and welcomes everyone who intends to share their insights into research in and opinions about multilingualism from the perspectives of language, culture and society.

Language Teachers’ Association of Lithuania (LKPA), founded in 2006 by Kaunas Technological University, Klaipeda University, Association of the Lithuanian Language Teachers, Public Service Language Centre, Vilniaus kolegija/University of Applied Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University and Foreign Languages Institute (Vilnius University), aims at protecting and promoting the Lithuanian language and multilingualism in Lithuania, developing tolerance in multicultural society and helping teachers improve professional competence and qualification.

The Institute of Foreign Languages at Vytautas Magnus University has an exceptional experience in Lithuania and Europe in the development of plurilingual competence: a variety of language courses (more than 30 languages offered), intensive blended language teaching and learning, use of modern language teaching methods, integrated language and culture courses, initiatives of non-formal language learning and research into multilingualism. The experience challenges us to initiate a dialogue among different stakeholders promoting language policy development, searching for solutions to urgent problems and sharing best practices.

More about conference:

Webinar: “EPALE portal. Usage of Creative Commons for OER”

May 7th, 2015 15.00-17.00 PM will be organized webinar “EPALE portal. Usage of Creative Commons for Open Educational Resources”. During this webinar EPALE portal for Lithuania will be presented by Elena Trepule, Vytautas Magnus University. Also usage of Creative Commons for Open Educational Resources will be presented by Marius Sadausas, Vytautas Magnus University.

CreativeCommons licenses types and licensing

“Primavera en español” Is Back with a Jubilee Celebration

VMU festival of Spanish language and culture “Primavera en español” is coming back to Kaunas for the fifth consecutive year to be enjoyed over a period of 20-30 April. This major festival of Spanish culture in Lithuania is celebrating its first (5-year) jubilee with a fascinating variety of events.

Given that the main focus of the current festival is friendship across cultures, special attention is paid not only to Spanish culture, but also to all Hispanic countries in Latin America, to Italy as a closely related Mediterranean neighbour of Spain and to Lithuania where more and more Spanish-speaking people find their happiness. According to VMU student Gintarė Labotakytė, who is one of the organisers of the festival, the unique offer of 30 languages at VMU creates a favourable environment for learning about various cultures and cherishing cultural diversity. For her, “Primavera en español” is not only a two-week fiesta, but a festival of breaking stereotypes and fostering tolerance as well.

The opening of the festival will take place on 20 April when the organisers, participants and honourable guests of the event traditionally convene in VMU Aula Magna. The opening ceremony will include a greeting word by the representatives of the Spanish Embassy in Vilnius, an overview of the rich and diverse five-year history of „Primavera en español“ and a bouquet of inspiring and heart-warming Spanish songs from Giedrė Kelpšaitė. At the end of the opening event everybody will be offered some Spanish treat!

A significant novelty of this festival is a visit of a young, successful businessman Ignacio Ibarra Mendoza who is invited by the organisers of “Primavera en español” particularly to enrich the festival events with an insider’s view to Spanish culture. Mr. Ignacio Ibarra Mendoza will reveal his secret of how to be a successful businessman even in the time of economic crises by sharing his amazing story.

At the event of friendship across cultures Spaniards who have been living in Lithuania for quite a long time will share their impressions and experience of falling in love with Lithuania – the country of enduring rain and an omnipresent passion for basketball. As usual, “Primavera en español” will provide plenty of space for creativity and self-expression: VMU student Justė Kazbaraitytė will present her paintings which have been inspired by Spain. On the early Wednesday morning of 22 April a lecturer Gintarė Žukaitė will share her knowledge of Latin America. On 23 April, students will take part in the Spanish reading competition to celebrate the International Day of the Book. The first week of the festival will be completed with the contest on the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries where participants will have to really rack their brains to be the best.

At the beginning of the second week everyone will be invited to a Spanish breakfast relishing the opportunity to acquaint oneself with the marvellous cuisine of this country – bring your own home-made tortilla de patatas and join the competition! Further on agenda, a lecture of Spoken Spanish will teach the little known everyday phrases which will be useful when travelling or studying in Spain. High school students will not be forgotten as well. Rocío Cortes Gañan, who lives in Lithuania and promotes her native culture, will visit schools and teach the students some Spanish games. Differences and similarities of the apparently closely related countries – Spain and Italy – will be revealed and discussed by students who take courses of Spanish and Italian. To indulge oneself in a Mexican style rejoicing and festivity one is invited to a cheerful event at the restaurant “Agave” in Kaunas Old town.

A real Spanish fiesta will arrive at the culmination of the jubilee festival where Martynas Kavaliauskas, a rising star of Lithuania pop stage, will present his programme of Spanish songs. A festive cake and plenty of dancing are also awaiting your attention.

The festival is organized by Miguel de Cervantes Spanish Language and Culture Club and VMU Institute of Foreign Languages in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in Vilnius. Born in 2011, the idea of the Spanish festival in Kaunas has been annually returning with colourful and diverse events thanks to the effort and initiative of active students and lecturers.

Event on social page “Facebook”

Brochure part 1

Brochure part 2

VMU IFL culture and language school CLUE

CLUE_transparent

WHY CLUE COURSES?

improve your foreign language competence
develop cross-cultural communication and ICT skills
plunge into multicultural learning environment
enjoy international cultural programme activities
get a certificate of the achievement of your learning outcomes

Registration form to virtual CLUE courses

More about courses:

Academic English B1 Course Syllabus

Academic English B2 Course Syllabus

Sportive Way to Commemorate the European Day of Languages at Vytautas Magnus University

The European Day of Languages was commemorated on September 25, 26. VMU Institute of foreign languages which has been very inventive in celebrating this event for several years already together with Students Mission organized basketball tournament ‘’Fight for the Language’’.

According to the Director of the Institute professor Nemira Macianskiene, the European Day of Languages 2014 united two leading interests of VMU students: basketball and foreign languages. The recent World Basketball Championships in Spain suggested the topic for the event: basketball. The tournament took place in an unusual location- in the vicinity of Kaunas Zalgiris arena.

VMU students had been invited to register their basketball teams which were to compete for a selected language. 16 squads were formed representing the English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Latin and Lithuanian languages. The players were accompanied by the cheering groups. The fans of the Spanish language team stood out from the crowd with their creative chants while the fans of the English language team ‘’White Knights’’ were waving white balloons and flying colourful banners with the team slogan ‘’ Ball until you fall’’.

Vital fight started with the very first whistle of the referees, each team was trying to demonstrate the best basketball skills playing in teams of 3.In the atmosphere of emotions and noise, even the lecturers joined the ranks of fans accompanying every single point scored by their students with cheerful shouts. After the eighth finals were over the Spanish language students offered all the spectators to move a little dancing Macarena.

The Lithuanian and German languages teams met in the final. The squad with bizarre title ‘’Never losing’’ won with the final score 16:9. Team players Lukas Grabauskas, Rokas stankevicius and Paulius Danisevicius were awarded by Professor Nemira Macianskiene with winner cups and language coupons giving them an opportunity to learn one of the 30 foreign languages taught at the Institute of foreign languages. The second place holder team ‘’ Historiker’’ enjoyed the prizes as well.

Basketball tournament was not the only event at the university meant to commemorate the European Day of languages. The Institute lecturers together with international students visited Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis, Garliava Juozas Luksa and VMU ‘’Rasa’’ gymnasiums. Visiting students from Spain, Czech Republic, The Netherlands and South Korea presented their countries culture and gave students a unique possibility to get acquainted with the primers of various languages.

Two more events took place on September 25. The Norwegian language lecturer U. Mikucionis gave a lecture on supernatural creatures in Scandinavian mythology, while M. De Cervantes Spanish language club initiated the cycle ‘’Leaving her trace in the world culture history’’ dedicated to celebrated Spanish Language professor Birute Ciplijauskaite.

The European Day of Languages by the decree of the European Council is commemorated on September 26.

Vigilija Ziuraite

Photos by Jonas Petronis (j.petronis@vkt.vdu.lt).

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VMU to Launch Language School CLUE

VMU presents Culture & Language: Unique Experience (CLUE), a new language school which will be organized four times a year in the summer, autumn, winter and spring. The courses are available in two forms: as a language school of English, German and Russian in the summer and winter and a language school of English in the autumn and spring.

CLUE courses are intended to help participants improve their foreign language competences, develop cross-cultural communication and ICT skills, make use of the multicultural learning environment at VMU, and enjoy the activities of the international cultural programme. At the end of the courses, a certificate is issued in recognition of the achieved outcome of the studies.

The programme focuses not only on languages, but on culture and social events as well: those who take the courses will enjoy opportunities to feel the spirit of Lithuanian culture in Cultural Nights, international parties, film screenings etc., and discover the Lithuanian beauty in guided trips.

The courses organized in the summer and winter take 5 weeks and include English, German and Russian, while the autumn and spring versions are 16-week English language schools.

More details about the courses are available in the section “Language Schools”.

For more information please contact the organizers by e-mail (language@trt.vdu.lt).

About VMU Language Schools

Days from Dimashq

Are you interested in Middle Eastern culture? Have you always wanted to try Syrian food or wondered how your name would look like in Arabic alphabet? If your answer is yes, than Red Cross together with VMU Institute of Foreign Languages and university based organization IDEA invite you to a set of the events dedicated to the capital city of Syria. Come and feel, touch and taste the Arabic culture here in Kaunas!

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon to Receive VMU Honorary Doctorate

The United Nations Secretary General His Excellency Ban Ki-moon will be visiting Lithuania for the first time ever on 16–18 November. On 17 November, one of the world’s leading diplomatic officers will hold a lecture and will be awarded VMU Honorary Doctor’s Degree in Political Sciences.

“Conferral of Vytautas Magnus University’s Honorary Doctorate to the leader of the United Nations is a consistent and responsible step by Lithuania, which reflects its aim to collaborate closely with this global organization”, explained the Chairman of VMU Council, former President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus.

The VMU Honorary Doctorate award ceremony for HE Ban Ki-moon will take place on Sunday 17 November, 3 p.m., at VMU Great Hall (S. Daukanto St. 28, Kaunas).

More at VMU website.