The MAR-LANG project mission is aiming to meet the dynamic needs of the stakeholders including students, industry and society, in parallel with the changing professional realities of the modern world from the maritime education sector, by developing a harmonized framework for teaching the French and English languages within the European Maritime Training and Education system.
In the maritime environment, where an adequate mastering of foreign languages is one of the requirements for competent and educated professionals, the project will develop a web-based digital platform seeking to encourage students enrolled in maritime-specific study programs to use proper and correct French-English maritime terminology in maritime communication. The project is aiming to comply with The Common European Framework of References for Languages: Learning Teaching, Assessment, Chapter 6 on language learning and teaching, paragraph 4 regarding the methodological options for modern language learning and teaching (6.4.7.5) to implement in the maritime field.
The learning platform designed as a virtual campus and its content will be the result of the joint effort and experience of the project partners and one of the outcomes of this project. The project is addressed not only with regard to the prospective merchant and military navy officers, but also in the case of professionals working in the port, who play an equally important role to support the maritime industry.
French-English maritime terminology should therefore be regarded as an important subject for academic maritime-specific programs since promoting language acquisition could enhance the efficiency and quality of maritime services in the EU. The learning tool will also increase students’ self-esteem, personal self-analysis, awareness of their own potential, and change of attitude towards self and education helping them to better prepare for the labour market and to increase the opportunities for accessing the desired job. In the context of the current crisis created by COVID 19, it is even more important to focus on developing digital courses and creating virtual learning platforms. A prerequisite for such cooperation are best practices and knowledge sharing, education, keeping up with new technological achievements, and the development of information systems.
