The COMALAT approach to individualized E-learning in job-specific language competences

Abstract

COMALAT (Competence Oriented Multilingual Adaptive Language Assessment and Training) project aims to strengthen the mobility of young workers across Europe, by improving job-specific language competence tailored individually to particular needs. In this work we will concentrate on the COMALAT learning management system (LMS), which is a language learning system for Vocational Education and Training (VET). COMALAT LMS aims at providing learning material as an Open Educational Resource (OER) and is capable of self-adapting to the needs of different learners. Each learner is treated individually in acquiring new language skills related to job-specific competences. In addition, it is specifically tailored towards addressing competence areas, and therefore it is not a generic language learning platform. We discuss some technical details of the COMALAT platform and present the various aspects of system adaptability which tries to imitate the help provided by an instructor by observing the users' strengths, weaknesses and progress in general, during the learning process. Also we discuss the digital e-learning materials in COMALAT.