OLS – Online Language Support
Are you about to leave for a volunteering project abroad? Or are you an Erasmus student about to start your mobility in another EU country? Then you may have wondered how to deal with the foreign language you are going to be using while living abroad. For that, we’ve got you. What you need is an online language support.
Learning a new language is a big part of a mobility project, being it volunteering under the European Solidarity Corps, studying under the Erasmus Plus programme, or going for a Youth Exchange. Although the main working language is commonly English, unless your place of destination is an English-speaking country, you can expect the need to learn the local language.
Don’t let language barriers block you! Any language, from Spanish to Polish, can be learned a little bit, at least to hold a conversation or to make your orders at a bar.
OLS – Online Language Support
The Online Linguistic Support (OLS) is an online tool made available by the European Union that allows you to:
- Test your linguistic level on a language of choice;
- Learn more about a language;
- Assess your improvements.
It is specifically designed for European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus Plus participants. Indeed, to join the online linguistic platform it is necessary an invitation email that you will receive from your coordinator.
How It Works
After accessing OLS, you can immediately test your linguistic level in the language you are going to be using in your country of destination. Your results will not prevent you from taking part in an Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps mobility, but will give you access to an OLS language course.
The flexibility of the tool allows you to work at your own pace and adapt your learning experience to suit your needs.
OLS provides a wide variety of opportunities to improve your language skills. For example, you can follow thematic ‘Massive Open Online Courses’ (MOOCs) or benefit from online tutoring sessions with native speakers and other OLS participants.
Tips
When taking the initial test or assessing your improvements, make sure to:
- have a strong and stable internet connection;
- do it in a quiet place.
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