Press Release

Job-seekers to showcase international expertise

04 May 2007

A new resource from CILT, the National Centre for Languages, to be launched on the 9 May will assist young people to demonstrate their language and communication skills to potential employers. The Language Work Placement Toolkit has been specially designed for those undertaking, organising or hosting languages work placements.

Lord Dearing recognised the importance of work placements in his review for Government by recommending that more opportunities are created for overseas visits and work experience for students.

The aims of the toolkit are simple:

· to support student going on work placements in the UK and abroad to develop the language and intercultural skills required
· to help staff prepare students and review experience after placement
· to provide a record of student achievement (language and intercultural skills for the workplace)
· to provide a flexible tool to meet individual needs and different work situations

Isabella Moore, Director, CILT, the National Centre for Languages said ‘Businesses are increasingly expanding into new markets and as a result employees have contact with people from other cultural backgrounds, so, when looking for new staff, employers tend to value adaptability and good communication skills above anything else.

The toolkit allows people on work placements in the UK or abroad to record the development of international communication skills which will help them in their future careers, and to help those who are working with them to prepare for the placement’.

The flexible toolkit is available free in hardcopy and CD format and to download from www.cilt.org.uk/14-19/work_exp.htm or at the Adult Education Show (Friday 8 June, Loughborough).

If you are interested in attending the launch, please contact toolkit@cilt.org.uk