The information on this site is subject to a disclaimer and a copyright notice . Improved knowledge of an increasing number of languages is fundamental for strengthening understanding and interaction between peoples while preserving their cultural and linguistic diversity. It is essential for implementing the right to freedom of movement, and for exploiting the full potential of the Single European Market. It is a key factor for the creation of an open European area for educational cooperation.
Special priority is given to the less widely used and less taught languages.
The national authorities in the participating countries are responsible for formally designating the schools, higher education institutions and teacher-training establishments eligible for support. ECPs seek to build up a framework for cooperating on activities which contribute to extending teachers' and trainers' linguistic knowledge and confidence in the use of the target language, increasing their communicative competence, extending their understanding of the cultural environment of the language and refining their technical and methodological expertise. The projects may involve such cooperative activities as the joint development of curricula, teaching materials, modules and training schemes. Grants do not normally cover more than half of the total project costs, and may be provided for up to three years. European Language Assistantships Grants are awarded to enable future language teachers to spend a period of 3-12 months as an assistant in another participating country where, normally, one of the official languages is the language which they may later be teaching.