University teaching experience with the electronic European Language Portfolio: an innovation for the promotion of plurilingualism and interculturality

Abstract

This article describes the teaching experience gained from the introduction of the Spanish electronic European Language Portfolio (eELP+14) in the university teaching of the Erasmus Intensive Language Course (EILC) within the Vives Network of Universities. The aim was to seek the views of teachers during their first experimental work with undergraduates in relation to their learning of Catalan culture and language. A pilot study was carried out following a mixed methods methodology, with a QUAN+qual design, through two online ad hoc questionnaires (pretest-posttest). Overall, the tool has been assessed positively with regard to pedagogical aspects (reflection and self-evaluation of the Biography) and communication aspects (the linguistic profile of the Passport), although some difficulties have been highlighted concerning the time students need to dedicate to it and the amount of time they actually have, as well as the need to introduce technological and linguistic improvements. On the one hand, the eELP is recognised as an educational innovation which is entirely suitable for the current university context, and on the other hand, it is considered to have only a moderate influence in the learning of languages and cultures.