INTRODUCTION

Guido Vervaet
Head of Unit
Career orientation and development, training

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. CALENDAR
   The semester will start on the 23 September 2002 and will end on the end of January 2003. The detailed timetable will be indicated in the classrooms at the start of the semester and on our web-site (http://www.cc.cec/guide/forma_b/429.htm)
   
   
2. LANGUAGES OFFERED
   Languages of the European Union Member-States: DA (Danish), DE (German), EL (Greek), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FI (Finnish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch), PT (Portuguese), SV (Swedish).
   Non Member-States languages: AR (Arabic), JA (Japanese), RU (Russian).
   Languages of candidate countries: BG (Bulgarian), CS (Czech), ET (Estonian), HU (Hungarian), LV (Latvian), LT (Lithuanian), PL (Polish), RO (Rumanian), SK (Slovak), SL (Slovenian), TR (Turkish).
   Attention: for the languages of the candidate countries, only requests made in the interest of the service will be accepted. No written justification is required. NB: Courses for complete beginners (level 1) are available again in September 2002.
   
   
3. TIMETABLE
   Attention : new timetable :
   morning courses will start at 8 h 30 rather than 8 h 00.
   
   If you are given a place on a course, you will be allocated to one of the following time slots (except for the languages of the countries seeking admission for which another timetable will be offered in due course):
   
   08 h 30 - 10 h 20
   11 h 40 - 13 h 30
   13 h 45 - 15 h 35
   16 h 10 - 18 h 00
   
   These time slots have been chosen in order to optimise the use of our training rooms and suit the hours of the teachers, ensuring at the same time a minimum disruption to the daily work of the participants.
   
   
4. ROOMS
   The language courses can take place in the Commission buildings (GUIMARD : rue Guimard 10 - 1040 Brussels; SCIENCE 29: rue de la Science 29 - 1040 Brussels) and in the Council of the Union (ORBAN : square Frère Orban 8 - 1040 Brussels).
   
   
5. ADMISSION CRITERIA
   Candidates who at the closing date for applications and at the start of the course are either an official, a temporary, auxiliary or local agent or a seconded national expert (SNE) are eligible to apply for a course.
   
   Spouses of officials and former officials will be admitted, if there are places available, to courses in all the languages on offer ; except for French and English (for which there is always a very large number of requests) and the languages of countries seeking admission.
   
   Officials and other servants who have been newly recruited (within the previous 3 months) may join an English or French course during the first two months of a course (except for level 1 beginner courses in which it is essential to participate from the start of the session), if their service makes a special request.
   Due to the huge number of requests received for level 1 in Spanish, Italian and Dutch, we have been forced to refuse requests for this level made only in the interest of the individual.
   
   The following categories of applicants will not be accepted if at the closing date for applications and at the start of the course they are 'interimaires', service providers ('prestataires'), trainees, consultants, staff in receipt of an invalidity pension or on leave on personal grounds or on sick leave or on maternity leave. People working part-time can attend a course only during their working hours (time spent training is considered equivalent to work time).
   
   
6. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
   
   
   
   • !! All requests must be made only via SYSLOG (method: Start ; Local applications ; Internet Explorer ; IntraComm ; Administration/Management (leftside) ; GINA-Administrative guide; Formation ; Linguistique ; click on SYSLOG WEB FORMATION ; enter your Internet user name and password) + see the training coordinator of your DG/Service for further details (the list of training coordinators is at http://www.cc.cec/guide/forma_b/171.htm ).
     
     
   • Deadline for receipt of applications by ADMIN.A.7 ONLY via SYSLOG (http://www.cc.cec/di/syslog_formation/home/formation.cfm?langue=EN):
     
     3 May 2002
     
     
   • You are only allowed to enrol for one course per semester.
     
     
   • You will not be allowed to change language once the training coordinator of your DG/Service has validated your request electronically.
     
     
   • People who are currently attending level 1 to 5 of a standard course do not need to submit a new application as their enrolment is automatic until they complete level 6.
     
     
   • To follow a specialised or specific course (after level 6), students must always make a new request.
     
     
   • Information on the status of your request can be viewed by clicking the "Applications" button in SYSLOG WEB FORMATION http://www.cc.cec/di/syslog_formation/home/formation.cfm.
     
     Nevertheless, you will be informed officially of the outcome of your request by 2nd September 2002 at the latest.
     
     Because of the limited human resources available in our team, no information can be sent out to you before this date.
     
   
   
7. ABSENCES
   It's worth remembering that the learning of any language means regular attendance at all courses. Repeated absences inevitably slow down the learning pace of the individual and the whole group and risk compromising the training objectives. A similar problem is posed by chronic latecomers to courses: which is why from now on, a lateness of 30 minutes will be considered as a day of absence.
   
   It is therefore advisable not to apply for a course if you are not sure that you can attend regularly.
   
   Participants who throughout a course accumulate:
   
   
   
   • 6 consecutive absences or 10 non-consecutive absences for a twice-weekly standard course
     
   • 5 absences for a specialised or a specific course,
     
   
   regardless of the reason for the absences will be excluded from the course and will not be allowed to sit the final test.
   
   In these cases, if they wish to continue their training, these students must submit a new request for the following semester.
   
   
8. PLACEMENT TESTS
   For people whose level in the language requested is not known or who have not attended a course in that language during the previous three years, placement tests will be organised from 21 May 2002 to 24 May 2002 and from 27 May 2002 to 31 May 2002. An invitation to a test will be sent in due course.
   

TYPES OF COURSES

1. STANDARD COURSES (twice a week)
   
   Languages
   All languages mentioned in point 2 of the general information.
   
   Aim
   To enable participants to acquire the language skills which are necessary to carry out their daily work and to express themselves in everyday situations.
   
   Levels
   The levels on offer range from level 1 (complete beginner) to level 6.
   
   Length and frequency
   Course length is approximately 64 hours on a twice-weekly basis, 1 h 50 per day, for 16 or 17 weeks (excluding holidays).
   
   
2. SPECIALISED COURSES (once a week)
   
   These courses are for participants who have successfully completed the six standard courses or those who can demonstrate in the placement test that they are at an equivalent level. A specific request is necessary as automatic re-enrolment ends after level 6 of the standard courses. People who have previously successfully completed a specialised course can re-enrol for the same module after a period of two years has elapsed.
   
   Languages
   Courses will be organised for the languages of the European Union Member-States mentioned in point 2 of the general information if we have received enough applications and if there are sufficient resources available.
   
   Aim
   To improve the participants' listening, speaking, reading or writing skills.
   
   Content
   There are four specialised modules :
   
   • Oral expression (code 020)
     
   • Listening comprehension (code 022)
     
   • Written expression (code 024)
     
   • Reading comprehension (code 025)
     
   
   Length and frequency
   Each module lasts approximately 32 hours, 1 h 50 once a week for 16 or 17 weeks (excluding holidays).
   
   
3. SPECIFIC COURSES (TASK BASED) (once a week)
   
   These courses are for participants :
   
   • who have finished level 6 of the standard courses and at least one of the specialised modules (from the same domain - written or oral), mentioned above or
     
   • who can demonstrate in the placement test that they have an equivalent level.
     
   
   A specific application is required.
   
   Languages
   Specific task-based courses are only organised in DE, EN, FR if there is sufficient demand and if the necessary resources are available.
   
   Aim
   
   • Specific writing courses focus on professional writing tasks (administrative writing).
     
   • Specific speaking courses focus on professional oral tasks (speeches, meetings, negotiating).
     
   
   Content
   
   • Specific writing courses
     
     • Preparation for administrative writing (code 026) FR, EN, DE
       
     • Letters and memos (code 027) FR, EN
       
     • Note taking and minute writing (code 028) FR, EN
       
     • Report writing (code 029) FR, EN
     
     
   • Specific oral courses
     
     • Speeches and presentations (code 051) FR, EN, DE
       
     • Meetings (code 052) FR, EN, DE
       
     • Negotiating (code 053) FR, EN, DE
       
   
   Length and frequency
   Each module lasts approximately 32 hours, 1 h 50 once a week for 16 or 17 weeks (excluding holidays).
   

APPLICATION FORM

SECRETARIAT DES COURS DE LANGUES INTERINSTITUTIONNELS

Telephone n° (02-29) 51160 Fax n° (02-29) 51106

Address : rue Guimard, 10
Administrative address : GUIM 1/51