The Education Department of the ETUI-REHS is organising two intensive courses English for European Trade Unionists which will take place in collaboration with Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on the following dates:

Course A (852.04): 2nd June - 6th June 2008

Course B (852.05): 12th – 16th January 2009

Participant language level:

Participants should have at least an intermediate level of English. They should therefore already have sufficient English to be able to communicate easily about their role and responsibilities in the union, as well as being able to describe their daily activities in the workplace.
In order to establish the level of each potential participant, affiliates are asked to administer the Pre-course Diagnostic Test, which can be obtained from the Secretariat of the ETUI-REHS.

Aims:

• To enable trade union officers with at least an Intermediate level of English to operate effectively for professional purposes in an English-speaking environment
• To become familiar with the English of trade unionism and industrial relations
• To bring together trade union officers from different European countries, and by exchanging information and views in English, to widen participants’ knowledge, perspectives and understanding of collective bargaining in Europe
• To meet the specific linguistic needs of participants as identified in the Pre-course Questionnaire
• To become aware of cultural similarities and differences in Europe and to break down cultural barriers

The deadline for sending back the enrolment forms for course 852.04 is 25th April 2008.
The deadline for sending back the enrolment forms for course 852.05 is 9th November 2008.

For more information, please visit the web page of the course.

The Education Department of the ETUI-REHS will organise two one-week intensive courses in cooperation with Northumbria University, English for European Works Councils (intermediate level) in Newcastle upon Tyne, in the United Kingdom.

Course A: 852.09 on 12 – 16 May 2008
Course B: 852.10 on 16 – 20 February 2009

Both courses will be delivered by language and industrial relations specialists from Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.

Aims:

• To bring together European Works Council representatives with an intermediate level of English and enable them to improve their ability to communicate in an English-speaking forum
• To provide representatives with the opportunity to exchange information and views in English about current key issues in the development of European Works Councils in order to widen participants‘ knowledge, perspectives and understanding of these topics
• To raise awareness of intercultural issues and to break down cultural barriers in order to improve communication within European Works Councils
• To develop social English skills which will be needed when interpreters are not available.

The working language will be English.

The courses are intended for European Works Council members and full-time officers with responsibilities for European Works Councils.
Participants should have at least a basic level of English. They should therefore already have sufficient English to be able to deal with daily tasks. Priority will be given to those EWC representatives with an intermediate / upper intermediate level of English.
In order to establish the level of each potential participant, affiliates are asked to administer the Diagnostic Test, which can be obtained from the Secretariat of ETUI-REHS Education.

Registrations should be sent not later than 11 April 2008 for course 852.09.EWC, and 28 November 2008 for course 852.10.EWC.

Should you need any additional information please do not hesitate to contact the ETUI-REHS Education Secretariat (Eva Berger, tel: +32.2.22 40 534, fax: +32.2.22 40 520, e-mail: or visit the .web page of the course