Training Services

Akedemija LET is a training and teaching organisation. We believe that the best way to introduce the methods of using gestures and music is through the training of those working in relevant sectors, including parents and carers. A lot of our work is with young children, including migrants and integration into the classroom and second language learning. But increasingly there has been interest in using the methods for children and adults with Intellectual disabilities.

We offer therefore the following training programmes:

This course is aimed to enable the introduction of gesture supported learning for children and adults with communication difficulties.  Using Gestures and Music is  a course  offering a wide variety of stimulating and enjoyable activities which help children and adults (with communication difficulties) to improve their communication skills. It can be taught using Slovenian or English signs or it is possible to introduce signs from other national sign languages

If you attend the training you will receive a Participant’s Handbook, which includes the tips of how to introduce the method into your setting. You will also receive the Music  booklet and access to 40 easy songs and 500 first words vocabulary with gestures.  You will also be given a certificate of attendance.

Akademija LET offers sign supported language learning which aims to support speech  and language development with the support of visual signs and music. Our work is targeted at children under the age of 6.  The systems of signs developed by Akademija LET relates  to the child’s daily routines as well as first concepts relevant to the learning in the preschool curriculum (such as concepts of weather,  colours, seasons, numbers and letters and topics such as the world around us)

The underlying concept of this method is the understanding that information and skills can be accelerated through the use of the kinaesthetic sensory system which is in this case is implemented through the use of symbolic gestures and supported by music. It can be used with
preverbal children and it has been recognised that signing can provide preverbal children with the skills necessary to bridge the communication gap between what they can understand and what they can verbally express  (Joseph Garcia, 1994, Marilyn Daniels, 2001, Jenifer Machett, 2011). This practice is known as baby signs and is widely used in USA and increasingly in UK and some  other European countries.

However  further work and research has proven  for sign supported method to be extremely useful also in the following learning scenarios:

• in  inclusive classrooms  where children who do not speak the language of instruction as their first language
• The methods have been proved to be valuable for all children and in particular those with additional communication difficulties. The methods can give confidence to the children and improve their communication skills quickly.
• The methods have also been successful in teaching English to children learning English as a second language in countries across Europe. It has provided to be an ideal way of introducing children to an additional language from the age of 2 onwards. Since most of the basic signs are iconic, children can remember and copy them very quickly. Therefore signs serve as a bridge between  the mother tongue and the second language.

This course is aimed to enable the teaching of English to children between the ages of 2 and 6. The methods can be used by teachers of English language but can also be used by Early Years professionals and nurseries who would like to introduce the teaching of English within the settings.

Learn English through Music and Gestures is a course  offers a wide variety of stimulating and enjoyable activities which help children to develop listening, speaking,  and first reading, and writing skills in English language. This phonic-based program provides an effective introduction to the English as a second language to children between the ages of 2 to 7.  Fun-packed activities, with lots of music, movement and specific gestures  lead children to recognise letter sounds and words effortlessly. The programme meets the criteria of most of the early years English as a second language learning curricula.

The course is aimed at those who are teaching English as a second language to children between the ages of two and seven. It is aimed at English language teachers, early years teachers and child care professionals all across Europe who are introducing English to their young learners and who would like to know more of how to help children to learn a language other than their mother tongue in a fun and exciting way.

To  provide children  with a solid base to build their English speaking reading  and comprehension skills.

The specific aims of the course: To help children develop a set of core vocabulary and expressions for use in simple conversation

• To build confidence
• To provide the motivation to learn English
• To encourage ownership of the  language
• To encourage children to communicate with whatever language they have at their disposal (mime, gesture, key word, music,  drawings, etc.)
• To encourage children to treat English as a communication tool, not as an end product
• To show children that English is fun
• To establish a trusting relationship with children and encourage them to do the same with their classmates
• To give children an experience of a wide range of English language in a non-threatening environment

If you attend a GEM training  you will receive a Participant’s Handbook, which includes the tips of how to introduce the method into your setting. You will also receive the Music  booklet and access to 40 easy songs and 500 first words vocabulary with gestures.

You will also be given a certificate of attendance.

The structure of the course is slightly adapted compared to its face-to-face standard version. Standard duration is limited to 5 sessions of 3 hours each.
It also requires participants to do independent work of minimum 2 hours between the courses.

70€ per day including course fee, learning materials, support and certification. Price for ad-hoc courses will be tailored according to number of participants.

Schools that have an Erasmus plus project approved and cannot participate in face-to-face training may consider, in accordance with their National Agencies, to use the Erasmus plus funding to allow their staff to participate in one ore more of our online training courses.

The training course will be delivered as live sessions on ZOOM platform. During the lessons, theoretical and practical parts will be alternated to allow teachers to experiment with the tools presented. During the lesson the trainers will share their experiences and good practices and answer the participants’ questions. Additional exercises and reflection moments may be assigned as follow-up activities at the end of the training session. All the learning materials will be shared online and will remain available at the end of the course.