Higher education language educator competences (Helecs)

The most positive development in language education in Ireland in many decades, Languages Connects, offers applied linguists and language educators a unique opportunity to highlight concerns and develop initiatives that benefit the provision of language learning in all educational sectors in Ireland. HELECs has identified the professional development of language educators in HE as a particularly urgent case. This is borne out in the review of relevant literature where no overarching framework for HE language educator competences has been identifiable and where generic HE teaching and learning frameworks are insufficient to address the complexities of HE language provision. Our provisional data analysis also highlights educators’ concerns about their ability to gain recognition and support for the professional development activities that they wish to undertake as essential components of their professional identities. HELECs will deliver a practicable, evidence-based tool in line with current developments in language teacher training internationally and with initiatives to develop greater scholarship in language teaching and learning at HE level in Ireland. In this way, we hope to contribute to the professionalization of language educators in HE, develop a community of excellent practitioners and help to build capacity for an even more effective language provision in HEIs.