Language and information technology school, translation office

Who are we?

• a tailor-made language and computer school with customized programs and flexible schedules
• a fast and competent translation office for translations of all needs and requirements
• a school where everyone can achieve their desires in different branches
• a nonprofit association (Poliglotta alla Glossa) to support the language training and basic skills of the entire sensitive target group (refugees, asylum seekers and foreigners alloglotti in Ticino).

What common values to place at the basis of our activities?

• a familiar, healthy and peaceful environment in the classroom
• bringing together different nationalities, religions and cultures
• make available all our skills and all our professionalism

What goals do we want to achieve and how?

• to be attentive to professional development
• continually seek modern teaching methodologies and avenues
• integrate recent developments
• supporting the language and basic skills training of the entire sensitive target audience

How to organize and manage the school and how to create a good working climate?

• right information and concrete answers
• difference of levels and active participation
• planning lessons with precision
• decreasing students’ fears and tensions and taking care of personal contacts
• open communication
• integration of new teaching techniques
• integration of different cultures through language skills

What are our basic principles?

• needs and abilities analysis
• drafting of the program according to the objectives
• choice of the most suitable methodology
• maximum flexibility
• application of classic and modern teaching aids
• stimulating and motivating
• autonomous work
• highlighting difficulties, talking about them and proposing solutions to problems
• inform about the results obtained
• keeping contact with the authorities

The importance of our school’s influence groups

• all actors in the school are part of the realization of the intended goals and objectives
• criticism welcome
• cooperation with authorities and cantonal offices

How do we implement and ensure the quality control of our school?

• results achieved are the synonym for quality
• feedback from students
• suggestions from teaching staff
• feedback among colleagues
• feedback between colleagues and teaching staff
• team meetings

What development intentions and what elements of continuing education and training do we place our priorities on?

• continuing education courses
• new methodologies and language changes
• collaboration with other schools and training institutions

Certificate or audit report of the quality management system used or descriptive of the institution’s quality concept

• detailed information on program content
• definition of objectives and methodology
• subject matter expertise

Report of a pedagogical-andragogical seminar or description of the systematics of pedagogical-andragogical reflection adapted

• meetings based on the number of courses
• exchanges of views and opinions
• visits from colleagues
• report to be requested from the school

Evaluation report of a training course

• evaluations of German, Italian and English courses by the Office of Active Measures UMA in Bellinzona are available
• eduQua quality certificate auditors
• student and teacher forms and questionnaires
• evaluations by cantonal offices such as UMA and SIS

Statistics and analysis of dropouts and exam success rates

• reports available from the school

Profile of qualifications required of trainers

• subject matter experts
• competent in the pedagogical, andragogical, psychological and methodological fields
• committed to their own continuing education

Description of needs analysis and comparisons with competing institutions

• needs analysis and evaluation of knowledge already acquired
• compliance with the personal, cultural and professional background of the trainee
• market analysis
• ongoing analysis of participants’ needs

Course visit report

• educational visits from colleagues and invited experts
• reports available at school

Procedure for selecting participants

• aptitude tests
• analysis of wants and needs
• reacting to the needs of the canton and companies

Description of tools used to measure customer satisfaction

• interviews with students
• evaluation form also anonymous
• guest book
• intermediate and final evaluation questionnaire