The Erasmus+ funded "English Lessons with the Use of Songs for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment" (E.L.So.M.C.I) programme is a two-year pan-European initiative, which started in September 2020. It aims to develop an educational programme on teaching English to people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), using English songs as a main tool for the teaching process.
The project coordinator is Alzheimer Hellas (Greece) and the partners are Alzheimer Valencia (Spain), Anziani e Non Solo (Italy), Spominčica - Alzheimer Slovenia (Slovenia) and University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče (Croatia). All the consortium members come from Mediterranean countries that share some cultural similarities and where the first language is not English. For this reason, English will be used as a tool for the participants’ memory and attention improvement.
The methodology of this educational programme is based on innovative teaching approaches such as “Communicative Language Teaching” and “Natural Approach and the method of “Neuro-linguistic Programming" (NLP). These methods place great emphasis on verbal communication, creation of a positive environment in class, reduction of stress and encouragement of learners to learn step by step in a natural and pleasant way.
The aims of the project are divided into the following objectives:
1. improving memorising skills of people with MCI, through the use of songs
2. supporting the teaching process with songs
3. reducing stress and increasing positive emotions
4. social contact for people with MCI and creating a sense of belonging to a group
5. improving quality of life and reducing stress, as well as sharing useful knowledge with people with MCI
6. dementia prevention
7. familiarisation with English language through phrases related to communication and verbal expression
8. exposure to British and American culture
9. improving knowledge regarding vocabulary, grammar, syntax and other aspects of English language using an enjoyable learning process.
You can find more information on the official website:
