Credit: INLL

On Monday 24 February 2025, a new academic year commenced for more than 7,600 language students at Luxembourg's National Institute for Languages (Institut National des Langues Luxembourg - INLL).

As reported by the INLL and Luxembourg's Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, the former is offering more than 510 language courses for adults during the spring semester across its three sites (INLL-Glacis, INLL-Belval and INLL-Mersch).

A temporary INLL site within the National School of Health (ENSA) in Strassen has been added for this semester, following the relocation of 251 students from Lycée Robert Schuman Luxembourg to INLL-Glacis, due to renovation work being carried out at the secondary school. A total of 45 INLL language courses had to be relocated to Strassen.

According to the INLL, in addition to teaching the country's three administrative languages (Luxembourgish, German and French), the language institute promotes multilingualism in a constantly evolving multicultural society and also offers courses in English, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese as well as Russian for beginners.

To register for a course, within the limit of places available, any interested adult, who is not a beginner in the target language, must take an online test and make an appointment for an orientation interview. These steps are required in order to obtain the student’s recommended language level. Appointments for orientation interviews are offered throughout the school year via: https://www.inll.lu/en/

Creation of a new level A1- on the LLO.lu application

The Education Ministry, together with the INLL, confirmed that, since its launch in September 2022, the free platform for learning the Luxembourgish language, LLO.lu, has continued its success and now has more than 94,700 registered people, an increase of 14,200 subscribers compared to September 2024.

Its content, ranging from level A1 to level B2, offers users a complete learning path. The ministry and INLL said the platform is continuously adapted to the needs of the public and enriched with educational material, such as new professional courses, which allows students to learn the language in a professional context with specific vocabulary.

The platform also informs visitors about activities, related to the Luxembourgish language and culture, organised in the region. It also offers information meetings for the public or for teachers in the field.

In addition, a new A1- level will be launched in April 2025. This level will be below level A1 and will offer a gradual introduction to the Luxembourgish language, particularly suitable for those without any prior knowledge of the language.

First pilot course of the “Moving languages” project in Luxembourgish and French

On Monday 24 February 2025, the INLL launched the “Moving languages” pilot project in collaboration with the Adult Education Service (SFA), at the SFA premises in Luxembourg-Kirchberg. This national project, previously called “Liela in Luxemburg”, is a joint initiative between the Education Ministry, the INLL, the SFA and Liechtenstein Languages (Liela).

“Moving languages” is based on a unique active and interactive method that allows students to acquire basic knowledge of a new language in just eight weeks. The programme provides for three hours of lessons per day and focuses mainly on comprehension and on oral production.

The INLL and the SFA are now testing the material in training courses in French and Luxembourgish, while at the same time developing a training programme for people wishing to become trainers of the "Moving Languages" concept.

Zertifikat Lëtzebuergesch Léiere Léieren (ZLLL; Luxembourgish Learning Certificate) training

The second session of the Zertifikat Lëtzebuergesch Léiere Léieren (ZLLL) training course began in February for 27 candidates. This training course, given twice per academic year, is offered in a blended learning format: 50% of the courses are delivered in person, including fifteen hours in literature, fifteen hours in linguistics and 30 hours in didactics. 50% of the training is long-distance. This training is aimed at people who wish to train or improve their professions as a teacher in the field of adult education, in municipalities or in a field subsidised by the State. Registrations for the start of the school year in September 2025 can be made from June 2025.

The ministry and the INLL also announced that the Luxembourg podcast "Poterkëscht" is celebrating its first anniversary. Launched on 22 February 2024, the first podcast in Luxembourgish from INLL Poterkëscht currently has 86 episodes and more than 75,000 listeners. The episodes are described as allowing the public to immerse themselves in the world of the country's culture, so they can discover the charm of the Luxembourgish language. New episodes are to be added weekly.

HOM