January 2010 |
Communication Offensive: “Multilingual Language Competence and Integration”
On January 28th, telc Gmbh in Frankfurt/Main began their Communication Offinsive for “Multilingual Language Competence and Integration”. For the kick off, telc invited leading representatives of the German Adult Education Association, institutions of further education, politics and the media to their new offices in the heart of Frankfurt. Frankfurt City Councilwoman Erika Pfreundschuh delivered the opening greeting to the numerous guests present.
The first two ambassadors of for the telc “Multilingual Language Competence and Integration” campaign, Dr. Rita Süssmuth and Ioannis Ikonomou, were ceremoniously presented to the gathering on the distinctive placards bearing their portraits.
The highly prominent Prof. Dr. Rita Sussmüth, former President of the German Parliament and current President of the German Adult Education Association, is one of the most well-known figures in contemporary German politics. Her portrait adorns the first placard which was uncovered at the event, honouring her decades-long engagement in the causes of further education, integration and international communication; currently, for example, with Turkey.
The second placard, adorned with the portrait of Ioannis Ikonomou, honours a phenomenal linguistic talent: a true European, born on the Island of Crete, this renowned translator and interpreter for the European Commission in Brussels speaks 32 languages fluently – and passively understands as many again. During the kick-off of telc’s new Communication Offensive, Ikonomou’s introductory remarks were received with great interest and respect.
The placard series is to be enhanced every three months with additional new ambassadors who have been chosen for their appeal to even more target groups – encouraging them to profit from multilingualism as a step toward lasting integration. The placards are being distributed free of charge to the language schools and institutes of further education working in cooperation with telc language testing.
