Quality learning doesn’t have to cost a fortune: foreign language workshops in Zagreb City Libraries

Abstract

Zagreb City Libraries have been organizing free foreign language workshops for all of its members since 2011. Currently we have 26 workshops organized in 16 different libraries with a total of 240 participants of different age groups learning different languages: English, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. Free foreign language learning is organized in accordance with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially Goals 1, 4 and even 11: Ending poverty in all its forms (free language learning contributes to inclusion and equates opportunities for participants of all economic groups), Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all (workshops are led by language experts - professors or native speakers, volunteers or fellow colleagues librarians), and Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, respectively. By implementing the UN goals, guidelines and trends in their diverse programs, such as free foreign language learning, Zagreb City Libraries enable and support personal growth of its members – these workshops provide them with knowledge essential for competitive advantage nowadays, opportunities for social networking and help reduce social isolation. The project will be presented with photographs, data samples, graphs and text.