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Cristina Firmino & Filipa Perdigão Ribeiro
Abstract
This paper aims to present the Language Centre of the University of the Algarve (CL-UAlg) from its inception in 2000 to the present time. Through a brief description of its history and the presentation of figures related to students, courses and exams, we show how both the academic community and the local community consider learning foreign languages an important professional, academic and personal skill. We also describe the changes on the demand of foreign languages, and how the Centre monitors the quality of courses and students’ overall satisfaction. Finally, we describe the Centre’s partnerships which aim at providing official certification of foreign language skills for work, to pursue studies abroad and for acquiring citizenship.
Keywords: Language centre, language certification, learning foreign languages, teaching foreign languages