Case study
Viva Mundi: the language school that opens doors to the world
The school offers an innovative approach to language and cultural learning, including TOEIC® certification and a catalog of 21 languages.
Viva Mundi, a language school located in Lyon, has quickly established itself as a leading institution in language education in France. Founded in 2022, the school aims to combine the teaching of 21 different languages with an understanding of the associated cultures.
As part of the Compétences et Développement network, Viva Mundi plays a key role in the internationalization strategy of the network. By incorporating an innovative, learner-centered approach, the school prepares its students to embrace the world and become individuals capable of meeting intercultural challenges in both their professional and personal lives. We spoke with Hélène Waksberg, the school's Director.
Viva Mundi's unique pedagogical approach
Language learning at Viva Mundi stands out for its active and immersive teaching methods. The school integrates the cultures of the countries whose languages are taught, enabling learners to better understand the contexts in which these languages are used. This cultural dimension is essential for students preparing for professional integration or mobility abroad.
All of Viva Mundi's teachers are native speakers, ensuring full immersion in the language. Additionally, these instructors are certified in their home countries and have also obtained teaching degrees in France, enhancing their pedagogical expertise. The school offers personalized programs tailored to the learners' needs, facilitating gradual learning and boosting their confidence and linguistic proficiency.
We place great importance on active pedagogy, with a focus on both language learning and discovering the culture behind the language. Our goal is to give learners the tools to open up to the world and become key players who can tackle intercultural challenges and carry out cultural projects both in France and internationally.
The choice of TOEIC tests
Since English proficiency is a prerequisite for many professional opportunities, Viva Mundi has chosen the TOEIC tests to certify the language level of its students. TOEIC certification is a global standard for assessing English skills in a professional context. TOEIC tests are used by more than 14,000 businesses, government agencies, and educational programs in over 160 countries worldwide.
The school recently introduced the TOEIC 4-Skills test, a certification that offers a comprehensive evaluation of learners' language abilities, meeting the expectations of employers and international partner institutions. Feedback from candidates who have taken the TOEIC 4-Skills test has been positive: they appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to use English in a practical and concrete way, and all in just 2 hours and 20 minutes.
"Candidates are very pleased to be able to showcase that they have passed this test and show future employers or mobility partners that not only do they understand English, but they can also express themselves and get things done in English," said Hélène Waksberg, Director of the school.
We have many students who feel more legitimate and comfortable speaking after taking the test.
The importance of internationalization
Internationalization is at the heart of Viva Mundi's mission. The school works closely with the 13 other schools in the Compétences et Développement network to incorporate an international dimension into their curricula. This includes language teaching but also preparing students for international mobility, whether for internships, university exchanges, or career opportunities abroad.
Viva Mundi supports students in preparing for their mobility projects by helping them obtain the necessary language certifications to meet the requirements of international partners. The TOEIC® Listening and Reading test, for example, is often required to validate a minimum English level for participation in exchange or internship programs abroad, where a B2 level, or 785 points out of 990, is required.
The integration of AI in language teaching
The school enhances the learning experience of its students through the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence (AI). This technology is used to personalize learning paths by adapting to the specific needs of each learner while making the learning process more dynamic and interactive. Language learning thus extends beyond the classroom through the playful use of chatbots and gamified applications.
Acknowledgments
We warmly thank Ms. Hélène Waksberg for the time she dedicated to this interview.