Developing transnational placements as a didactic tool

Transnational placements are increasingly being used in vocational training courses to foster the acquisition of foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence, personal (key) skills as well as specific vocational skills. As a didactic tool, however, it is still in its infancy. Further research and development activities are needed in order to ensure the quality of the learning process and to increase the sophistication of the tool for diverse target groups. This article tries to give an overview of the 'state of the art' and to indicate pathways for future action in the field.