L’apprendimento di una L2 attraverso lo sviluppo delle competenze sociali come buona pratica di active ageing

This research highlights the importance of learning a foreign language as a good practice for active ageing, with a particular focus on the development of social competence in senior learners. The study examines the experiences of students over the age of 55 enrolled in foreign language courses at the University of Florence’s Language Centre (CLA). Among these, the analysis of semi-structured interviews with three female students attending an A1 Spanish course reveals improvements in their social skills, including increased self-awareness and enhanced abilities in empathy, communication and collaboration. These skills not only strengthen their language competence but also promote personal development, well-being and social inclusion. From this perspective, participation in language courses proves to be particularly beneficial for successful ageing, supporting the maintenance of cognitive abilities and fostering enriched social interactions.