The rationale behind this project is to meet the needs of improving communication skills amongst the students of the three schools taking part, thus implicating the whole teaching community in the learning process. The aim of the project is to develop good practice in foreign language teaching by using environments which are complementary to the classroom. We aim at investigating how both the teaching in a natural environment and the educational use of exhibition halls in the city are strong motivators for the learning of foreign languages. Moreover, we want to include foreing language contents in all other subjects. That way, the need of improving linguistic skills is embedded in wider learning contexts as a global objective of the learning project. The activities in the project, which will involve 62 students and 37 teachers taking part in learning exchanges, are aimed at students in two age groups. At least 250 students aged 12-14 and 16-19 will take part in the activities developed in each school. Students will be provided with lesson plans and worksheet to maximise the teaching and learning of the foreign language and any other subject taught in that langage. There will be activities of different kinds: sports, natural sciences, literary production, arts, drama, history, geography, robotics and laboratory practice. Collaborative learning and task-based teaching will be encouraged. Students will share learning outcomes and processes simultaneously whilst using the ICT. The project will also promote professional coordination and development of teaching practice for the teachers of the three schools. In the long term, the production of didactic material and the teaching training will bring about an improvent in the teaching of foreign languages. At the same time, the use of different learning settings and different strategies will motivate students and will bring about the advantages of overcoming communication barriers.
A previous e-Twinning project on “Easter: diversity of traditions”, which was carried out the year before, allowed students the exchange of letters, literary texts, videos and video calls in their target language. This activity was the forerunner of the project. The participating schools shared the need to improve the effectiveness of foreign language teaching and learning, with stronger student motivation and a greater involvement of the school community. We both needed support for our own projects related to foreign language teaching and learning (bilingualism or similar), and to strengthen the European perspective included in our educational projects. OBJECTIVES: General objectives: The aim of the project was to develop good learning practices in the field of foreign languages by introducing the use of out-of-the-class environments. We wanted to investigate how the natural environment and the exhibition areas in the cities impact student motivation when learning a foreign language. Specific objectives: The following were included in our participation application: - Design proposals for classroom activities to develop teaching units concerning different subjects and involving foreign languages. - Improve the linguistic competence of the students and their motivation to get to know other cultures. - Have other teachers involved in the implementation of activities which are curricular and linguistically of interest. - Increase a sense of belonging to the European community. PARTICIPANTS: IES Pedro Mercedes, Cuenca, Spain, provided its broad previous experience in the management of European projects to coordinate the present project. The association benefited from both the natural and the artistic resources in the surroundings to develop the activities. Rigas Valsts 3. gimnazija, Riga, Latvia, provided its potential in the study of foreign languages and sports, apart from the natural, cultural and technological resources of its surroundings. Students and teachers: The activities of the project meant the mobility of 40 students aged between 16 and 19. Around 350 students of Secondary, A-levels and Vocational Training took part in other activities of the project. All students in both schools participated in the activities related to Europe Day. Close to 25 teachers took part directly in the design and development of the different activities of the project. All teachers followed both the development and the assessment of the project through the school collegiate bodies. RESULTS / IMPACT: 16 didactic units were developed, together with worksheets to use in the classroom. They were aimed at foreign language teachers and teachers of other subjects who teach in a foreign language. Different kinds of activities were carried out: activities related to sports, the natural environment, orienteering, literary production, arts, history, geography, as well as laboratory practice, the use of robots in the classroom, artistic production and drama. Learning among peers and task-based learning were encouraged. The exchange of information meant the use of information and communication technologies. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted, with a coordinated intervention of different didactic departments. The main impact of the project was an increase in student motivation towards the learning of foreign languages, and their growing interest to get to know other European cultures. Besides, the project meant a development of good learning practices in foreign language and a higher degree of parental involvement in the education process. In the long run, the production of didactic material, together with a deepening in teacher training will mean a permanent improvement in the teaching and learning of foreign languages.