Migrant children (both first- and second-generation) starting school without the knowledge of their host country’s language find themselves in a disadvantaged position compared to native pupils, and their learning is often hindered until they overcome the language barrier (OECD 2016). The situation is more or less the same with children whose mother tongue is a minority language for the host country. Thus, learning a second language is a goal shared by both migrant and bilingual children. EU member states’ national language learning is an important aspect of stimulating their socio-cultural integration, which is in line with the Paris Declaration of EU educational ministers calling for measures for combating inequalities of any kind by ensuring that children and young people acquire social, civic and intercultural competences and by promoting intercultural dialogue through all forms of learning. When it comes to learning a European language as a second or foreign language, the use of the European cultural heritage and learning through heritage is a means to enrich the learning process. Children, who are already immersed in their own culture, are encouraged to understand and appreciate European culture here and elsewhere. It enables them to develop their sensibilities in relation to their immediate environment and their interest in things beyond it, thus beginning a process of opening up to the world. In addition, using local language and becoming familiar with the culture associated with facilitates children’s participation and integration into the local community, boosts their future employability and has a positive impact on the economy. Welcomm 2 Explore Europe will target primary school children aged 6-12 years old, whose language skills in the language of the country they live in need support either because they are bilingual or have limited knowledge due to migration. Children of the same age interested in exploring another European language and culture will be included in the target group too. School teachers, educators in a wider sense (migrant and minority education/social organisations, volunteers working with migrants) and the children’s parents and carers are also targeted as supporters of language and cultural learning as it will be them motivating and encouraging the children to learn. The project will implement a methodology for migrant and bilingual children’s basic language, communication and intercultural skills. This will be based on integrating a cultural dimension to language teaching and learning, and thus enabling children to: • develop and foster positive attitudes towards other cultures and boost children’s curiosity, empathy, open-mindedness and interest • prepare themselves to deal more effectively with various situations in life to include socio-cultural interactions and intercultural conflict • become involved in their society in a spirit of recognition of its uniqueness and tolerance for human and cultural diversity • understand more about their own country as part of a shared European heritage and learn to value better their neighbour’s cultures The project will design a model for language learning through children’s immersion in European culture. The project offers an innovative, ludic, and fun way to learn through its main products, the Welcomm2Explore board games, Comic books with local cultural stories and Educational experience videos. The project will be implemented by 8 organisations from 6 EU countries (Netherland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Romania, Span and the United Kingdom). The partnership offers a strong expertise and European diversity to include countries from the North, South, West, Central and SouthEastern Europe, which will enhance the European heritage aspects of the products.
Migrant children (both first- and second-generation) starting school without the knowledge of their host country’s language find themselves in a disadvantaged position compared to native pupils, and their learning is often hindered until they overcome the language barrier. The situation is more or less the same with children whose mother tongue is a minority language for the host country. National language learning is an important aspect of stimulating their socio-cultural integration. When it comes to learning a European language as a second or foreign language, the use of the European cultural heritage and learning through heritage is a means to enrich the learning process. Children, who are already immersed in their own culture, are encouraged to understand and appreciate European culture here and elsewhere. It enables them to develop their sensibilities in relation to their immediate environment and their interest in things beyond it, thus beginning a process of opening up to the world. ‘Welcomm2 Explore Europe’ project implements a methodology for migrant and bilingual children’s language, communication and intercultural skills. The project addresses primary school children aged 6-12 years old, whose language skills in the language of the country they live in need support either because they are bilingual or have limited knowledge due to migration, children of the same age interested in exploring another European language and culture, educators (primary school teachers, language teachers, integration trainers, after school activity educators) and the children’s parents, with the main objectives to contribute to improvement of quality, attractiveness and accessibility of language learning through culture, to develop intercultural and communication competences and positive attitudes towards other cultures, and to improve awareness of the European cultural heritage. The project designes a model for language and intercultural learning through children’s immersion in their local and other cultures, enhancing their knowledge of European culture, multilingualism and diversity. Project approach compromised a communicative competence model: embedding the target groups in the development of the products, game-based activities: children become co-creators of the products and of their learning, integrated curriculum approach to teaching and learning: project outputs are designed for children to see the connections and relevance between subjects, and the learning vehicle of European cultural heritage. The project provided stimulated experience of children of being co-researchers, and co-imaginers and co-authors alongside with their teachers and families as a practice for their active and engaged participation in care, play, and learning. ‘WelComm2 Explore Europe’ project’s results and achievements include: - A series of six board games, that invite players to explore the language and culture of European countries and regions: “Ontdek Nederland” is about the Netherlands using Dutch; “Explore la Belgique” is about Belgium using French; “Explora España” is about Spain using Spanish; “Explore Kent” is about Kent using English; “Опознай България” is about Bulgaria using Bulgarian; “Explorați România” is about Romania using Romanian; - 6 co-creation groups in 6 countries for inclusive learning and co-creation activities built for the development of the board games with 70 target group representatives; - 10 testing sessions of the board games organised in 6 countries with 108 target group representatives; - 10 workshops in 6 countries organised with local action teams for comic stories development with 123 target group representatives; - Comic books “Legends come to life” in NL, EN, ES, BG, FR, RO, containing six comic stories developed by children from local legends; - 19 Educational experience videos where children are the main actors and participated in the creation of scenarios, supported by 57 digital language exercises and mini games in 6 languages; - Guidelines for Educators: Methodology guidelines and a day-to-day tool for educators to support them in redesign their programmes and encourage them to use new methods as part of the development of education material for language and intercultural learning; - Multiplier events in six countries with a total of 572 participants involving target group members, education and integration stakeholders, policy-makers, etc. Project activities have been implemented by a consortium of 8 partners from 6 European countries (The Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom) all having significant and complementary expertise in development and promotion of high quality outputs and their mainstreaming in the partner countries and beyond. The outputs and the project approach can be transferred and used very easily in other countries and languages, thus provide the opportunity for a high flexibility and adaptability to national and European partners.