Our project aimed at 1) the promotion and strengthening of English language skills for the implementation of CLIL teaching and the internationalisation of the school; 2) the exchange of good practices in civic education, civic competences, lifelong learning, and social inclusion in our heterogeneous classes. Concerning the specific context of our institute, these objectives related to 1) the acquisition of new language and methodological skills to continue providing opportunities to stimulate and enrich all students, especially SEN students, through education; 2) experimenting with innovative methods for more inclusive, collaborative and learner-centered teaching, with a focus on good practices in civic education. Specifically, training in CLIL, mindfulness, and general English aimed to achieve greater familiarity with innovative teaching methods and to develop new activities for teaching English and different subjects with a CLIL approach; 3) Improving English language skills was also necessary to consolidate cooperation with European partners, carry out new Erasmus projects, and increase professional satisfaction and a sense of belonging to the European school community.
The Sanluri-Serrenti Comprehensive (K-8) Institute has over 900 students and 155 teachers. A team of SEN teachers creates educational and teaching plans for students with disabilities, learning and developmental disorders, and socio-cultural disadvantages. The school staff organises activities to strengthen fundamental key competences, and social and civic skills. We carry out European projects (Erasmus+, Etwinning) to raise students' awareness as European citizens and familiarise them with different cultural realities; for teachers, these projects are an opportunity to discuss different teaching methods and nurture a different pedagogy. In recent years, it has become apparent that there is an increased need to improve the English language skills, innovate teaching methodologies of the staff, and to increase the number of teachers directly involved in the implementation of the Erasmus program. The decision to offer training in English on innovative teaching methods, CLIL, and mindfulness is linked to the general renewal that our institute is supporting (PNRR School 4.0) which aims to improve the teaching experience of teachers and students while creating opportunities to develop the transversal EU key competences.