Our main goal was to create and maintain a European community of foreign language teachers who use active learning methods in the classroom and popularize active learning methods among colleagues. We wanted to exchange experience with colleagues from different EU countries on the use of active exercises in foreign language lessons with adult groups. And also, using synergy, create a new joint collection of exercises that would include 5 types of activity games: energizers (active games), exercises for expanding vocabulary, exercises for consolidating grammar, exercises for communication and exercises for developing writing. Based on this handbook, we planned to conduct a series of online and offline trainings to inspire EU teachers to put the exercises into practice. In order to inspire not only current, but also future colleagues (educators of foreign languages for adults), we planned to film videos with the authors of the exercises, where they would clearly and in detail talk about the most interesting exercises.
Based on preliminary research, as well as 15 years of experience in the field of teaching foreign languages and feedback from colleagues who participated in our workshops, we concluded that educators teaching foreign languages to adults lack practical knowledge of using active exercises for work (teaching without a textbook) with adult students. This opinion was later confirmed by the results of a questionnaire conducted as part of the project. When asked how many books about active methods of teaching foreign languages you know, the majority answered 1-5 books. It means that active methods of teaching foreign languages to adults are in demand. We decided to create a collection of exercises for the implementation of which there are only 6 simple things available to every teacher: paper, markers, paper tape, scissors, rope and a ball. These items fit easily into a small box and can be kept in the classroom at all times. To inspire teachers to use the exercises described in the book, we with partners planned workshops (offline and online) and filming video clips where the authors talk about their favorite exercises. These videos were also supposed to open from the book via a QR code.