TWINS Erasmus Project

Project Title

TWINS

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

The “Twins” project values the cultural heritage of the cities in Orihuela (Spain) and Sofia (Bulgaria) through the link between the figure of the Roman Emperor Justiniano I who was the main character in the reconstruction of both cities in a specific moment in the history. The creation of characters (twin brothers), separated in Roman military campaigns and ending in both associated cities, was the comparative link for students to understand processes that have undergone the cultural heritage of both cities, always through the eyes of this family that took a principal part in the most important historical moments in both cities.

The background of the project is framed in the previous experience of both schools through the implementation, in 2016 / 2017-2017 / 2018 courses, of the eTwinning project ‘Interrail: Travellers on the train!’ where the associated centers took part and where the students directly studied the cultural heritage of both cities. The aim purpose of this project uncovers the fictional history of the separated ‘brother’, giving continuity to it.

Through the development of the following objective: involving young people in the protection of natural and cultural heritage, showing them the interdependence of cultures and offer them materials that allow or strengthen their education on world heritage; making ties with European schools; teaching the basic knowledge of the Spanish and English language in European students who learn Spanish and English as a second foreign language: enhance knowledge of the cultural heritage of the countries of the associated schools; using the most common ICT tools to collaborate and communicate with the rest of the groups to plan the work and contributing constructive ideas; promote teamwork as a tool for building knowledge; develop entrepreneurial spirit and self-confidence, participation, critical sense, personal initiative and the ability to learn, plan, make decisions and assume responsibilities; and get the European quality seal for our eTwinning project.

The number of students who participated directly in the “School Exchange Association” were 24, increasing this number to 650 indirectly. The student profile was similar, in the case of boys and girls aged between 15-16 years, with a medium socioeconomic level and with an interest in language learning, geography and history.

The entire KA229 project was developed within an eTwinning project under the name “Twins”, where the students kept track of this family of twins throughout the history of both cities. To discover the secret that these families hide, they had to overcome different challenges about mathematics, physics and chemistry, technology, plastic, literature, music, geography and history. Therefore, the activities which the students went throughout were directly related to the tasks of both centers and developed interdisciplinary educational skills. The methodology was eminently practical, being the students themselves who progressed individually in the objectives of the project. Cultural exchanges, guided tours and mutual knowledge of the cultural heritage of the associated center were necessary elements to get to know the mystery behind this family. The final product of the project was the development of a book in collaboration telling the story of this family.

We understand that learning about cultural heritage will always entail long-term benefits, from an eminently practical point students have strengthened and their knowledge of their own cultural heritage, as well as know the evaluation of it and the actions that .They are carried out to protect it. In this sense, the School Debate developed by the Debate Teams of both centers on the conservation of Material Heritage was very interesting. On the other hand, through the school exchanges they learned about the cultural heritage of the associated students and made comparisons between the two cultures, establishing the similarities that exist in the European cultural heritage.

In addition to the improvement of educational skills and the enhancement of knowledge, conservation and protection of the cultural heritage of both cities, with the completion of this project, students were able to improve their learning of English as a foreign language. In the same way, the National Quality Seals have been achieved in both countries, the European Quality Seal

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 32688 Eur

Project Coordinator

COLEGIO DIOCESANO ORATORIO FESTIVO DE SAN MIGUEL & Country: ES

Project Partners

• 164 Gimnazia s prepodavane na ispanski ezik “Miguel de Cervantes”