Your steps in our steps ! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Your steps in our steps !

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

The project ”Our steps in your steps” is an Erasmus+ school exchange which, over the course of two years (from 01/09/2020 to 30/08/2022), aims to bring together twenty-four 13 year old Italian pupils fromTommaso Aversa Compehensive School in Mistretta, Italy, and twenty-four 13 year old French pupils from Jean Mermoz College in Belleu, France. The project will aid them to work together around the theme of cultural identity by making them ambassadors of their own heritage in Europe and the world. This idea stems from the need to increase awareness in our students who travel little and have limited access todiverse and culturallyplaces and activities. The project therefore aims to combat isolation while promoting openness and tolerance, overcoming stereotypes through the knowledge of the “other”. It also aims to improve students’ awareness of their own culture, to care for it and to strengthen the link with their roots. Through the “discovery” of oneself and the other, students will also learn to appreciate the cultural differences and similarities of the two partner countries by becoming aware of a common European citizenship and identity.
The project will allow students to develop their language skills through continuous correspondence with partners on the eTwinning platform on the months leading to the mobility phase. Once abroad, the total immersion in the foreign country will push them to applythe foreign language in an every-day life context. Additionally,the project will also promote the development of students’ digital skills through the use of new computer tools in carrying out the activities planned.
Our selected methods will allow students from different levels and backgrounds (differentiated pedagogy) to embrace autonomy (flipped classroom),and strengthen the spirit of mutual aid and collaboration (cooperative learning and peer-review). Students will have to face practical problems to be solved in teams and together will have to produce a variety of outputs such as a tourist information guide,itineraries, a virtual exhibition and more. Through the collection of information and interviews with the local people, studentswillresearch theircultural traditions, explore artistic and natural beauties of their city, ultimately becoming ambassadorsfor their partner students.
The project is divided into two distinct phases over the two years.During the first year, students will invest most of their time researching and analysing the cultural heritage of their own country and mainly paper media will be produced, while the second year will be spent to learn more about their partner country. Here digital media outputs will be preferred.
The work will becarried out within the framework of the usual courses, this way most students will be able to participate and benefit from the programme. An additional hour-long lesson will be provided on a weekly basis and this will be coordinated by Mrs Manerchia, the Italian teacher and her counterpart Mr Daux, the French teacher.All other colleagues involved in the project will provide specific input and support according to the themes worked on.
The planned mobility phase (2 weeks in France and 2 in Italy) will be the highlight of the project and will be prepared throughout the year. This phase will enable a direct and concrete application of the language and cultural skills acquired during the previous activities.Direct contact with partners and their families will provide an opportunity for students to learn and appreciate the different aspects of the partner country’s culture. During these exchange trips, students, as well as teachers, will build a more realisticand humane image of the partner country through meaningful interactions and joint activities.
The project will have immediate results and long-term benefits for the students and the wider communities involved.Knowledge of a different culture, acquisition of new skills (linguistic, digital, civic…), motivation to study foreign languages, students’autonomy, independence and collaborative teamwork are only a small number of key benefits and assets that the students will gain from participating in the programme. Besides the personal enrichment, working with European partners will introduce us to other school systems, learning methods and different realities. All discoveries that can lead us to a positive reflection on our own practices.
Finally, through the production and organisation of numerous outreach activities such as evening exhibitions, cultural days and a television program broadcasted on the local network, the project will have a profound impact on all students in our schools, their families and the whole community. Ultimately this project will send out the message that through the knowledge, appreciation and promotion of the “self” we can truly welcome and engage with the “other”, this will help lay the foundations for a positive and solid feeling of European citizenship and identity.

Project Website

http://vospasdansnospas.wordpress.com

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 65926 Eur

Project Coordinator

ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Collège Jean Mermoz