Europe-hurray! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Europe-hurray!

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 : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

The project “Europa-juchhe! – Europe-hurray!” was planned and set out into practise by two student groups of Franz-Marc-Schule, Duesseldorf, Germany and The Lindfield School, Eastbourne, UK. Both schools are special needs schools and teach students with severe learning difficulties and mental disabilities.

Together with the students we worked on the topics of common features and differences between European countries and their people. This was done on different levels, such as reflecting the historical background of the Euopean development, former paths of migration, development of language. We also examined different or common eating rituals, food as well as music or national sports. Aspects of the recent European history (wars, the European separation, development and meaning of democracy) were also researched.

We used the media film, picture and sound for the development of the different project elements. The focus was laid on the developing of films and photographs. Filmtechniques were animation and scenes played by acting. Language was used as a universal medium by using pictures, symbols etc.

In addition the students learned basics of the partnergroup´s language. Thus at least the German students were able to communicate with their partner students in basic English.

In both schools two student groups of 10 students each were formed. Each group was taught intensively according to the project contents for one year, visited the guest country and welcomed the partner group in their school and city.

During the transnational visits both groups worked on the project related topics such as “movement in Europe”, “differences in lifestyle”, “together – apart”, “Brexit”, they made excursions into the foreign cities, to cultural sights and experienced culinary specialities (Filmmuseum Düsseldorf, Schloss Benrath, Rheinturm Düsseldorf, sightseeing tour Düsseldorf, Kölner Dom, traditionelles rheinisches Essen in einem Brauhaus; Towner gallery, Beachy Head, Brighton Museum, Brighton Pier, London, fish & chips).

In summary it can be stated, that all students profitted by this project very much (emotionally, personality-buildíng wise, linguistically, culturally, medially, in aspects of awareness of democracy and increasing interest in other cultures and people).

Involved collegues in both schools also profitted next to the project related events and contents by many cooperative conversations and exchanges in relation to tuition and education such as dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Vocational Training in the higher classes, organisation of key stage structures,…). The collegues who were not directly involved in the project were animated to implement changes in the school related to school life, tuition, organisation etc.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 47235 Eur

Project Coordinator

Franz-Marc-Schule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• The Lindfield School