Once upon a time 4 travellers were chatting on their way. Facilitating children of ethnic minorities’ state language acquisition Erasmus Project

Project Title

Once upon a time 4 travellers were chatting on their way. Facilitating children of ethnic minorities’ state language acquisition

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

The purpose of the project was to strengthen cooperation between early childhood education and care institutions in European countries by building a well working network between the project countries. The project was aimed at developing quality and innovation in second language teaching to children of ethnic minorities, migrant and deaf community in pre-primary education.

The project addressed the specific objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, especially the teaching and learning of languages, in the project case, the second language. It also addressed the priorities in the field of early education: access and quality in pre-school education, the importance of the language development during the earliest childhood period.

The main objective of the project was to increase language teaching competences of pre-primary education for children with migrant background or ethnic minorities.

Objectives:
1) To promote networking of ECEC in European countries in language teaching acquisition for ethnic minorities in a transnational framework.
2) To improve the accessibility of education by training educational staff for diversity and inclusion education challenges.
3) To facilitate experience exchange of ECEC educational staff and to develop holistic and age appropriate collaborative approaches in state language acquisition.
4) To strengthen collaboration with parents to increase their participation in early childhood education and language learning.

The partnership included 4 pre-primary educational establishments from 4 European countries (Latvia, Belgium, Norway and Slovenia).

The project realized three main activities. The first activity “Project management”, the second – “Building teaching capacity” and the third – “Information and dissemination”.
The first activity “Project management” was created to ensure smooth and transparent project implementation according to the application and approved budget.
The second activity package – “Building teaching capacity” which consisted of LTT activities and local events was aimed at strengthening cooperation, exchanging experiences and elaborating new teaching methods and approaches in second language teaching in pre-schools.
Third activity – “Information and dissemination” was aimed to inform about project and disseminate project results. To ensure dissemination of the project results and to inform the wider society about the project activities the Facebook page Erasmusplus was created, web pages of partners institutions were used, articles about project activities were published at newspapers and internet resources in partner countries.

The project results:
Increased language teaching competences in pre-primary education for children with migrant background or ethnic minorities:
1) Educational staff of ECEC have obtained new knowledge and teaching materials in state language teaching as a second language in a holistic and age appropriate approach;
2) Educational staff of ECEC have strengthened their capacity and skills in diversity and inclusion education;
3) An online platform http://www.zgnl.si/moodle/course/view.php?id=285 created for networking and sharing experiences and methods internationally on second language teaching for children from migrant or ethnic minorities groups;
4) Raised capacity of ECEC institutions in Europe implementing language teaching programmes;
5) Increased level of state language knowledge of children with ethnic minorities’ background;
6) Parents have received help and information on early childhood language education;
7) 4 Learning/Teaching/ Training Activities have taken place in 4 countries with 49 visiting teachers involved;
8) 4 transnational project meetings have been organized in 4 countries with 40 participants;
9) 2 project reports prepared.

Impact foreseen in the project:
1) The quality of early childhood education and care have strengthened and serious long-term contribution to developing basic and transversal skills in inclusive language education was provided locally and in Europe.
2) The project has created a wider network of all stakeholders in inclusive education that will continue cooperation and will organize joint activities after the project in national and European level.
3) The project has influenced other organisations, schools and have an impact on a larger scale (attitudes in society, curriculum, teacher training, political decision making, ministries in charge, etc.) in each partner country and in Europe in general.
4) The European educational cooperation was strengthened and a serious long term contribution in the establishment of a European educational region in inclusive education was provided.
5) The project contributed to implementation of social integration policy in each partner country and in Europe.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 82900 Eur

Project Coordinator

Rigas 252. pirmsskolas izglitibas iestade & Country: LV

Project Partners

• Zavod za gluhe in naglusne Ljubljana
• Vrije gesubsidieerde kleuterschool Zusters Maricolen
• Sløyden barnehage