Promote European Traditions by means of dual language teaching Erasmus Project

Project Title

Promote European Traditions by means of dual language teaching

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

The project “Promote European traditions by means of dual language instruction” dealt with the topic of dual-language instruction in primary schools. Contrary to traditional foreign language instruction, dual-language instruction ensures that a continual curriculum is presented simultaneously in two languages. Just as children in bilingual families in which one parent speaks one language and the other parent speaks another, so to should the instruction be of the primary schools in our partner institutions. Supported by research (Virginia Collier and Wayne Thomas (USA)), we the partners of this project believe that this method of foreign language procurement is also the most effective for children in their primary years. They acquire simultaneously subject content and foreign language, and this in a way proven to be quicker and more effective; therefore, they have a real chance to acquire three foreign languages during their schooling as stipulated by the EU. Furthermore, early acquisition of foreign languages lays the foundation for life-long learning of foreign languages. The utilization of a dual-language approach in primary schools does however pose certain difficulties. The question, which we have posed ourselves, is how can two teachers (in a Team Teaching situation) be or become organized and how authentic must they be, in order to create conditions similar to those in a bilingual family. Is this even possible? All partner schools in the project already had experience with bilingual education at a very different level. They all had similar implementation problems and wanted to improve their teaching in order to provide optimized and highly effective bilingual education in their institution. Given the diversity of partner schools, their different economic and educational backgrounds, the project has also explored whether there are other extracurricular factors affecting the quality of bilingual education in primary schools. In addition to training material for teachers and teacher training institutions on the topic of team teaching and dual language approach, the project has also created an interactive online platform where interested institutions, pupils, teachers or parents can find out about the project work and actively contribute it. The project developed 9 bilingual learning units on the topic of “traditions”, which were then implemented in schools and with the students. The students also dealt with traditional festivals, dishes, music, stories and costumes in their own and partner countries. During the visits of the students in their partner schools, lesson results (a book on European traditions and Venn diagrams “Together we are different”) were developed and compared together. These instructional materials, created in bilingual education and exchanges, were uploaded and published by the students on Twin Space. The students have often exchanged in four different languages ​​in this authentic learning context. Through the project, there was an increase in public attention and recognition at all schools. The project also gave schools the opportunity to find a clear profile, to try out the dual language approach in school practice and to enrich the teaching in their institution. Furthermore, all schools opened up for the European area, establishing long and effective partnerships and increasing tolerance, cosmopolitanism and self-initiative among students, teachers and parents.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 86055 Eur

Project Coordinator

International school of Stuttgart Sindelfingen Campus & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Onderwijsstichting Esprit
• ESCOLA PLA DE MAR
• Narva Paju school