MOBILE TOOLS, DYNAMIC GAMES AND COLLABORATIVE TASKS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN EFL CLASSES Erasmus Project

Project Title

MOBILE TOOLS, DYNAMIC GAMES AND COLLABORATIVE TASKS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN EFL CLASSES

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

CONTEXT
Recent studies show that using technology in the classroom can bring infinite benefits to students. First of all, it prepares students for their future careers. Also, it gives students the opportunity to enhance their interaction with students and teachers, by encouraging collaboration. As well as this, it helps students stay engaged.
However, many teachers feel overwhelmed by technology today, and even though they would like to use it more, they often do not know how or where to start. They also take the students’ proficiency level in using tech as a deterrent.
Therefore, we have decided to initiate this partnership with 5 other schools, so that we can get a wider picture about how technology and mobile applications are included in language learning. We may have different needs and levels of proficiency in using mobile apps, but we are united by the same goal – that of tailoring new learning experiences that will enable us to live up to the 21st century student’s expectations. Besides technology, we will also focus our attention on dynamic activities and collaborative tasks that can be implemented both inside and outside the EFL class, in order to create an engaging atmosphere and attract students to language learning.

OBJECTIVES
– to increase the mobile apps usage, dynamic games and collaborative tasks in language classes by at least 50% in the first year and 100% after the second year
– to improve the level of satisfaction of students by at least 40% after each project year
– to improve the language teaching methodology by transferring best practices identified in each school
– to develop participants’ language skills by at least 20% as compared with initial test results
– to improve collaboration, team work and communication skills of students and teachers
– to raise students’ and teachers’ awareness of EU culture, citizenship and values through mobility opportunities
– to increase the European dimension of the school and initiate a network of EFL teachers across Europe

ACTIVITIES
C1. EFL teaching across Europe – comparative analysis of methods and curricula in the 6 partner countries
C2. Grammar and vocabulary through mobile apps, dynamic games and collaborative tasks
C3. Reading skills through mobile apps, dynamic games and collaborative tasks
C4. Listening skills through mobile apps, dynamic games and collaborative tasks
C5. Writing skills through mobile apps, dynamic games and collaborative tasks
C6. Speaking skills through mobile apps, dynamic games and collaborative tasks
C7. Assessment through mobile apps, dynamic games and collaborative tasks

PARTICIPANTS
The first category of participants are students aged 15-16 in our schools (approx. 1500). Out of these, we will select 120 sts who will have an active role on the entire duration of the project (20/country). Each country will also establish a number of 5 sts as reserves, in case unexpected situations occur that may prevent selected ones from participating. These students come from a mixture of categories – well off and financially challenged, high and low achievers, sts with minority backgrounds and mainstream sts.
Teachers – 10 EFL teachers will participate in the joint-staff training event planned for the beginning of the project.

RESULTS
– 6 Sets of materials, activities and lesson plans proposed by teachers for each skill / content area
– the final e-book (each partner is responsible for a chapter)
– comparative study and analysis of EFL teaching across EU schools
– students’ initial and final EFL evaluation scores
– initial and final project evaluation tools
– students’ workshop results
– videos and podcasts created by students for teaching foreign students their own language
– methodology for integration of technology in the EFL classroom
Other results: Europass documents, certificates, school presentations (Animoto), individual evaluation reports of sending institutions, exchange reports of receiving institutions, articles, dissemination materials, feedback and self-assessment forms, observation sheets, testimonials, dissemination materials and platforms etc.

IMPACT
The project contributes to the development of the institutions from various perspectives.
First of all, our schools will increase their Erasmus+ project management capacity. We will be more prepared to initiate future project, to organize project activities and manage the risks. Also, the schools strengthen their European dimension. EFL teachers are expected to create networks which will identify new opportunities for collaboration in the future.
Secondly, our teachers will be more motivated to participate in the school activities, and to contribute to the development of the institution.
Our institutions will become more attractive to future students.
Schools become more appreciated in the local school networks. We will become resources for other schools in our regions which want to join Erasmus+ partnerships or use our project results.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 195145 Eur

Project Coordinator

Colegiul National “Vasile Alecsandri”, Bacau & Country: RO

Project Partners

• COLEGIO EL BUEN PASTOR
• 6o GENIKO LYKEIO NEAS SMYRNIS
• Kemalpasa Ferzent Bulum Anadolu Lisesi
• Stredni zdravotnicka skola a Vyssi odborna skola zdravotnicka, Plzen, Karlovarska 99
• Stav skole