Medieval architectures and european identity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Medieval architectures and european identity

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: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Creativity and culture; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

CONTEXT:
Our project is called (A.M.I.E), “Architecture Médiévale et Identité Européenne” (Medieval Architecture and European Identity). It is about major medieval architectures in their religious, civil, politic or military functions.
There are many reasons which led us to present this project :
– our pupils generally have a shallow knowledge of their European roots in spite of the numerous landmarks which surround them.
– our pupils share the same difficulty to learn foreign languages.
– more generally, some pupils are in need of motivation and are often left behind.
– as far we are geographically disadvantaged (rural areas, fringes, islanders), there are also pupils who are socially and economically deprived. They lack ambition as they think their future is all planned out.

PARTICIPANTS:
The A.M.I.E. project will include 3 partners schools from France, Spain and Italy during 24 months. In total, 122 pupils aged from 12 to 15 are concerned.
In France, 4 dual languages classes of 5eme (English / Spanish) are concerned, that means 44 pupils a year, for a total of 88 pupils for the project.
In Spain, 4 classes are concerned, that means 44 pupils a year for a total of 88 pupils for the project.
The Italian school is bilingual (English and Spanish). 4 groups of 10 pupils each are concerned, that means 20 pupils a year, for a total of 40 pupils for the project.
Over the two years, they will exchange, discover and create bonds to learn about other countries and other cultures by collaborating to this innovating European project.

AIMS :
1 : REINFORCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUPIL : first by promoting languages. Then, by discovering the European heritage. Finally, in a constantly changing world, by widening the horizons of our pupils beyond a local or national ambition.
2 : HELP THE CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT : first by meeting the other and overcoming boundaries, may they be geographical, linguistic or economic. Then, by reinforcing his role of European citizen. Eventually, by developing basic skills such as social cohesion, tolerance, open-mindedness…
3 : MAKE OUR TEACHING PRACTICE PROGRESS : First, by guaranteeing better knowledge through firsthand experience. Then, by introducing new methods in our practices. Lastly, by using innovative approaches.

ACTIVITIES :
In CLASS, the pupils will do various activities : exchange mails, create videos, participate to workshops, visit places of interest, do a report, make a model… This is a plurilingual project that aims at promoting communication between European pupils using cooperation.
During the periods spent abroad, among the diverse activities offered, the pupils will create one-minute-long videos to present the different sites using either French , English or Spanish. They will draw sketches of the important architectural traits and they will make architectural models . Thus, they will be the actors of their learning process.

METHODOLOGY :
The pupils will build their knowledge (aim 1) in regards to foreign langages thanks to an increased use of digital tools (eTwinning, audioguides, videoconferences). They will have to use the newly-gained knowledge to acquire skills for their academic or professional future.
The cultural visits will enable them to understand the roots of the European identity, through architecture and history so that the pupils will reach an extensive knowledge (aim 1).
The trips will enable them to create bonds and to blossom in meeting other people (aim 2).
The teachers will diversify their teaching practices by collaborating with their colleagues in transnational teams (aim 3).

EXPECTED RESULTS :
We would like to offer our pupils :
– A CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: they will obtain solid knowledge about European architectural heritage.
– LINGUISTIC IMPROVEMENT : we hope that our pupils who have chosen plurilinguism will get a sense of fulfilment by learning foreign languages differently through this project.
– AN INTERNATIONAL OPEN-MINDEDNESS : the meetings will enable the pupils to go beyond national level and reinforce their sense of belonging to Europe. We, teachers, expect a greater efficiency of our TEACHING METHODS by exchanging and collaborating with our European partners.

EXPECTED IMPACT :
– confidence and self-esteem of pupils shall increase.
– attractiveness of our schools shall be reinforced by the opening of a new European section.
– pupils’course choice will be broadened by discovering jobs in relation to the project.

LONG-TERM ADVANTAGE :
– This project will help the pupils to plan on chosing a greater mobility and a more ambitious curriculum ( European Classes, International schools, Euroregions…).
– A twinning will make these two-year exchanges more durable.
– Our teaching practices will have progressed and we will share our new skills.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 12000 Eur

Project Coordinator

collège Pierre Fouché & Country: FR

Project Partners

• IES Luis Barahona de Soto
• Thomas More Scuola Paritaria Scarl