Aus Nachbarn werden Freunde Erasmus Project

Project Title

Aus Nachbarn werden Freunde

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; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

The project “Neighbours become friends“ is based on the coming together of a German and a Dutch teacher who wanted to give their students an understanding of the other culture with the help of different forms of encounters
First of all, they recognized that although the Netherlands and Germany are nations which have many ties, there are, among others because of the historical background, still certain prejudices against the other nation and/or inadequate, limited knowledge of the neighbour state. To study the current situation of these aspects and to confront the students consciously with the stereotypes so that they question them, the idea was created that the German-Dutch neighbourhood of both schools should develop within the context of digital and personal encounters into a friendship in which they learn together, from each other and with the support of each other.
Goals, that should be achieved through the joint project of the Pieter Groen College (NL) and the Schule am Osterfehn (DE), are next to strengthening the tolerance towards the other nation and individual personal development of the participants, also the improvement of foreign language skills, getting to know international career options and the development of a lasting international cooperation between both schools.

For the implementation two Realschule classes and one Hauptschule class of the current seventh grade with 42 students of the Schule am Osterfehn and two Havo classes of the second grade with 78 students of the Pieter Groen College work together. The students are all between 12 and 14 years old and, therefore, often share similar interests. The working language should be German in the first place because the Dutch students have the subject German for half a year and the German students raise awareness for the usage of their mother tongue.

At the beginning of the project the students have to complete a questionnaire about the previous knowledge and the attitude towards the other nation. Then the students create their own “profile“ so that they can get a matching partner. The German students get in some cases two partners. After receiving the profile(s) the students get to know each other better on a digital level with e-mail contact and eTwinning. This digital contact should be maintained during the complete project.

In December 2019 selected Dutch students visit Ostrhauderfehn for three days and in June 2020 selected German students visit Katwijk for three days. The selection of the students is not based on the school achievement, but on reliability and interest. Because of the selection of the participants the exchange visits are even more interesting and desirable for the students.
The stays include different aspects to learn about the cultures and for the students to get to know each other like participation in school, family, sport, culture and typical age-related activities and company and city tours.
Ending the project in spring 2021 both schools visit the Dutch city Zwolle, which is in the centre of both schools, for three days. There the Dutch and German students learn new things, see things they have not seen before and deepen their friendships. In Zwolle they can celebrate their project. As a last resort the students should complete again the questionnaire of the beginning of the project.

With the help of the questonnaires differences in the knowledge, the attitude and opinions of the students towards the other nation before and after the project can be seen. Because of the cooperation with students of the other nation the learners question stereotypes and are open-minded towards other cultures. The project should show the students that in Europe’s unlimited togetherness there are lots of possibilities for their career plans.

With the help of the project everybody involved will gain memorable experiences and so develop the individual personality. The best result of the project would be if lifelong friendships between the students and the teachers were built. Moreover, a sustaines school partnership with regular exchanges which could be expanded with including the vocational Rihnmond College (NL) in Katwijk.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 62916 Eur

Project Coordinator

Schule am Osterfehn & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Andreas College Locatie Pieter Groen