Developing and sharing foreign language resources and teaching methods Erasmus Project

Project Title

Developing and sharing foreign language resources and teaching methods

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Pedagogy and didactics; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Our main aim of the project was to develop and share foreign language resources and teaching methods across countries and institutions. This was due to government cuts in funding, schools can no longer afford to pay for Spanish teachers and therefore primary school teachers are expected to deliver modern foreign languages in key stage two classrooms. Alongside this, there were not many training opportunities for primary school teachers to develop their modern foreign language skills We aimed to work together to achieve a more thorough and creative approach to language learning. Our project aimed to support class teachers in the confident delivery of modern foreign languages. Furthermore, it was hoped that we could support teachers in developing strong links across schools so that support could be given.

There were two English schools that were involved in the exchange with a Spanish school. Each English school hoped to send 24 participants over the period of two years, to include the senior leadership team (to oversee the project) and key stage two teachers. Alongside this, El Pinar hoped to send 8 teachers to the English schools over the same period of time.

Teachers who took part in the exchange, were able to complete a range of activities whilst in their partner school. They spent time observing and communicating with teachers from the partnering country, discussing effective ways of planning and delivering lessons in a creative and engaging way. In addition to this, teachers observed, taught as a team and then delivered a selection of language lessons with the support of their partner school. During the visits, staff were timetabled to communicate with their own class via a video call. The children were enthused and immersed into the target language.

The impact envisaged was that staff would be supported with the production of an online file which would contain a collection of useful and creative lesson plans and resources. ETwinning was hoped to be used throughout the project. We aimed that the long term benefit would be that teachers would be more confident in the planning and delivery of a modern foreign language. Another long term aim was to develop a more global curriculum by forming direct links with European schools.

Project Website

https://www.sandilands.manchester.sch.uk/curriculum/spanish/erasmus-school-exchange-project

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 40100 Eur

Project Coordinator

Sandilands Primary School & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Rack House Primary School
• COLEGIO EL PINAR S.A.L