Champions of Languages and Minorities Erasmus Project

Project Title

Champions of Languages and Minorities

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: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Creativity and culture; Romas and/or other minorities

Project Summary

We wanted to carry out this project since we felt that young people today, affected by today’s economic hardships, unstable political climate as well as strong influence of globalisation, do not have a very strong enough sense of belonging. In addition, they do not understand the importance of their cultural heritage and the role it plays in shaping their identity. The aim of our project was therefore to make students realize the importance of language and their own culture for shaping identity and gain a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage.

The project was carried out in cooperation with six secondary schools from Italy, Switzerland, Wales, Scotland, Poland and Finland, each of which was located in an area where a minority language is spoken. There were quite big differences regarding the size and status of the minority language and the current problems the minorities were facing, which provided our participants with a good basis for comparison and building new knowledge together.

The project was structured around three subtopics and the methodological approach to these topics included activities which focused on reflection, analysis, creative and critical thinking. It also integrated several different school subjects.

The project activities we did during the project focused on the following subtopics:
1) Understanding your own culture & identity and
2) Understanding the historical and geographical significance
3) Understanding the concept minority, what role the minority plays in society (now and in the future) and what the students themselves can do to maintain the minority

At the end of the project, we can conclude that the participants have gained a deeper understanding of their own language and cultural heritage. They have learnt about other minority cultures and the threats they are facing in today’s society and thus become better prepared for how to solve these issues in the future. They have furthermore started to appreciate their minority culture and language more because they are aware of the relationship between their cultural heritage and their identity. In addition, students have realized how important bilingualism or plurilingualism is in our globalized world. Finally, the participants have increased their intercultural competence, English language skills and their ability to do research, analyse results and think creatively and critically.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 98240 Eur

Project Coordinator

Gymnasiet Grankulla samskola & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Oberschulzentrum Sterzing
• Katolickie Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace im. Romualda Traugutta w Chojnicach
• Ysgol Dinas Bran
• James Gillespie’s High School