Destruyendo muros, levantando puentes. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Destruyendo muros, levantando puentes.

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: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Migrants’ issues; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship

Project Summary

Students across Europe study a second foreign language. However, it is often the case that pupils do not find a point or purpose for a modern foreign language in their immediate future, which makes them lose motivation to either retain that knowledge or maintain enthusiasm for it. In England, for example, students of low-income backgrounds are less likely to go to university and study a foreign language than their wealthier peers. In such scenario, languages are vital to bridging the gap of educational inequality. The question is “how do we engage students so that they find the use of languages for the here and now?” The answer that we found: “Languages can be used as a tool for social change”.
Thanks to eTwinning, Nottingham Girls Academy has worked for two academic years on a project that has enabled us to teach languages as a means to bring about change. Now it is the chance to expand it to IES Siberia Extremeña and open our students’ mind to the outside world.
Teaching tolerance and cultural understanding will help our students thrive and become more active citizens of their communities through language learning.
We have three main objectives:
-Improve language learning and motivation to learn.
-Encourage our students to become active citizens in their communities in relation to refugees and forced migration.
-Facilitate intercultural understanding by learning about cultural heritage and the migration of our ancestors.
We will have 12 participants from each partner school, aged between 13 and 17, and their selection will be based on a letter of application, class work and approach to learning evaluated by all their teachers.
These students have previously been working in the eTwinning projects carried out in school. We have planned a series of activities prior to the physical exchange that espouses cultural heritage, immigration, intercultural understanding, raising awareness among adults and the joint preparation of refugee week. These activities will take place through the eTwinning platform, in which we will use ICT tools to facilitate international work among our students. During the weeks in which the exchange takes place, students will prepare Refugee Week in both schools to raise funds for local organisations; some trips will also take place to explore cultural heritage. As a result, students will have acquired a better understanding of their past and how the past informs the present to raise awareness among their peers and in their communities about the growing need of becoming tolerant citizens willing to bring about change while doing this, students will have gained language skills. This project will also have an impact in both schools, as all individuals will be involved during Refugee Week, teachers and students alike. Finally, the community will benefit from it as students will raise funds for local charities.
Potentially, as a result of this work, we would have empowered young people to be active citizens with language skills, thus being better prepared for entering university, the job market and ultimately making an impact in their communities where they live.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 32463 Eur

Project Coordinator

Nottingham Girls’ Academy & Country: UK

Project Partners

• I.E.S Siberia Extremeña