ENGaGE: Digital English and German task bank for 4th-8th class dyslexic learners Erasmus Project

Project Title

ENGaGE: Digital English and German task bank for 4th-8th class dyslexic learners

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Disabilities – special needs

Project Summary

Dyslexic learners( DL) represent a group of learners with special educational needs typically educated, in line with EU and local legislation, in integrated classes in most European countries including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the UK. However, teachers often lack awareness, training and resources to cater for DLs’ special needs in mixed ability classes as indicated by previous projects (DysTEFL 1-2, CalDys2) we intend to build on. Although there are some English resources meant for DLs on the international market, materials in German are scarce, and in the target countries of designed task bank (Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) there are no bilingual learning materials for individual learner use or differentiated classroom work to provide targeted support for DLs. To cater for this educational need, the project aimed to produce a flexible, thematically organised English and German digital task bank for DLs and their inclusive primary school classes across grades 4th-8th (age group 10-14), up to proficiency level A2 according to CEFR. It contains skills development tasks addressing the difficulties of DLs, graded tasks allowing for alternative solutions of the same assignment, as well as open-ended individual and group project tasks encouraging a task-based approach and cooperative learning. As a specificity, ENGaGE is based on a multilingual and multicultural approach providing native language support in the languages of, and (inter)cultural content related to the target countries: Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. “Screenager”, the digital surface hosting the material is an innovative, teacher operated educational platform. It fosters a multisensory approach to learning with more than ten task types and the possibility to integrate a wide variety of materials (games, videos, pictures, word and pdf files, etc.), as well as an optional monitoring function for teachers to follow and shape learner progress individually (NOTE: the Screenager Classroom function is tied to registration and fee, and is not part of the project outcomes).
The project has been realised in the cooperation of seven partner institutions from four countries: the University of Miskolc, the University of Szeged, Lingua-Met Gp. and Navigates Up. from Hungary, Lancaster University (UK), Masaryk University (Czech Republic) and Warsaw University (Poland). The partners have contributed to the project a broad spectrum of expertise including educational research and teacher training practice in the field of learning with SEN, and developing digital learning platforms and printed course materials for the targeted age group with and without SEN. Communication and cooperation between the partners was facilitated by five partner meetings.
The activities completed within the framework of the project include the development of the ENGaGE digital course in English and German with audio recordings and animated audiovisual materials produced with the Powtoons Animated Video Builder platform, built-in language games, sample lesson plans, a Teacher Training Programme, Teacher’s Manual (in English and German) and Learner’s Guides (Czech, English, German, Hungarian and Polish). The Task Bank was piloted and improved with the help of the associated partner schools using the Screenager Classroom function, which enabled the teachers and learners to provide online feedback on the lessons.
To familiarise language teachers with the potential of the ENGaGE course and digital materials to individualise the learning process, a Teacher Training Programme was conducted locally in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland.
The results have been disseminated on the project’s website, Twitter and Facebook accounts, the websites and social media sites of the partners, in Lancaster University’s Dyslexia and Language Teaching Massive Open Online Learning Course, on the EU’s School Education Gateway platform, in various media appearances, academic publications and presentations, and at three multiplication events organised in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. The lectures of the Closing Conference in Miskolc have been recorded and are available on the project homepage.
The project aims to raise awareness of the special educational needs of DLs in foreign language learning, and provide ideas and resources for teachers to facilitate their individualised treatment in mixed-ability classes. Awareness and information might help teachers to develop a more supportive and proactive attitude towards the education of DLs. For DLs the course offers a tailor-made, attractive learning environment to increase their engagement, motivation, activity and subsequently improve foreign language attainment. Potential long-term benefits might include a decrease in the exemption of DLs from foreign language learning, and their greater involvement in learning (even multiple) foreign languages.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 219541 Eur

Project Coordinator

MISKOLCI EGYETEM & Country: HU

Project Partners

• Masarykova univerzita
• LINGUA-MET Nyelvpedagógiai KKT
• UNIVERSITY OF LANCASTER
• UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI
• NAVIGATES Bt.
• SZEGEDI TUDOMANYEGYETEM