Following the intercultural path of Europe – exposing similitarities and differences Erasmus Project

Project Title

Following the intercultural path of Europe – exposing similitarities and differences

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: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

The focus of this student exchange between the Spinoza Lyceum Gymnasium Amsterdam and the BG/BRG Leibnitz was to establish an understanding of sustainability, as well as the intercultural and cultural similarities and differences between the two countries. In addition, the English language has been strengthened as a key competence for European exchange. English is the lingua franca and thus the medium and common denominator, which is supposed to lead the young people of both cultures to an understanding of interculturality.

In order to prepare the project intensively and sustainably, a four-day informal meeting took place in Leibnitz before the start of the project, during which the students made initial contact and the participating teachers discussed the cornerstones of this project.

The first official mobility focused on the experience of Dutch culture and Dutch everyday life. The Austrian pupils were accommodated by Dutch host families and were integrated into daily routines- thus experiencing the transnational similarities, but also differences from close range. In addition to cultural experiences, the focus was also on the networking of the students, which was intensified by a variety of joint trips and activities. Adding to those workshops in the various museums, the Dutch students also presented their school and the Dutch educational system.

In order to encourage Austrian students to constantly reflect on what had been experienced and learned, as well as to further promote linguistic competence, they were encouraged to record their daily experiences in the form of video diaries.

The first mobility accordingly focused on experiencing and learning Dutch culture and identity, whereby the differences and similarities were worked out through discussions among the students. In addition to the linguistic component, the emphasis was also placed on digitalization, which was achieved by reflection in the form of video diaries. As the pupils’ social contact continues to exist two years after the first informal meeting, the sustainability of this first section must also be emphasized.

To accommodate the field of digitalization, work assignments were given to the pupils. In order to ensure the international networking of both schools, the internet platforms “e-twinning” and “Padlet” were used. In concrete terms, there were four different areas on which the students produced presentations and texts. These were the history of the two countries, the different school systems in Austria and Holland, politics (also in the changing of time – monarchy, dictatorship, democracy) and culture (architecture, sightseeing, music).

As no second mobility was possible due to the prevailing pandemic, all workshops shifted to the digital space. In addition to the topics already mentioned, the pupils of the BRG Leibnitz also produced presentations and texts that dealt with the EU, its current problems (e.g. Brexit), the various European school systems and Austria’s position in the EU. These presentations were then uploaded to the e-twinning platform to provide the Dutch students with an insight.
Further educational activities were held, in addition to experiencing and visiting cultural-specific localities together, by teaching units dealing with European cultural heritage, which included other media starting with the language.

Since the pandemic also prevented the planned second mobility and thus the joint workshops were not possible, the BRG Leibnitz ensured the theoretical input for the participants of this project through specially held workshops. In addition to topics such as “Cultural connection between popular music and painting,” as well as the already mentioned thematic focuses on the European Union and the Austrian position, Dutch topics were also developed in order to substantiate the experience with theoretical knowledge and promote sustainability. The Austrian students worked out presentations and texts on Dutch architecture, sights, etc.

The activities mentioned above, and in particular the reflection and development of awareness of cultural differences, are intended to bring about a sustainable process of opening up young people to other cultures, to the pan-European cultural heritage, but also intercultural differences.

Project Website

https://gym-leibnitz.lima-city.de/erasmusplus/current-projects/wege-zur-europaeischen-interkulturalitaet

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 29961,54 Eur

Project Coordinator

BG/BRG Leibnitz & Country: AT

Project Partners

• Spinoza lyceum