From the literature to the cinema Erasmus Project

Project Title

From the literature to the cinema

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

“Literature to the cinema” was born as a result of the tenacity and work of a group of teachers who firmly committed themselves to enriching their students’ education through experiences beyond the classroom.
One of the objectives of the project was to stimulate a sense of belonging to Europe in students, teachers and, in short, in the entire educational community, through active work with literary works from different European countries which, due to their impact at an international level, had been translated into English and brought to the cinema.
The development of the project clearly showed that reading is a fundamental tool for learning, expanding vocabulary and activating of thinking. In short, books fulfilled their role of transforming people through their pages. To this was added the prominence acquired by the cinema as an educational tool for young people. The cinema served to inspire and contribute values, and the combination of both resulted in a very enriching and positive experience.
Reading was the supply of the words that revived his conscience and cinema, knew as a real art from its beginnings and as a document of the life in each period, enriched their imagination and helped them to better understand the historical moments that served as a background for the Project books, where literature and cinema were closely connected. Although our students, like most young people, usually were bigger consumers of cinema than literature, after the project, it was achieved to approach literature to our students through the cinema.
Throughout the project it became clear that languages executed a vital function in order to strengthen the cooperation, to achieve a quality education for all, to build conciliatory knowledge societies and to preserve the cultural heritage. Encouraging multilingualism was equal to motivate humanities and arts, together with maths and sciences. All together was part of a comprehensive education.
Before any of the meetings, students did different activities around different books that had been chosen for every school. In every meeting, the organized activities dealed with the corresponding book and film. Moreover, students becomed writers, actor and actress, scriptwriters, critics, poster and book cover designers, etc. They had the opportunity to visit places directly related with the cinema and to receive masterclasses of writers and comic book designer. They looked for the European print in every city they visited, organized a book market with charitable purposes, took part in several European congress, round tables and book discussion clubs, organized a new European literature award, wrote a short story about “We are Europe” and adapted this story to the screen and, of course, touch in deep contact with other European cultures, which it becomed easier to develop values as human dignity, respect, democracy, tolerance, human rights, etc.
The success of the project supposed for the students that they developed European identity by exchanging experiences with their colleagues, get a higher level of European culture, improved their languages skills, recognized the importance of learning foreign languages, met another European students and established a long-term friendship and developed human values. They were basic tools for them to feel Europe nearer.
On the other hand, the students developed the necessary ICT skills to implement the project and communicate with others European colleagues, ICT tools were fundamental pieces for the students to have an easy access to the whole world. Connecting literature, cinema, languages and ICT supposed a perfect cocktail to develop our project and to get their objectives.
Finally, teachers were engaged in this project with European colleagues in a collaborative team-work, updated pedagogical skills through the share of experience, improved their languages skills learning through literature and cinema and experienced different educational systems. The whole schools have been renovated with this Erasmus Project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 95680 Eur

Project Coordinator

IES El Carmen & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Gymnasium Bürgerwiese Dresden
• Lycée Margueritte
• Gimnazjum numer 13 w Gorzowie Wielkopolskim