New areas for foreign language learning

A previous e-Twinning project on “Easter: diversity of traditions”, which was carried out the year before, allowed students the exchange of letters, literary texts, videos and video calls in their target language. This activity was the forerunner of the project.The participating schools shared the need to improve the effectiveness of foreign language teaching and learning, with stronger student motivation and a greater involvement of the school community. We both needed support for our own projects related to foreign language teaching and learning (bilingualism or similar), and to strengthen the European perspective included in our educational projects.OBJECTIVES:General objectives:The aim of the project was to develop good learning practices in the field of foreign languages by introducing the use of out-of-the-class environments. We wanted to investigate how the natural environment and the exhibition areas in the cities impact student motivation when learning a foreign language.Specific objectives:The following were included in our participation application:- Design proposals for classroom activities to develop teaching units concerning different subjects and involving foreign languages.- Improve the linguistic competence of the students and their motivation to get to know other cultures.- Have other teachers involved in the implementation of activities which are curricular and linguistically of interest.- Increase a sense of belonging to the European community.PARTICIPANTS:IES Pedro Mercedes, Cuenca, Spain, provided its broad previous experience in the management of European projects to coordinate the present project. The association benefited from both the natural and the artistic resources in the surroundings to develop the activities.Rigas Valsts 3. gimnazija, Riga, Latvia, provided its potential in the study of foreign languages and sports, apart from the natural, cultural and technological resources of its surroundings.Students and teachers:The activities of the project meant the mobility of 40 students aged between 16 and 19. Around 350 students of Secondary, A-levels and Vocational Training took part in other activities of the project.All students in both schools participated in the activities related to Europe Day.Close to 25 teachers took part directly in the design and development of the different activities of the project. All teachers followed both the development and the assessment of the project through the school collegiate bodies.RESULTS / IMPACT:16 didactic units were developed, together with worksheets to use in the classroom. They were aimed at foreign language teachers and teachers of other subjects who teach in a foreign language.Different kinds of activities were carried out: activities related to sports, the natural environment, orienteering, literary production, arts, history, geography, as well as laboratory practice, the use of robots in the classroom, artistic production and drama.Learning among peers and task-based learning were encouraged. The exchange of information meant the use of information and communication technologies. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted, with a coordinated intervention of different didactic departments.The main impact of the project was an increase in student motivation towards the learning of foreign languages, and their growing interest to get to know other European cultures. Besides, the project meant a development of good learning practices in foreign language and a higher degree of parental involvement in the education process.In the long run, the production of didactic material, together with a deepening in teacher training will mean a permanent improvement in the teaching and learning of foreign languages.