Network 2 between Spain, Malta, Romania, Croatia

Luis Grajal de Blas, Spain	Gabriela Hurghis, Romania
Noel Calleja, Malta	Martin-Tino Casl, Croatia

Collaborative project: ´Sharing of information about social and cultural aspects of the countries involved using English as vehicular language´.

SCHOOLS INVOLVED 

IES PEREZ COMENDADOR:PLASENCIA. SPAIN.
´GANNI A. CILIA" PRIMARY SCHOOL, MGARR. MALTA.
NATIONAL COLLEGE ´URINEA´.BRASOV.ROMANIA.
OSNOVNA SKOLA KREATIVAN RAZVOJ S PRAVOM JAVNOSTI DEDICI, ZAGREB.CROATIA.

TIME FRAME

From March 2006 to June 2006.

PARTICIPANTS

Workshop Participants:
Luis, Noel, Gabriela, Tino

In each school: Students aged between 10 and 12, except those coming from Urinea school who were 15/16 years.

AIM

• Exchange information about local culture and traditions using the English Language.
• Summarise data collected on a web site or a CD-Rom in order to be used as a resource for cultural awareness and language development of the students in our schools.

TASKS

1. Select social and cultural topics to be dealt with by the students. A set of common topics were decided upon by the head teachers during the workshop.
2. Provide training to students in ICT tools such as creating files and insert photos; sending files attached to an e-mail; learning how to use print shop; convert a text file to a pdf file;
3. Students collect material about the chosen topics: historical heritage, cultural traditions, music, gastronomy.
4. Prepare write ups and other visual materials.
5. Share the materials with other schools by means of e-mail.
6. The students who prepared the material prepare questions on the topics to be answered by the students in the other countries.
7. Diffuse the material coming from other schools among the students, not only those involved in the research process but also the rest of student population.

OUTCOMES

• Links among schools taking part in the projects were established at all levels.
• Knowledge about the respective social and cultural contexts was increased and/or reinforced. (Cross-curricular syllabus development).
• The materials produced are being used as an educational resource to encourage students to make more use of the foreign language (English) and promote awareness of other languages.  
• Use of ICT in language learning: e.g.  video files, slides, PDF files, e-magazines,...
• Emphasis on developing materials based on the visual rather than on other aspects in order to be appealing for our students.

SKILLS

• Improving communication abilities in the English language.
• Using ICT.
• Raising language awareness.
• Presenting information in several ways.
• Appreciating other cultures and traditions.

DIFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED

• Time frames provided at the beginning of the project - the project is not yet finalised at the moment of presenting the report because the production of the material took several months.
• Material exchange using e-mail: Files used to be too big to be sent as e-mails attachments. The network members (head teachers) are looking for other means of exchanging the material.

TO IMPROVE. LOOKING BACK …

• Direct communication among students involved in the experience: it needs to be increased. It has been suggested the use of videoconference as a way of overcoming the long distance between partners. Students need/would like to get to know their counterparts personally.
• Development of activities using e-learning facilities like those provided by E TWINNING programme by European Comission (TWINSPACE)
• More realistic time frames.
• Emphasize the visual aspects to make more attractive presentations.
• Development of interactive activities in order to get a more active learning.

FUTURE COLLABORATION. PLANNING AHEAD…

• Promote exchanges among students of the different schools involved in the project, not only virtually but physically too whenever possible.
• Develop a programme similar to the one described above, aimed at showing all the activities held in each school related to cross curricular topics as well as those connected with culture and language awareness.
• Integrate our project in E-TWINNING framework.
• Produce and diffuse more materials based on images and sound like the video files released during past year work.
• Diffuse all the materials produced in other schools close to those involved in the project.