When I graduated from university and officially became a member of teachers world, I decided to have a partnership with teachers in different EU countries. I carried out a language-based Comenius Project with schools from England, Italy, Spain, Austria, Greece and Poland. Its name was Past, Present and Future.
In our project our students developed word-processing and researching skills, ability of communicating in English through net. Kids presented their region, country, traditions and had to compare and to see how European citizens can live together in the same future, and with a different Past and Present. Their exchanges developed this dialogue. The net meetings through webcams were a REAL dialogue due to English. We wanted to promote European and patriotic values, and to help kids with learning foreign languages – to develop their motivation in a real context.
I’m now preparing a new language-based project for my new school with schools from Wales, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. I had a project preparatory visit with other teachers in Greece two weeks ago.
Last May, when we were coming back to Turkey from Greece, one of my students told me “Teacher, thank you very much for taking us to Greece. I’m now more aware of importance of learning English”. This sums up why I'm so enthusiastic about these projects. She created a need to learn English by herself. This increased her motivation. I heard similar things when we were coming back from other countries.
I strongly recommend Comenius Projects. In my next posts, I’m going to write about other international collaboration opportunities for teachers and students.
John Amos Comenius, the father of modern education, will be proud of you. To learn more about Comenius Programme and my experience please click the shortcuts below.
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Comments
Rıght now I am also involved in a Comenius project. ıt is called "Urban Kids Tribes". The countries we are working with are Sweden, France, Italy and Greece. In April, a colleague and I will be taking 12 grade 8 students to Paris to visit our partner school there. We are very excited about it! This is the third Comenius Project my school has been involved in but the first one I have been able to contribute to myself. In the future I hope to be able to participate in many more.
:-) CoffeeAddict
Dear Bülent hoca,
You have done a fantastic job. As teachers, if we want to raise successful generations, we need to create opportunities for our students. I believe that your students will never forget this experience and when they are grown up, they will spread the word and help others benefit the similar experiences they had before.
Good morning CoffeAddict,
It's really important for teachers and students to visit foreign countries and observe the classes there. It contribute a lot to their motivation. The students are actively involved in project activities and mobility visits. I'm really happy to see that objectives of Comenius Project are achieved after these partnerships. It also make great contributions to teachers' educational horizons by being able to observe different kinds of teaching styles and good practices. I hope more teachers will be involved in Comenius actions.
Bülent
Hi Osman,
Thank you very much for your comment. You are right. Students never forget this experience and this increase their motivation and self-esteem.
Bülent