Progress Report (1/10/2024)
Which activities have already been carried out? Which are still planned? Are there any changes compared to the application?
The first transnational activity was able to go ahead as planned in Delft (Netherlands).
During this meeting (8-12 January 2024), the following activities were carried out:
Workshop on heritage in general (outlining a theoretical framework)
Workshop on heritage education and the integration of heritage in language lessons.
Attending a language lesson at Museum Gouda.
Realisation of 3 language lessons in a heritage context. These lesson scenarios form the basis of our main output: the toolkit HeriTalk. The lessons were presented by the different participants, then discussed and assessed by all participants, making emphasis on feedback.
Organisation of some informal activities to get to know each other better and thus strengthen the social cohesion of the group.
Realisation of Impact+ Exercise workshop by the coordinators.
The design of a template for the creation of language lessons was made by one of the Belgian participants before the mobility. This template was tested by all participants in Delft and has since been adapted based on the feedback.
The second transnational activity took place in Hasselt (Belgium) between 22 and 26 April 2024.
During this meeting, the following activities were carried out:
Workshop on using digital tools for the creation of a language lesson with focus on heritage.
Workshop with reminiscence kit of local heritage partner (Ecru) to discuss and get to know local heritage (religion, care, school, leisure and work)
Realisation of 6 language lessons in a heritage context. These lesson scenarios form the basis of our main output: the toolkit HeriTalk. The lessons were presented by the different participants, then discussed and assessed by all participants, making emphasis on feedback.
Testing (with learners and all participants of the transnational meeting) of 4 language activities in a heritage context with integration of digital tools. Thanks to the feedback from participating students and European partners, we slightly adapted our 4 elaborated lessons.
Visit to open-air museum Bokrijk: during the ‘fun and games’ experience route, heritage experience was linked to knowledge about Flemish daily life in the early 20th century.
Meeting of the coordination team to monitor the project in the interim: budget, communication, implementation, impact ...
The third transnational meeting will take place between 4 and 8 November in Las Palmas (Spain).
During this activity - as planned in the application - we will learn from the strengths of the Spanish partner: their experience on developing linguistic communicative tasks in extramural activities (Erasmus+project Decca) and the know-how of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS).
The fourth activity is scheduled to take place in Naples (Italy). We will visit our Italian partner between 24 and 28 February 2025, they will share with us their expertise on inclusion and participation of fewer opportunities groups and the extensive knowledge on Epale's opportunities.
During the mobilities in Spain and Italy, we will continue to work on the realisation of language lessons for our toolkit.
Some minor changes happened compared to the application.
In Delft, we had not only the coordinators participate for 5 days, but all participants (coordinators and teachers) took part in the transnational meeting for 5 days instead of 3 days.
In Hasselt, a planned activity of attending a language class applying some digital tools was replaced by the workshop with the suitcase of memories. Because of the bad weather, 4 instead of 5 language lessons were tested (extra mural).
Our Italian and Spanish partner decided to participate with one teacher less due to the price increases of air tickets and accommodation. However, they will allow more teachers to participate when acting as host institutions.
What objectives and effects (impact) have already been achieved? What are the expectations regarding this (again, compared to the application)?
These objectives have already been achieved:
Creation of 11 lesson scenarios for the toolkit HeriTalk :
We developed 11 language lessons in a heritage context during the 2 transnational meetings (anticipated number was 9). Thanks to professional feedback from the Erfgoedhuis Zuid-Holland team, the lessons written out were analysed and adapted where necessary.
Professionalisation of teachers:
Thanks to the participation in a language lesson in Museum Gouda, teachers not only got to know the methodologies for language lessons in a museum, but also realised the benefits of learning outside school walls in a more informal context.
During the transnational meeting in Hasselt, all participants involved learned about the possibilities of digital tools in creating a language lessons in a heritage context.
Increasing awareness about heritage:
During the first workshops on heritage and heritage education, all participants learned that heritage is everywhere and belongs to everyone. Indeed, heritage connects present, past and future.
Increase in European cooperation:
Transnational activities have enabled the dissemination of ideas, the transfer of good practices and expertise and enabled the development of various competences. For many participants, these activities were their first Erasmus+ experience, they were very satisfied and would recommend an Erasmus experience to their colleagues (survey).
Increase in students' language competences:
A group of students from PCVO MT participated in a number of language lessons as a test audience. This participation not only improved the students' communicative skills, but also improved the quality of the language lesson thanks to their feedback.
We also had participants complete a survey after each activity. Based on the results of this survey, we can confirm the achievement of the above objectives.
We expect that we will also be able to achieve the objectives during the next 2 meetings.
Moreover, we have been able to generate additional results: in the meantime, both the Spanish and Belgian partners have adapted their curriculum with a new course on language and heritage. At PCVO Modern Languages, the ‘Nederlands op stap’ course was launched in September, allowing NT2 students to enhance their speaking skills outside school in museums and other heritage sites. At our Spanish partner, the course ‘English through artistic and cultural manifestations’ is being organised.
What problems/obstacles did you face? How did you and your project partners address them?
Cooperation between the partners is going very well. So far, only a few minor changes have happened to our initial planning.
Our Italian and Spanish partners have decided to participate with one less teacher each time due to the price increases of air tickets and accommodation. However, they will allow more lecturers to participate when acting as host institutions.
During the second mobility, one of the Spanish participants had to return home early due to a serious accident of a family member.