basic information
THE INITIATIVE PROMOTER’S PERSPECTIVE
The project “Bridges for Education” was implemented by the NGO Foundation “English Club”, Bulgaria in cooperation with institutions from Bulgaria, Byelorussia, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Romania as well as the American foundation “Bridges for Education”, the Regional inspectorate for education (city of Targovishte), I Primary School “Hristo Botev” and a few private companies.
The project was directed towards students between 14 and 18 years of age as well as teachers from different countries.
The target languages were English, Bulgarian, Estonian, Polish, Romanian, Latvian, Byelorussian and Russian.
The project “Bridges for Education” has the following objectives:
- Promoting mutual understanding and tolerance through foreign languages and linguistic diversity;
- Intercultural educational exchange among 8 European countries;
- Adopting new pedagogical approaches and developing self-evaluation skills
The project included 140 children from 8 countries as well as 15 international and 15 American teachers. It took place in the facilities of “Hispis-Energia”, Targovishte, Bulgaria within a period of 20 days.
The students were divided into 11 groups based on the performed preliminary tests. Every day the students were able to learn and discuss on different topics (history, civilization, music, geography, business English, leadership, ethnical models, etc.) though English and the other represented languages – Bulgarian, Estonian, Polish, Romanian, Latvian, Byelorussian and Russian.
- Reaching a high number of people and ensuring support from governmental, municipal, public and private institutions
- Participants from 8 countries and a team of teachers
- Adopting new pedagogical approaches and developing self-evaluation skills
- Developing various communication skills related to intercultural exchange
The aim for the application for European Language Label was based on the possibility for gaining additional dissemination and popularity for the project idea and methods.
Further dissemination of the project and its results at local and national events.
Receiving the award was a sign of recognition of the success of the project. As a result the project gained better visibility.
Future applicants for the Label award are advised to first define clearly their target groups and then direct their project at covering specific needs of those groups with methods and products that would bring actual benefit to them. The application form for the Label should show in detail how this is achieved.
THE NELLIP NETWORK’S PERSPECTIVE
The project is consistent with the European priorities in the field of language learning because it was directed at enhancement of the quality of language teaching, focus on teacher training, promotion of new approaches to language teaching and learning, promotion of multilingualism as well as promotion of the development of teaching material for the learning of less widely spoken languages
THE NATIONAL AGENCY’S PERSPECTIVE
The project was selected based on the quality of its results and its consistency with the national and European priorities in the filed of language learning.
Comments on this Case Studies
Date: 2014.10.14
Posted by Mark Fowler (Ireland)
Message: This project shows the usefulness of planning and implementing a short term project that can serve as a pilot. Its results can encourage and promote later projects
Date: 2014.07.15
Posted by Richard Rossner (uk)
Message: This demonstrates that an award winning project can be as simple as planning and running an enriching 3-week course for language learners. It was great that so much was done to promote the use of a foreign language for promoting intercultural awareness and other 21st century skills.
Date: 2014.02.21
Posted by Emidio Balestracci (Italia)
Message: I like the idea of project on interculture. I am responsable of interculture in my school and I want to do projects with international partners to promote the sensibility of students and parents on the theme of understand and accueil other cultures as a moyen to enrich us and to expand our orizon.