ENGLISH. COR DE MARIA VALLS

Last week, we were delighted to announce the visit of a Romanian School. As we mentioned the top-up of the project was to draw up a “Collaborative project”: ´Sharing of information about social and cultural aspects of the countries involved using English as vehicular language´.

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.

DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED

Time frames provided at the beginning of the project
Material exchange using e-mail: Files used to be too big to be sent as e-mails attachments..

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.

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.

To visit the updated page, please visit the following link

http://www.springday2009.net/ww/en/pub/spring2009/activities/15_fame.cfm

22 de maig de 2009. Barcelona. Romania - Catalonia

We are utterly delighted to announce that throughout E-Twinning Project four students, joined with two teachers from Romania, School No.1 Peris, near Bucharest, visited our school. This link enables us to work with other schools in Europe on a range of exciting curriculum projects.

The aim of this visit was to learn more about both countries especially how to use ICT and draw up Cultural Exchanges. The other main aims were to meet European colleagues and find an eTwinning partner, to share teaching experience and to discuss and plan future project ideas.

The measure of success for the Romanian as well as Catalan teachers were to undertake new project ideas that have been generated. Before departing there were many small huddles of teachers eagerly making notes and discussing future plans; indeed plans are being made to disseminate in the e-Twinning message throughout their school on their return .

22 de maig de 2009. Barcelona. Entrega de premis FONIX a l'Anna Galofré

6è premi per Anna Galofré

THE FONIX

The "Second English Competition for Catalan Schools” (THE FONIX 2009) is announced. The competition is organised by International House and Fundació Catalana de l’Esplai.

The competition is backed by “Direcció General d’ Innovació del Departament d’ Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya”, as an activity which is organised “en el marc d’ iniciatives socials d’ accions d’ entorn i d’ activitats vers l’ exce.lència i en el Pla d’ Impuls de la llengua anglesa als centres educatius catalans".

The aim of the competition is to complement the plans for improving English language learning in catalan schools. Given the importance of English in our society, the objective of the competition is to stimulate and motivate students' interest in the language.

Last but not the least, you can spot below the participants that have been picked out for it after a previous Local Stage that was carried out in our institution. Congratulations guys!

Es convoca el “2n. Concurs d’Anglès Interescolar de Catalunya” (THE FONIX 2009). El concurs està organitzat per International House Barcelona i per la Fundació Catalana de l'Esplai.

El concurs compta amb el suport de la Direcció General d’Innovació del Departament d’Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya, com a activitat organitzada en el marc d’iniciatives socials d’accions d’entorn i d’activitats vers l’excel·lència i en el del Pla d’impuls de la llengua anglesa als centres educatius catalans.

El concurs és una iniciativa que pretén complementar els plans de millora de la llengua anglesa als centres educatius de Catalunya i s’organitza amb la finalitat d’estimular i motivar l’aprenentatge d’aquest idioma, atesa la seva importància a la societat actual.

Finalment, us detallem els participants que s’han seleccionat al centre després d’ haver passat la fase local que va tenir lloc al nostre centre. Felicitats!

eTwinning

What’s eTwinning?

eTwinning enables schools in 29 European countries to work together using Information and Communication Technology (ICT). As a school or college (working with pupils and students between the ages of 3 and 20.

Fortunately, students of 5th and 6th of Primary are currently participating actively in the projects that are concerned with Romania and Italy joined with Prague.

Over the course of this semester, they are going to get completely involved into different tasks that will improve their creativity as well as English Language.

At the same time, students will grasp new knowledge related to ICT Skills. Thus, thanks to European Moodle that they are exposed to through www. Etwinning.net, they will engage their learning due to their interaction with other European Schools.

eTwinning is not about creating extra work, but providing a framework for exciting curriculum work with partners in another country. There are many benefits to linking up with another school. These can include, for pupils:

			Increased motivation, as they have an audience for their work in a school in another country
			Enhanced key skills, including ICT use, communication and foreign language skills
			Greater cultural awareness through direct contact with peers in other countries.

The main goal of eTwinning is to encourage pupils and staff to look beyond themselves to live in other countries, challenging prejudice and preconceptions. It has introduced us too many new ideas and techniques that we have been able to use in the classroom. We have learned to trust the pupils with digital cameras and mp3 players, using these tools to create presentations for others. Staff has to learn how to use the software alongside the pupils and think about new ways to approach learning.

At present, we are building up a new link in order to carry out and opened-coming link for parents or other people interested in it.

For further information, don’t hesitate to visit this link,

www.etwinning.net

Regards,

Natàlia & Laia