E-Twinning is an educational platform that forms part of a European Union programme. It expands the range of educational opportunities offered to students and teachers, motivates them to learn and become more open to Europe. It is a fundamental tool in the modern education system. In other words, it is a European school community bringing together schools and kindergartens from EU countries. The programme involves joint projects between schools and training seminars for teachers.
Magdalena Stadnik, an English teacher at the Construction School Complex in Bolesławiec:
In order to engage our students, we joined an international project for the first time in September as one of its partners. In addition to us, the project, entitled “Introducing Myself and My Region”, involves France, Romania, Slovakia, Italy, Spain and another secondary school from Poland.
After familiarising myself with the project’s objectives, I concluded that it met the requirements of the core curriculum and could be useful for practical language learning.
The project has a set implementation period. The tasks require students to develop materials in English, prepared in various ways using a range of tools.
Presentations, video recordings and photographs will be posted on the project’s TwinSpace. Students have access to this platform, can comment on the work of partner schools and take part in chats and forum discussions.
Students and the teacher can visit TwinSpace at any time, including from home, to follow new posts and view new photographs.
Videoconferencing makes it possible to test one’s skills spontaneously, overcome shyness and master the stress associated with speaking a foreign language live. M. Stadnik: “The elements of international competition are extremely motivating, and project participants regularly check TwinSpace to see how partner schools have completed a given task.”
The implementation of the projects primarily supports educating students in the spirit of tolerance and respect for people and other cultures. Cooperation with European schools helps satisfy natural curiosity about the world, discover personal interests and develop the ability to work in a team.
What does eTwinning offer “Budowlanka”?
- the opportunity to cooperate with schools without financial expenditure
- giving students the opportunity to use a foreign language in practice
- providing an opportunity to learn about different nations and their cultures through direct contact and cooperation with various European schools
- broadening horizons
- preparing students to function in the information society—in a world without borders.