'Together in Europe' activity proved to be one of the most successful Web-based solutions to encourage schools to collaborate with counterparts in Europe. At Engure Secondary School, in Latvia, students experienced collaboration with teachers and students from abroad through the Internet.
There were two classes involved in the activity. The first group, Class 7, chose Greece and decided to find answers to questions that were most important for them. After publishing their message in the partner-finding forum, they received e-mail from teacher Evita Pansidou (2nd Dim School Perea). Students compiled the information for the article and surfed the Internet to search for pictures they needed. Their report is published on the Spring Day Web site.
All work was done after the lessons, and that proves that students were really interested and motivated. During the report writing they improved their English skills, using dictionary a lot. They were proud to see their report on the Internet. To my mind, the main achievement was the swift chance of twinning, and the possibility to work together with partners from far away countries.
The second group, Class 8, worked with France, and turned out a bit one-sided. Receiving questions from a school in France, Latvian students prepared mini-guides on Latvia - holidays, traditional food, the national flag etc. - questions supplied by the French partners. Unfortunately, the French school has not published their report and did not send the answers to our questions. Yet we are thankful to teacher Maria Helena Taquet for her contribution to the Birds Project.
'Together in Europe" was a good experience both for students and teachers (quite a number of colleagues in other Latvian schools admitted the same) - comparing to "Comenius" projects, this was a shorter, less time consuming project, with a possibility for unlimited number of student groups to do the work to their own liking. They are willing to work again.
All work was done after the lessons, and that proves that students were really interested and motivated. During the report writing they improved their English skills, using dictionary a lot. They were proud to see their report on the Internet. To my mind, the main achievement was the swift chance of twinning, and the possibility to work together with partners from far away countries.
