From 4 to 6 November, a two-day-workshop for EU teachers took place in Brussels. It was organized in the framework of the “Linking and Learning Europe” project, which gathers teachers willing to design learning objects on European citizenship. Anna Ananieva, a teacher and ex-journalist from Bulgaria, is one of them. She shares her feelings about the first meeting in this article.
November 4th, Friday evening, the lobby of Holiday Inn Hotel – just round the corner from the EU heart of Brussels. A group of various-color haired people are quietly tattling round the lobby. You are coming in, not knowing anyone, checking yourself at the reception and just hear a pleasant, soft voice, asking calmly – “Are you a teacher?”
This is Katerina Bavorova – our kind and all-informed guide from European Schoolnet, a teacher trainer that took care of all the teachers’ needs and comfort during the stay. Not to skip her significant knowledge on the sense and structure of WebQuests that she shared with the group in a clear and reasonable way afterwards. A nice surprise is following - all newcomers are welcome in a snug Italian pub where quickly get well-known – one or two teachers from nearly 20 EU countries, presenting to the others the image of his or her state. For more of us Sweden will firstly mean Andres Mattsson, Germany – Claus and Christine and – of course – Spain will stay for Juan Carlos!
Next day we all are warmly welcome by the project coordinator – Petru Dumitru – at the gates of the European Schoolnet building. Feelings are a bit like being an MEP and surely it is just the case – you are the person to stay for your country in this tiny mini-Europe society – our “Linking and Learning project”. Pleasant and friendly air is being sensed.
Gradually the aim of meeting is being well clarified – in a year time we, all 43 teachers are expected to create a wide range of interactive pedagogical modules, helping teachers and students to present European citizenship. The good news is that everyone is expected to make it in a way, content and appearance of his or her choice – the one that he feels students will like. (Actually, who but teacher better knows what is up-to-date for current students?)
Tools for creating the modules are being presented - WebQuests, Netquiz, Multimedia Hachette and Hot Potatoes. Hospitality is every at nook and corner here and for lunch we have been offered tasty sandwiches and pastry – so various, as if chosen especially to present differences of European cuisines!
At the end of this fruitful and… exhausting work day you are welcome with a challenge – the opportunity to present before a camera your personal view on EU citizenship and your local area. Juan Carlos from Spain is mumbling about feeling just like at the dentist, but bravely goes inside the “studio”. The beauty Portuguese Isabella is having butterflies in her stomach during the whole day but at last makes the most confident presentation!
The experience is crowned with a warm dinner in a cozy French place. More important and non-formal issues are being talked over, the truth about different social pictures is being set out and one thing is being clarified for sure. All teachers round Europe share very similar problems and all are striving for very similar aims – more honesty and uprightness in the societies, more attention from the governments to the needs and wants of the youths. What we really hope to see in a near future is a society inclined to pay regard to the ordinary teacher’s work more than to the job of a footballer, nothing more!
