Europe and beyond

Adding a global perspective to an established framework of European links is paying dividends as many schools in the UK have now started to discover

It’s not often you find cups of tea being used as a teaching aid in a Spanish class – but then mate is no ordinary tea.

This aromatic brew – made from the leaves of the hardy yerba tree – is the national drink across much of South America.

According to Argentinian language assistant Daniela Zeinsteger, it also comes with its own drinking ritual that can liven up any gathering, even a classroom.

‘Where I come from, sharing a glass of mate is part of a daily routine that gives friends and family the opportunity to tell stories and savour the day. I use it in the classroom as a tool to kickstart discussions about Argentinian culture, to put Spanish in an international context.’

An innovative approach to the teaching of languages is an important part of the curriculum at the William Ellis School in Camden, north London, where Daniela works. The school has been given language college status as part of the DfES Specialist Schools Initiative.

‘We aim to be a kind of centre of excellence for the teaching of languages,’ says Liz Bishop, the school’s Language College Manager. ‘So we were delighted when our LEA informed us that our Spanish language assistant was coming from Argentina.

We teach Spanish as it is spoken in Spain but the Spanish-speaking world is, of course, much wider than that. Daniela’s work with Argentinian materials – magazines, videos, cassettes, food and drink – has helped to make pupils aware of its richness and variety, and embed international activities in the curriculum.’

Part of a wider society

Adding a global dimension to an established framework of European link-ups is also paying dividends for Ballymena Primary School in County Antrim.

International Schools Coordinator, Charmaine McCarroll explains: ‘Our Northern Irish location means it’s easy for students to feel somewhat cut off from the rest of the world. But we’ve found that forging links with schools in other countries helps them feel part of a wider society – and fosters a healthy understanding of other cultures and ways of life, too.’

The school began by building European partnerships. ‘Over the past seven years we’ve completed a very successful Comenius partnership on an environmental theme with schools in Finland, France, Germany and Poland,’ says Charmaine. ‘We also undertook a second Comenius project on a citizenship theme with partner schools in Finland, Germany, Greece and Poland.

As a result of these and other projects, we were accredited with the British Council-managed International School Award.’

COMENIUS

PARTNERSHIPS: Do you want to build partnerships with schools in Europe? Through Comenius 1, part of Socrates, the EU education programme, you can receive funding to do just that.

TRAINING: Are you looking for European in-service training opportunities? See Comenius 2.

SUPPORT: Comenius 3 supports networks of organisations involved in Comenius that share expertise and good practice.