The European Dimension across the Curriculum of English Language Teaching

The European Dimension

across

the Curriculum of

English Language Teaching

Angela CharalambousEudhokia Anastassiou

EUROPEAN DIMENSION

QUALITY EDUCATION

The European Dimension=

cognition+affectionActivities to equip children, young people and

adults with knowledge, skills and competences to understand, participate and benefit from

Europe

Towards

The development of Quality Education and encouragement between Member States

Acting Together

European Citizenship being active - having the knowledge and

skills and competences to make a difference

Schools can foster the idea of European integration

through

1) the harmonisation of the system to the new challenge (outside the classroom)

2) the curricula (inside the classroom)

The Cyprus curriculumThe Cyprus curriculumis humanistic, is humanistic,

aiming at the development of aiming at the development of ““round personalities”, round personalities”,

mentally, morally and aesthetically refined, mentally, morally and aesthetically refined, healthy, active and creative, healthy, active and creative,

able to promote intercultural understanding, able to promote intercultural understanding, tolerance, cooperation and respect tolerance, cooperation and respect

among individuals so that the ideas ofamong individuals so that the ideas of democracy, freedom, justice and peace democracy, freedom, justice and peace

can prevail and the can prevail and the European dimension European dimension of education of education can be realised. can be realised.

European Dimension and the Cy Curriculum

separate subject – Civics

Citizenship education in schools is offered as:

integrated into traditional subjects (e.g. history, religious education, geography, literature, music,art, Languages )

cross-curricular educational theme present throughout the curriculum

extracurricular activities in the context of Lifelong Learning Programme

Role of Languages

The teaching and dissemination of the languages of the member states are key issues in the process of developing active citizenship

***Call for new approaches in teaching and learning

Cy English Curricula “learners with fully developed personalities empowered by multilingual competencies, are better prepared to take on both individual and collective responsibility, have a better chance to benefit from the opportunities offered to

them in national, European and international contexts and are more willing to commit

themselves to the promotion of such values as Equity, Tolerance, Justice and Peace”.

Allocation of teaching periods of languages

PRIMARY 2h per week at the last three years

LEVEL CLASS AGE LANGUAGE(S)/PERIODS

GYMNASIUM (lower sec)

A 12 ENGLISH /3p FRENCH /2pB 13 ENGLISH /3p FRENCH/2pC 14 ENGLISH /3,5p FRENCH /2p

LYCEUM(upper sec)

A 15 ENGLISH /3p FRENCH /2pB 16 ENGLISH

2p or 6pFRENCH2p or 6p

*Other languages

C 17 ENGLISH2p or 6p

FRENCH 2p or 6p

* German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Russian

Teaching Methods and Approaches • Learner-centred• “eclectic approach” • Differentiated Instruction- equal opportunities for ALL • Communicative competence• Intercultural competence• Cooperation- Collaboration - Partnerships• Content based/Thematic -oriented • Active, experiential work – Learning how to Learn• Lifelong Learning Skills

Language rooms A place with a mission!

If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a dayIf you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime

(Confucius 551-479BC)

Language rooms A serious proposition to move away from the rigid boundaries of the traditional classroom and open new ways in language learning enhancing Ss’ cognitive and metacognitive development

user-friendly flexible

multimodal

pleasant

A communicative and collaborative centre!

multifunctional

Technology

Real language in context, away from coursebooks

and conventional classrooms

Teaching materials/Coursebooks

• Gymnasium Level - Magic Moments series • Lyceum Level – Going for Gold• Adaptation of authentic material• Cross-curricular training• English- a medium of communication

European Language PortfolioAccredited model No83.2006Class A Gymnasium, 12-15 years oldPiloting Basis in 2005

AIMS:a) provide and sustain motivation

through longer term continuing education,

b) enhance the recognition of the language learning achievement of

learners and c) enhance coherence in educational

systems and efficient interfaces between educational sectors

European Language Portfolio

Actions to ensure the successful implementation in Class A, Gymnasium

1. Two-day Seminar on Training teachers ton use the European Portfolio, by Ulle Turk

2. Teachers who attend become multipliers and co-ordinators in their school unit

3. A guide prepared by the Ministry with suggested steps

4. Informative leaflets for the parents

Extracurricular activities Lifelong Learning Programme – Comenius European Language Label Spring Day for Europe European Day of Languages Partnerships - Euroscola e-twinning European Youth Parliament

Coming together is a beginning Keeping together is a progress

Working together is a success

Henry Ford

‘Coming together is a Beginning

Keeping together is a Progress

Working together is a Success’ Henry Ford