European Day of Languages EDL 2014 in my classroom

 

On 30th September 2014 we celebrated our first EDL ever at our school. A lot of classes and a bunch of teachers met by internet using videoconferencing to express the cultural diversities and the spirit of an European union.

Usually the EDL, which is launched by the European Community years ago already,  is fixed on 26th September every year. Because it had caused a lot of trouble at our school that day, I decided to schedule our EDL on 30th September this year.

It took a long time to prepare this first EDL at school. After I had set up a virtual schedule for that day I started to search for further European partners who wanted to attend that event. Because most of the connection we have already had are from outside Europe.

Students from Prague during their German presentation about their capitol city.

Our youngest participants: grade 2 class from Bulgaria.

I wrote a lot of emails to teachers, schools, classes, who were searching for international collaborations in Europe. The Epals- and Etwinning- databaes were my main sources. All ages were accepted. I also tried to involve new partners from the European Overseas Territories. Finally schools from Latvia, the Czech- Republic, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Serbia, Russia, La Reunion, Martinique and Greece registered to the schedule. Also guests from outside Europe, India, Argentina and Sudan, registered for this event.

Students from Latvia reporting about their country.

After registration I connected the registered schools to offer technical support how to attend a videoconference. Some teachers from abroad had never used this powerful tool in their lessons before.









We discussed what to present to express the cultural diversity. Most of the classes prepared a slideshow with pictures of their city or region. Every participant prepared a little presentation in their local language.

Siran, Christina, Ali and Celine from Sundern reported about Germany and our school.

We presented the poem "The Squire von Ribbeck of Ribbeck in the Havelland" from Theodor Fontane and a slideshow about Germany,  about Northrhine- Westfalia, the Sauerland, about our town Sundern and our school, named Realschule Sundern.

Students from Cyprus presented beautiful surroundings and songs

The classes from abroad prepared some poems and short stories from their country.

I cannot forget these pictures from the beach on La Reunion.

The classes from the French Overseas Territories La Reunion and Martinique expressed their cultural diversities from their French homeland by Creole music and dance as well.
The students from abroad could ask questions about what they have seen.

German ladies presenting Mr Ribbeck

There were 6 time slots of about 30 minutes each, where students met up to five classes at each slot from abroad. Two of these slots were in German, four slots were in English language. Several classes from abroad were attended by their school's administration or educational administrations.

We have found new friends and got several invitations to visit our friends in the near future. Thanks to all of you who had taken great efforts to let this event came through.



I am sure that we will schedule our next EDL 2015. See you soon.

(PS: Because I use the pre- announcement post to update it with text and pictures from the event, the publishing date of this post is still the 19th September. I am sorry for that!)