ERASMUS+ PROJECT
In March 2014, I was made aware of an opportunity
to apply for EU funding for staff to undertake
language, pedagogy, and cultural immersion
courses in Europe. An application was made and
we were successful. Our two-year project involves
working with groups of students to develop their
literacy skills and knowledge of the Spanish culture
through various activities in school. All Year 8
students have experienced a Spanish Splash day
this year where they had the opportunity to learn
about Spanish festivals, taste Spanish food, learn
the basics of salsa dancing and learn how to order
food from a restaurant. Students also talked about
a Mexican festival (Day of the Dead) in Textiles and
made pillows with pictures of masks used to
celebrate that day in Mexico.
Eight members of staff are involved in this project:
myself, Mrs Chamberlain, Mrs Pullinger, Miss
Benvenuto, Ms Mortimer, Mrs Drzewinska, Mr
Patton and Mr Pearson. Part of the funding has
also enabled us to attend immersion courses in
Santander, in the north of Spain, over the two
years, with our last visit taking place last week over
half term. During the week, we all attended
intensive Spanish classes to develop our language
skills, we took part in methodology sessions related
to teaching Spanish lessons and we had the
opportunity to spend two days in a few schools to
experience the Spanish educational system. Prior
to this, some Year 9 students produced bilingual
booklets in French and English about Avon Valley
and these were shared with Spanish students
during their English lessons. The Spanish students
were very interested in how secondary schools
work in England and asked us a lot of questions!
The project is now going to draw to a close and we
have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity given to us
to run various projects with students in school, as
well as learning more Spanish ourselves which we
can continue to use and develop in school in the
future.