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The target countries that have access to the learning method have in total very low language skills according to the Eurobarometer, Feb.2006. In UK, ES, FR, EL, CZ, DE a large percentage of the population indicates that they do not know any foreign languages. In EE, 66% of the population speaks Russian, and 46% speaks English, but they have very low language skills in other languages. The INCA project tries to motivate the learners from these countries to multilingual comprehension and to enhance their capacity in language learning;
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The project’s other main objective is to develop an innovative learning method that is based on the “cooperation of cultures” and the interaction between education and culture. By developing an interactive intercultural calendar for language learning, the children are provided with the opportunity to understand some differences among people that are result of their culture, to compare family customs and traditions among cultures, to discuss with teachers different cultures and human patterns of places and regions during their language lesson. In this way, a motivating language environment is created that gives children opportunities to investigate a real event or object and at the same time strengthen emerging listening, speaking and writing skills and acquire new words, as they share their findings with others;
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The project uses ICT and specifically multimedia techniques, 3D graphics etc. aiming to allow educators to capture the attention of students through interactive instructional activities. Using technology is a motivational way for the students to interact with the subject area over and over again in unique and exiting ways and helps to enhance and increase learning potential.
INCA – Intercultural Calendar For Early Language Learning
Project Number: Programme/Sub-programme: Project Duration: Project Promoter: Project Partners:
135560-2007-GR-KA2 Transversal Programme / Key Activity 2: Languages 1 November 2007 – 30 October 2009 MEANDROS LTD (Greece) Iberika Sprachschule (Germany) Supeuropa (France), North Ayrshire Council (United Kingdom), ENAE SA – Institucion Pau Casals (Spain), Libatse Kindergarten-Elementary School (Estonia), Univerzita Hradec Kralove – Pedagogicka Fakulta (Czech Republic)
Project description Challenge INCA – Intercultural Calendar for Early Multilingual Learning aims to develop innovative materials for teaching languages to pre-primary and primary learners (ages 5 to 7), to motivate early learners to foreign language learning and to improve intercultural understanding and multilingual comprehension.
INCA project in order to meet its objectives has developed the following autonomous packages of teaching materials:
The project aims to introduce early learners from seven participating countries (EL, FR, ES, UK, DE, EE, CZ) to seven languages (EL, FR, ES, EN, DE, ET, CZ) originating from five different language groups (Greek, Romance, Germanic, Slavic and Uralic language groups).
1) A DVD elaborating an interactive intercultural Calendar containing 60 three-dimensional videos including representations of customs, traditions and celebrations from all participating countries (EL, FR, ES, EN, DE, EE, CZ). These videos are used to introduce early learners to language learning and are promoting interaction between education and culture. The project is using modern ICT technology, Multimedia applications, 3D graphic design, video animation and audio techniques.
Target group
2) Printing materials (specifically two supporting books) for teachers and pupils have also been developed to elaborate the language material and evaluate the pupils’ progress.
The project’s target groups are: a) pre-primary (ages 5-6 years old) and b) primary learners (ages 6-7 years old) from seven European countries (EL, FR, ES, UK, DE, EE, CZ), and c) teachers from the following countries EL, FR, ES, UK, DE, EE, CZ. The above-mentioned groups of children will benefit from the project as they will make an early start in foreign language learning by using modern technology in a motivating way. They will have the opportunity to acquire listening, responding, speaking and writing skills in any of the seven foreign languages offered. At the same time, learners will become familiar with ICT, and will develop intercultural sensitivity. The teachers will obtain a useful multimedia tool for introducing any of the above languages to children of their kindergartens or primary schools.
Project objectives
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Results
The project aims to promote early language learning to primary and pre-primary learners and at the same time help to develop the multilingual potential of every child by activating the language acquisition mechanisms that young children still possess. In order to take advantage of the child’s early age, it is necessary to provide a supportive environment and continuity from one year to the next. That means that the learning method (levels 0-1) should give emphasis on covering the existing gap among pre-primary and primary language education, taking into serious consideration the national education systems of the countries involved; The project’s objective is to provide multilingual education to the target groups. Therefore, seven EC official languages have been selected as target languages that originate from five completely different language groups, aiming to give the option to the learners to select a language that belongs to a completely different language group from theirs. The learners have the benefit of understanding the diversity of human cultures, identifying similarities and differences and developing underlying qualities such as meta-linguistic awareness and intercultural sensitivity;
3) A Website (www.incaproject.eu) in 7 language versions including a Forum has been constructed to promote the project and disseminate its results around Europe.
Summary of the dissemination and exploitation strategy Electronic resources The project’s website www.incaproject.eu was included to the most important search engines. Also, there are links on the project website to all partners’ and to cooperating partners’ websites. The website includes a Forum. Electronic Newsletters have been sent concerning the project through emails to a significant number of recipients.
Media and events
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Articles on a regional Newspaper for Inca Project in Greece; Exhibitions of INCA products at Greek kindergartens; Presentation of INCA project on Primary school pupils of Arsakeio School as an extra curriculum activity; Presentation of INCA project to English teachers; Public presentation of INCA in a school in Charlottenburg; Presentation of the material to the primary schools that participated in the pilot application;
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