SOCRATES

In this section we will tell you more about the project and our philosophy in working with migrant children in main stream schools.

Most educational institutes in Europe recognise the importance of introducing multimedia technology into the educational system. New technologies for multimedia communication offer the opportunity to develop new educational methods based on the active participation of pupils by introducing sound, video, images, hypertexts, etc. Audio-visual materials, interactive CD-ROM’s and Internet connections enable the creation of teaching units which facilitate learning, which are attractive and interesting for pupils and which stimulate cultural exchange. Internet, for example, offers the possibility to communicate and to exchange materials between schools in different countries.
In order to promote the integration of new technologies in the teaching practice it is important:
a) to develop multimedia teaching materials that are the result of proven teaching experience;
b) to promote the exchange of experience and materials at a European level;
c) to promote the training of teachers.

Cospe is an Italian non-governmental organisation based in Florence and Bologna. We run various development projects in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as in East Europe. In Italy we are engaged in educational projects dealing with subjects such as world orientation, intercultural education, antiracism and the education of migrant children. Over the last few years Cospe’s work in Italy has become more and more important, mainly because of the rising number of migrant children in Italian schools. We believe that second language acquisition by migrant children is important for a successful school career, but we consider it equally important to work on a positive attitude towards the first language through mother tongue maintenance. Too often migrant children remain in a state of semi-lingualism, while mastering two or more languages has proved to be the best guarantee for successful integration and for equal opportunities. At the same time it is important to be critical of the country’s educational system and its tendency to reproduce in a multicultural setting a monocultural didactic content.
We use multimedia technology in first and second language teaching to minority ethnic pupils (so far Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Albanese, Romanè) and in the dissemination of methods of intercultural education. Books, video and audiocassettes have been produced in the past and within the framework of the ME TOO project an experienced staff is developing CD-ROM’s and other interactive learning materials.

On the basis of its experience in the field of multimedia language teaching and intercultural teaching, Cospe has presented the ME TOO project as a three year project to the European Commission for finance. The project aims at producing multimedia teaching materials for first and second language learning in children belonging to minority ethnic groups in Italy and other European countries. The materials will be based on the most significant experience in language teaching in multi-ethnic classes in Europe. Partners in other European countries are actively contributing to the development of these materials.

The principle aims of the project are:

1) to produce a series of CD-ROM’s for L1 and L2 learning for immigrant children (NB: L1 in this project is a non-communitarian minority language, e.g. Arabic, Turkish, Albanese, Chinese, Russian, Albanian, Somali, etc.). The didactic units will be structured in various levels. An initial placement test will help the user to determine his or her level in L1 and L2. The approach will be characterised by the concept of “Edutainment” (education and entertainment). So the language learning will not only take place through exercises but also through games, puzzles, songs, etc. Special attention will be given to the graphics, the use of colours and the instructions by way of simple icons, to ensure an easy and satisfying use of the CD-ROMs.

2) to create an Internet site that will support schools and cultural centres that actively deal with questions such as intercultural education, first and second language teaching and multimedia approaches.
So far the teaching materials produced include:
· 2 CDRoms for the learning of Italian and Chinese
- Xiaolong: 3 levels for primary education
- Longlong: 4 levels for secondary education
· 1 CDRom for the learning of Italian and Arabic
- Gioca e impara: 3 levels for primary education
· 4 bilingual picture dictionaries for newcomers: Italian-Chinese, Italian-Albanese, Italian-Arabic; Italian-Urdu
· A set linguistic games, including materials in Italian, Chinese, Arabic and Albanese
· 4 bilingual questionnaires to reveal newcomer’s interests, expectations and earlier school experience
· The partly bilingual ME TOO web site: www.socrates-me-too.org. The web site offers on line linguistic materials, information and a forum discussion.
· Some of the intercultural workshops developed and tested within the framework of the project have been included in the CDRom “Mamma m’insegna”: an easy accessible tool for teachers that want to introduce intercultural approaches and activities in their teaching.
These materials have been presented at the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair.
The third and final year of the project will offer the opportunity to conclude the activities undertaken, to evaluate the bilingual and virtual experimental workshops and to stronger the international partnership. Importance will be given to the evaluation and dissemination of the results of the project.
The third year will focus in particular on the difficulties of ethnic Albanese and Rom from Kosovo actually living in Italy and other Western European countries. European institutions and organisations confirm the need to support children from these groups in the difficult process of integration in main stream education. These children used to live in good and stable housing and social conditions, now they live in barracks, tents and old caravans near the major Italian towns. The project aims at developing school materials that should express that at least at school they are welcome.
Four activities will be promoted:
· The developing and production of teaching and learning materials;
· The organisation of experimental workshops for the children and their classmates where the materials can be tested;
· The formation of teachers and other school professionals;
· The evaluation of the materials produced and their dissemination.
The transnational partners collaborate where possible in the realisation of the materials, to give feedback on the project and on the materials produced, to participate in the Forum discussion on the web site and to join us in Florence for the concluding seminar in spring 2001.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION	PHILOSOPHY	ARTICLES	FORUM	COSPE
LANGUAGE LEARNING	PARTNER	NEWS	LINKS