Elos Basque CountryElos Basque CountryWorld CaféWorld Café

5th May 20115th May 2011

ElosElosEuropa ikasketa eremu bezala ikastetxean.Europa ikasketa eremu bezala ikastetxean.Europa como ámbito de aprendizaje en la Europa como ámbito de aprendizaje en la

escuela.escuela.Europe as a Learning Environment at School.Europe as a Learning Environment at School.Elos is an educational concept which seeks to promote a Elos is an educational concept which seeks to promote a European dimension in your lessons and activities at European dimension in your lessons and activities at school. school.

You can participate in projects and exchanges with You can participate in projects and exchanges with students from other European countries. students from other European countries.

Elos is eventually about learning everything you could Elos is eventually about learning everything you could possibly need to be fully prepared to learn, work and possibly need to be fully prepared to learn, work and live as a European citizen. live as a European citizen.

This Elos World Café held in the Basque Country was an This Elos World Café held in the Basque Country was an opportunity for students of the Elos schools to meet and opportunity for students of the Elos schools to meet and exchange opinions about Europe.exchange opinions about Europe.

WorldWorld Café Café (the (the experience)experience)• Students from the five Elos schools in the Basque Students from the five Elos schools in the Basque

Country were offered to participate in a World Café Country were offered to participate in a World Café on the premises of the Government of the Basque on the premises of the Government of the Basque Country in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Country in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

• There was a preselection in each school.There was a preselection in each school.

• Some preparatory sessions were held in each school Some preparatory sessions were held in each school to reflect on the issues put forward.to reflect on the issues put forward.

• Eventually, on 5th of May, we all were welcome by Eventually, on 5th of May, we all were welcome by representatives of the Department of Education of representatives of the Department of Education of the Basque Country and discussed different issues the Basque Country and discussed different issues related to Europe and our European citizenship the related to Europe and our European citizenship the way we, students aged 15-17, see them.way we, students aged 15-17, see them.

Our time in Lakua Our time in Lakua (Basque Government offices’ (Basque Government offices’

location)location)

• We met nineteen students. Our teachers were also We met nineteen students. Our teachers were also there.there.

• Representatives of the Department of Education also Representatives of the Department of Education also addressed a few words to us and overheard what we addressed a few words to us and overheard what we were discussing. were discussing.

• All students had something to say and their comments All students had something to say and their comments were really clever. were really clever.

• We had never met before and we had a great time and We had never met before and we had a great time and learned from each other.learned from each other.

• Some opinions about the present and future of Europe Some opinions about the present and future of Europe were pessimistic some others more optimistic but all were pessimistic some others more optimistic but all of them were clever and well reasoned.of them were clever and well reasoned.

• After finishing we had something to eat while we After finishing we had something to eat while we continued chatting.continued chatting.

Topics and tablesTopics and tables• There were four topics There were four topics

and four tables. At each and four tables. At each table, we talked about a table, we talked about a different European different European issue.issue.

• We talked about the We talked about the schools in Europe, the schools in Europe, the European Union, our European Union, our experiences in Europe, experiences in Europe, our prospects as our prospects as European citizens, and European citizens, and the future of Europe the future of Europe and the Basque Country and the Basque Country in Europe…in Europe…

Our workOur work • First, we discussed the First, we discussed the different topics mixing different topics mixing students from each students from each school.school.

• After fifteen minutes we After fifteen minutes we switched round and switched round and discussed the topic at the discussed the topic at the next table with our new next table with our new partners.partners.

• There was an appointed There was an appointed secretary who wrote secretary who wrote down the minutes and down the minutes and passed them on to the passed them on to the teachers, who teachers, who summarized the main summarized the main ideas.ideas.

• At the end, each group At the end, each group prepared a power point prepared a power point presentation... this is the presentation... this is the result…result…

1st TABLE: General General topicstopicsaboutabout

EuropeEurope

1st Table: GENERAL TOPICS1st Table: GENERAL TOPICS

• The European Union for The European Union for us.us.

• Making decisions.Making decisions.

• Influence on us.Influence on us.

The European Union for usThe European Union for us• Union from diversity. 27 members with common Union from diversity. 27 members with common

aims.aims.

• All together respecting each other’s identity.All together respecting each other’s identity.

• Most of the countries share the same currency, Most of the countries share the same currency, the Euro. It makes travelling and other activities the Euro. It makes travelling and other activities easier but prices got higher.easier but prices got higher.

• Economic more than political union to be stronger Economic more than political union to be stronger in the world and fight the crisis.in the world and fight the crisis.

• Closer to citizens to solve our problems.Closer to citizens to solve our problems.

• We are all European citizens even if we are not We are all European citizens even if we are not conscious of this important fact.conscious of this important fact.

Decisions in the European Decisions in the European UnionUnion

• Economic and political decisions.Economic and political decisions.

• Sometimes they aren’t the right decisions for us. Sometimes they aren’t the right decisions for us. (prices,limitations in farming and fishing...) (prices,limitations in farming and fishing...)

• 80% of our laws are European laws, passed in the 80% of our laws are European laws, passed in the European Parliament, the best known European European Parliament, the best known European institution.institution.

• Free market inside European Union.Free market inside European Union.

• Minimun conditions all the countries have to fulfill.Minimun conditions all the countries have to fulfill.

• Not enough energy to fight in favour of human Not enough energy to fight in favour of human rights.rights.

Influence on usInfluence on us• There are some decisions related to us, for example, There are some decisions related to us, for example,

The Bolonia Process.The Bolonia Process.

• Main concern: market limitations for our local Main concern: market limitations for our local agriculture and fishing.agriculture and fishing.

• Free travelling is very important. Open doors to study Free travelling is very important. Open doors to study and work abroad.and work abroad.

• Common laws to protect us as consumers.Common laws to protect us as consumers.

• Ecology as a priority in political decisions.Ecology as a priority in political decisions.

• The strong influence of The European Union on our The strong influence of The European Union on our daily lives versus how little we know about Europe.daily lives versus how little we know about Europe.

2nd TABLE: Europe in Europe in your lifeyour life

Using English outside Using English outside schoolschool

• Exchange projects help us improve our English level. Exchange projects help us improve our English level. After the project we keep in contact with our friends After the project we keep in contact with our friends through English.through English.

• On holidays we meet new friends and we get used to On holidays we meet new friends and we get used to speaking English.speaking English.

• We use Facebook and Messenger as social networks.We use Facebook and Messenger as social networks.

• We watch films and listen to music in English.We watch films and listen to music in English.

European customsEuropean customs

• Timetables are very strange to us, for Timetables are very strange to us, for example, they have dinner earlier than we example, they have dinner earlier than we do and they spend more time at home. We do and they spend more time at home. We like hanging out.like hanging out.

• Their religion is sometimes linked to their Their religion is sometimes linked to their customs, but here it may happen too.customs, but here it may happen too.

• The weather makes people behave The weather makes people behave differently.differently.

European customsEuropean customs

• Being polite and education is more Being polite and education is more important abroad.important abroad.

• Public transport is often used. TAKE YOUR Public transport is often used. TAKE YOUR BIKE!BIKE!

• Are we different or are they different? It Are we different or are they different? It doesn’t matter. We share our customs and doesn’t matter. We share our customs and we learn from each other.we learn from each other.

3rd TABLE: European

activities at school

1.Comenius: European project to open the borders of the countries in which a lot of students of different schools take part in it. In general everybody is very happy about this project because they like to meet new friends and learn about foreign cultures.

1.Elos: Portfolio: A document which allows us to express our opinion about Europe.

1.1.Exchange projects: With the help of Exchange projects: With the help of Comenius and Elos we have the opportunity Comenius and Elos we have the opportunity to visit and to get to know other countries to visit and to get to know other countries and cultures and with this, to have a good and cultures and with this, to have a good time practising the languages. For example, time practising the languages. For example, going to Germany (modern school , good going to Germany (modern school , good technologies), France (awesome discipline), technologies), France (awesome discipline), Estonia (a lot of languages, low discipline Estonia (a lot of languages, low discipline and short classes), Turkey (awesome and short classes), Turkey (awesome discipline), Sweden, Ireland (low level of discipline), Sweden, Ireland (low level of second language and really close to second language and really close to religion), Netherlands, Wales, Finland religion), Netherlands, Wales, Finland (modern school).(modern school).

• Conclusion: We are very lucky Conclusion: We are very lucky about travelling around Europe about travelling around Europe and about getting to know new and about getting to know new cultures and friends. And we cultures and friends. And we think that it could be important think that it could be important to give this idea to other to give this idea to other schools.schools.

• One month of holidays in Germany

•The Irish school is very old. It was built 250 years ago.

•Because of the cold climate, Estonian students change their clothes and shoes before entering school.

•In Turkey and in some places of France they sing their national anthems twice a week before starting school.

•In Estonia and in Germany they have TVs in the classrooms

•In Germany students are divided according to their level.

4th TABLE: your

futurein Europe

We are enjoying Comenius, and for the future we have Erasmus in mind, we also want to keep studying English, and

learn some other languages such as French, German, or even Chinese.

LIVING IN EUROPELIVING IN EUROPE We are a little bit afraid of it, but we all would We are a little bit afraid of it, but we all would

want to try. want to try.

And if it goes well, who knows? And if it goes well, who knows?

Life can change, and we can end up Life can change, and we can end up

living somewhere else. living somewhere else.

Sharing what you know:Sharing what you know:

cultural diversity is a very positive cultural diversity is a very positive experience, you learn from other experience, you learn from other

countries and you show your own country countries and you show your own country

to the rest of Europe.to the rest of Europe.

TThe European Union should he European Union should defend our interests in front defend our interests in front

of the whole world. of the whole world.

To keep in touch with Europe is To keep in touch with Europe is important for us, because the important for us, because the

Basque Country is not very well Basque Country is not very well known in Europe. This way we will known in Europe. This way we will

be able to show and share our be able to show and share our culture.culture.

But we do not know But we do not know if joining Europe if joining Europe

would be helpful for would be helpful for our country.our country.

It may cause some It may cause some cultures or cultures or

languages to languages to disappear. disappear.

For the year 2035, more countries For the year 2035, more countries will be part of the Union, and it will be part of the Union, and it

may be stronger, as the aim of the may be stronger, as the aim of the European Union is to be all one. European Union is to be all one.

OUR EUROPE/S. OUR OUR EUROPE/S. OUR PROSPECTSPROSPECTS

ParticipantsParticipants I.E.S ANITURRI B.H.I. (AGURAIN)

Amets Aguayo

Markel Gómez

Maite Molinuevo

Itziar Uriarte

I.E.S EKIALDEA B.H.I.(VITORIA-GASTEIZ)

Ikerne Acha

Jone Iturrate

Ane Estarrona

Alberto Jiménez

I.E.S UROLA IKASTOLA AZKOITIA-AZPEITIA B.H.I.

Mikel Arenas

Mikel Viles

Aitor Arenas

Ane Bereziartua

I.E.S ANTIGUA-LUBERRI B.H.I. (DONOSTIA)

Gorka Gabilondo

Simon Lopez

Ane Mendia

Miren Olasagasti

I.E.S. BOTIKAZAR B.H.I. (BILBO)

Daniel Fernández

Ane Cortázar

Pello López De Munain

Made by the schools of

Elos Basque Country

Music: The Bitter Sweet Symphony (as Europe itself)

by The Verve