rikala and at the 6th General Lyceum of Trikala, the 1st organizational meeting of the KA210 European Erasmus+ program entitled Communicating and Learning is Life changing- C.L.I.L., which concerns the use of foreign language in education and will last 18 months from 31.12.2022-30.06.2024. Scientific Assosiation For the Promotion of Lifelong Learning (SAPLle) (Greece), the Bilingual Junior High School, Wiener Neustadt (Austria) and Lukioliikelaitos Tavastia Hameenlinnan Lyseon Lukio (Finland)are our participants in this specific program.
After the warm welcome of the 11 partners by our Headmaster of Mr. Aristides Mylonas and the coordinator Ms. Eleni Alexiou (PE06), the content and objectives of the C.L.I.L. program were presented. Emphasis was placed on the main pillars of the program, such as the need to acquire communication skills in English for teaching and access to other sources of professional knowledge, the adoption of modern teaching approaches, the exchange of good teaching practices and the adoption of effective classroom management strategies and new ways of planning lessons with the ultimate goal of making the foreign language more attractive.
Furthermore, the teachers were informed about the Greek education system by students of the school, but also about the digital activities (digital radio, digital newspaper, robotics) of the 6th GEL and were given a tour of the building facilities.
During the program, they watched teaching scenarios in the computer lab , by a representative of SAPPLE, in three different humanities courses, Philosophy, History and Religion. During this mobility, teachers of the pedagogic team presented and taught Physics, Ancient and Latin, came into contact with other teaching practices and had the opportunity to get to know different models of education, compare practices and programs and see a different one from their own educational system.
Our partners had also the opportunity to visit, admire and learn important information aboutthe Matsopoulos Mill, the Kursum mosque and the Mausoleum of Osman Shah, the thematic museum of Tsitsani with the twin Ottoman baths and the Fortress with the emblematic Clock Tower. Then, they wandered in Varousi with its cobbled narrow streets, the many Byzantine churches and the rare architecture of the houses with the loggias, the long eaves and the bright colors as well as the old greengrocers. They walked along the banks of the Litheus and talked with Asclepius and Trikki, crossed the central bridge and Asclepius. This was followed by a visit to the City Hall of the city, where the press representative of the Municipality, Mr. Athanasios Michalakis, presented in the municipal council chamber applications of the smart city of Trikala, which aim to facilitate the daily life of the citizen and had the possibility to see the driverless bus up close. Finally, they were introduced to traditional dances, tasted traditional Greek cuisine and were delighted by Greek hospitality.
Of course there were some excursions as well. An excursion was made to Ioannina and the ancient theater of Dodoni. They visited Meteora, the huge vertical rocks at the top of which there is the second monastic complex in Greeceand they also admired the stone bridge with the impressive waterfall in Paleokarya.
After a dialogue between the partners, the next transnational meeting in Finland was determined and the implementation of the obligations of each partner was agreed.
It was a unique experience for communication, exchange of opinions and experiences, development of cooperation and friendship relations.
THOMAS GIOUVRIS – EVANGELIA KARATASIOU
