POLISH YOUR ENGLISH

The aim of the project is to provide equal access to education, with particular attention to those who are at risk of marginalization. The project is designed for children and young people who are charges of orphanages, community and socio-therapeutic centers. Within 8 months, the participants will take part in 32 interactive workshops, and the course will culminate in a theatrical play staged by them. Our journey with the English language will touch on many aspects. We will learn about the culture, history, geography and literature of Anglo-Saxon countries. The participants will have the chance to encounter an applied language, and learning will take place using formal and informal teaching techniques. The aim of the project is to improve communication skills, listening comprehension, to expand vocabulary and build confidence in using English.

Actions that will be taken in the project:

Within the project, we are providing 32 English workshops for two groups with A2-B1 and B2-C1 levels. The workshops will take place over the course of 8 months, with an average of 4 workshops per month for about 2h.

Month 1.

The participants will take a test to verify their knowledge of English. After that, they will be assigned to the appropriate group. During this month, we will focus on breaking the language barrier. Conversation groups will be organized, a variety of topics will be covered depending on the level of the group. The aim of the classes is to improve listening comprehension and encourage communication in a foreign language. The participants will have the opportunity to enhance soft skills, group work, negotiation skills and speaking in front of an audience.

Month 2.

The second month is dedicated to learning through play, during each class we will be playing different games. We will focus on understanding an applied language. We will learn practical vocabulary to understand different types of instruction manuals. The participants will have the chance to feel the thrill of competition and learn to manage emotions.

Month 3.

The third month is dedicated to Anglo-Saxon literature. At each class different literary genres will be discussed. Extracts from writings will be read or excerpts from screen adaptation of a given literary genre will be presented. The classes will end with a knowledge test, with rewards for good results. The participants will expand their vocabulary of literature and focus on improving their listening comprehension.

Month 4.

During the fourth month of the program we will present a variety of films and fairy tales, through which the participants will expand their knowledge of cinematography. During each class we will discuss selected productions, and at the end we will clarify vocabulary and incomprehensible parts.

Month 5.

During the fifth month, classes will be led by Erasmus+ students, who will share their knowledge and experience about different countries and their cultures. The program of classes will be very diverse and will cover topics such as history, geography, cuisine, customs and daily life. It’s a great opportunity to understand the differences between cultures and break stereotypes.

Month 6.

In the sixth month at the classes we will focus mainly on the United States and the United Kingdom. The participants will be familiarized with the geographic location of these countries, administrative subdivisions, dependent territories, as well as demographics, the lie of the land and natural resources. However, we won’t limit ourselves to dry facts – during the classes we will also bring up the historical events that have shaped the current situation of these countries. It will give you a chance to understand how the history and culture were developing and learn about the differences between them.

Month 7.

During the seventh month, the participants will gain knowledge regarding daily life, traditions, customs, celebrated holidays and famous personalities of Anglo-Saxon countries. We will also pay attention to the topic of stereotypes about these countries and their origins. We will discuss this subject to better understand how stereotypes are created and how they affect our perception of other cultures.

Month 8.

During the final month of the course, the participants will have the opportunity to apply previously gained knowledge and skills in preparing a theatrical play, which they will stage on their own. Depending on the level of the group, the participants will use an existing play or write their own script from scratch. Our class instructors will help select appropriate material and provide support in the process of creating the entire event.

During the project we:

• Include in the project a group of young people from community and socio-therapeutic centers, foster families or orphanages
• Strengthen the English language competency of the participants, which will increase the competitiveness in the labor market in the future,
• Facilitate cooperation among young people from different backgrounds.
• Create a community that gives participants a chance to meet interesting people and establish relationships with them.