Celebrating Mihai Eminescu, a transdisciplinary lesson dedicated to our national poet

    On January 19, 2022, the students enrolled in class 8B at Liceul Teoretic "Radu Vlădescu" Pătârlagele, coordinated by their teacher of Romanian, Mrs. Adelaida Iorga, and their teacher of English, Mrs. Emilia Frînculeasă, participated in a transdisciplinary lesson dedicated to the celebration of Mihai Eminescu, Romania's National Poet, and meant to integrate a variety of learning activities and experiences, promote interaction, collaboration, teamwork, creativity and innovation and ultimately provide opportunities for the future graduates to develop their key competences and 21st century skills.

The English component of the lesson included the following activities:

Learning about Mihai Eminescu's Life and Work, before the transdisciplinary lesson, with an original interactive resource https://learningapps.org/view16405018

Activity 1: Teamwork

Procedure: Grouped in two teams, the students answered each question randomly assigned by the wheel within a given amount of time (1 minute). Collaboration and Internet research were encouraged in order for them to find/check the information they needed to solve the task. The winning team was the one providing the correct answers more quickly.   

Resource: https://wordwall.net/resource/27103256/celebrating-mihai-eminescu

Key competences and skills: linguistic and digital competences, learning to learn, collaboration, teamwork, problem-solving, peer-learning etc.

Activity 2: Gap-filling 

Procedure: The teacher introduced the original acrostic poem dedicated to Romania’s national poet to the students and asked them to fill in the blanks with the correct words from the list. 

Resource: https://learningapps.org/view23128070

Key competences and skills: linguistic and digital competences, cultural awareness and expression, critical and creative thinking, problem-solving etc.

An Acrostic Poem

dedicated to Romania's National Poet

(written by Emilia Frînculeasă)

My time has never flown away

In everything that breathes you’ll find me:

Here, with the wailing forest trees...

And by the  lonely longing poplars

In my calm land I shall still be.

Embrace me, now, just like an angel,

My guardian soul with drowsy eyes!

I’ll gaze towards the blue lake lillies

Nearby the smiling morning star.

Eternal, but not cold, we shall be

Such sweet illusions to be dreamt;

Come, hold me tight into your arms

Until we reach eternity’s end!

Activity 3: Listening Comprehension

Procedure: The students watched/listened to the Voki character reciting the acrostic poem, paying attention to the British pronunciation of the (new) words. 

Resource: https://youtu.be/M9FDinCGIAY

Key competences and skills: linguistic competences, cultural awareness and expression, learning to learn etc.

Activity 4: Translation Practice

Procedure: The students suggested Romanian alternatives for each line of the poem, sharing preferences and feedback in order to provide the collective translation of the poem below. 

Key competences and skills: linguistic competences, cultural awareness and expression, critical and creative thinking, problem-solving etc.

Traducerea colectivă a Acrostihului Dedicat Poetului National al României

Vremea mea nu a trecut vreodată

Mă vei găsi în tot ce este viu:

În codrul ce se leagănă

Și lângă plopii singuri, ce așteaptă,

Pe-al meu pământ mereu eu o să fiu.

Ca un înger, îmbrățișează-mă, 

Cu ochi somnoroși, suflet păzitor!

Eu admira-voi nuferii lacului albastru

Chiar lângă luceafărul zâmbitor.

Nemuritori vom fi, dar nu indiferenți

Ca niște visuri dulci de zi;

Vino, strânge-mă în brațele tale,

Până când eternitatea se va sfârși!

As far as the curricular integration of the eTwinning project is concerned, the following general and specific competences from the National Curriculum for the 8th grade were explored:

2. Speaking in everyday communication situations

2.2. Participating in short conversations in common contexts, on general topics;

2.3. Expressing your suggestion or reaction to a preposal in an informal dialogue;

2.4. Showing interest in the quality of expression/interaction;

3. Receiving written messages in everyday communication situations

3.1. Deducing the meaning of unknown words from the context;

3.4. Showing interest in understanding different types of texts.

The Romanian component included a Powerpoint presentation created by the coordinating teacher, Mrs. Adelaida Iorga, free discussions, presentations of the students' collaborative work and wonderful recitations of some of  Mihai Eminescu's most remarkable poems: Ce-ţi doresc eu ţie, dulce Românie, Atât de fragedă..., Fiind băiet păduri cutreieram, Călin (File din poveste), Glossă etc.

Curricular integration of the eTwinning project “Renewing European Values for Social Inclusion and Democratic Citizenship under the Auspices of eTwinning and Erasmus+ Programmes” (2020-2022)

In January 2022, 32 students involved in the eTwinning project “Renewing European Values for Social Inclusion and Democratic Citizenship under the Auspices of eTwinning and Erasmus+ Programmes” (2020-2022) created-together with their teacher of English-a virtual travel guide of Europe. 

The main aims of the project activity were:

- to encourage autonomous multimedia learning (research, gathering and selection of information, problem-solving, comparative and collaborative work etc.);

- to enable the project participants to actively involve in the process of creating a multimedia product;

- to develop the students' key competences (their linguistic, learning-to-learn, digital competences etc.) as well as their oral presentation skills;

- to provide an opportunity for a class of Romanian 11th graders (the Humanities profile) to create a teaching and learning resource for the other schools involved in the project to be used during their English classes;

- to share information about Europe that may be relevant not only for tourist purposes, but also for improving knowledge and communication skills in English;

- to promote cultural diversity and European heritage;

- to foster interaction, student engagement with each other and the content they shared;

- to apply the Multimedia Principle which states that we learn better from words and pictures than from words alone;

- to put technology (Canva, Google Meet, PowerPoint, Video apps etc.) to good use and create accessible copyright compliant and reader-friendly materials.

The teacher of English invited each student to create a poster including travel information about a European country of their choice, similar to the one selected for the poster below, created by the teacher, using either Canva or PowerPoint:

The students created their own posters and then they presented their work in class, answering questions asked by the English teacher and sharing feedback and suggestions. Their work was finally graded and their posters became a virtual travel guide which was shared with the other project partners to be used as a teaching and learning resource and an example of good practices. The final results were also shared on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pOpdrNZUC7s.

The activities were also consistent with the requirements of the National Curriculum for English language teaching in terms of specific competences, communicative functions, attitudes and values. 

Promoting the talents, skills and special abilities of the eTwinned Romanian Tweenagers

 

Preparations for the celebration of the anniversary of our national poet with the future graduates on the eTwinning platform

This year, to celebrate our national poet, Mihai Eminescu, on the 19th of January, there will be a special transdisciplinary event at Liceul Teoretic "Radu Vlădescu", in Pătârlagele town, Romania.

Inspired by Mihai Eminescu's life and work, the future graduates involved in the eTwinning project "Împreună pentru profilul absolventului/Together for the Graduate Profile" will develop their multilingual competence, their digital competence, their personal, social and learning-to-learn competences, their cultural awareness and expression competence and their literacy competence, under the guidance and coordination of two teachers: Mrs. Adelaida Iorga and Mrs. Emilia Frînculeasă. 

The original interactive resources will create an opportunity for the students to use multi-media technology critically and creatively to find, assess, use, present and exchange information, while the more collaborative and competitive tasks will give them the chance to organise their own learning-to-learn ability and interpersonal competences, find solutions, apply their previous knowledge and skills in a safe, friendly, positive and motivational learning environment.

During the activities, the participants will also discover, explore and pursue their own individual objectives, preferences, interests,  aspirations etc., which will enable them to adapt to and integrate in different cultural, linguistic, social and educational circumstances.

Last, but not least, Mihai Eminescu's poetry will encourage the students to achieve an appreciation of the importance of expressing one's creativity and the ability to interpret and relate to one's ideas, experiences and emotions.

The activities and resources, consistent with the national competence-based approach of the curriculum (https://learningapps.org/display?v=pnwt06pjn21 , https://learningapps.org/display?v=p5b3m6b7t22 , https://learningapps.org/display?v=p3roptgnj21 , https://wordwall.net/resource/27103256) will prove invaluable not only for the students' self-development and personal fulfilment, but also for the improvement of their knowledge, skills and self-confidence before the National Evaluation exam. 

Implementing this eTwinning project has been an extremely rewarding experience confirming our hopes that innovative pedagogical approaches will foster the participants’ engagement, learning motivation and committment for non-formal education, which complements formal learning contexts, adding greater value and reducing educational inequities through more student-centered, personalised learning alternatives.

Semestrial methodological activities of the Pedagogical Association no. 3 (2021-2022)

Christmas Wishes for and from Future Graduates - The Collaborative Padlet for the eTwinning project "Împreună pentru profilul absolventului/Together for the Graduate Profile" (2021-2022)

 

"An English Christmas"- The 2nd Edition of The Christmas Poetry Festival for Students (December 2021)

Christmas is coming (by Miriam Leonte)

In this bright, bright room

The whole family will be coming

Soon, to enjoy together

A dinner tastier than ever.

Delicious cakes my mom has made

Decorated with precious snowflakes

All is festively set on the table

Which doesn’t even look too stable.

And if you should decide

To take a short walk outside

Remember to carefully step on the fresh snow

And stop by the tree full of a million lights

Only to keep your worries out of sight.

Christmas Day (by Andrei Daniel Bănică)

Whenever I go carol-singing outside, in the cold,

I remember that this tradition is so very old.

In my family, Christmas Day is the most beautiful

As it truly helps everyone to stay merry and hopeful.

When we play the accordion or just warm our voices

The spirit of Christmas in all our souls rejoices

Being with the loved ones, sharing this together

Makes my heart warmer and my feelings better

I wish people everywhere could feel the same way

So thankful and blessed like on Christmas Day.

Christmas Blue (by Adelina Dumitru)

I loved you but you broke my heart,

Right on that holy Christmas Day

You stole my favourite Christmas line

Now I can’t sing and the carols pay.

You were my one and only desire

The only Christmas dream I had

But when you left me it all changed

My loving soul was dropped in fire.

I just hope that it won’t be long

Until I can believe in magic

Until I can sing a Christmas song

Without a single trace of tragic.

Thankful for Christmas (by Andreea Cătălina Tache)

I am grateful for the gifts

Under the Christmas tree

And praying for a New Year

To spend with my family.

The lights are colourful

And our home so festive

Everyone feels cheerful

This is a time to give!

The Christmas Holiday (by Roxana Ghinea)

Christmas is not only about presents

It’s mostly about family and friends

It’s a season for us to be generous 

And believe in what’s miraculous.

For me Christmas Day is a holy day

The Day when Jesus Christ was born

And I think we should all celebrate

His divine arrival into the world. 

It’s Christmas Time (by Ștefania Homocea)

Angels are bringing hope in every home

Santa Claus is sharing his generous gifts

People everywhere are spreading love

Everyone is getting ready for the bliss.

Families are more united and devout

The children are merry and playful

Let it snow, let it snow if you want

Let us feel more and more merciful.

Christmas Poem (by Maria-Janina Savu)

Today is the most special day

All the people are at home

And the children stay awake

Waiting for you, Santa Claus.

Outside it is already snowing

Carollers are merrily singing

The Christmas tree is glowing

And we are happily dreaming.

Christmas Prayer (by Alexandra-Ramona Andrei)

This holiday is about more than gifts

It has a spiritual significance

I think we should all remember this

And start praying for health and peace.

This is a time to believe in miracles

Our own lives are so miraculous

So, if it’s Christmas, let’s stay positive

Let’s help and honour each other.

A Christian Holiday (by Sevastrin Dimitrie)

When the kids are sleeping

And smiling in their dreams

Santa Claus is quietly coming

To bring them special gifts.

He leaves them under the tree

And vanishes into the night

Knowing that the next morning

They will be sharing their delight.

Such a Wonderful Season (by Laura Ioana Stan)

This season is so magical

Everybody is faithful

God makes us very happy

And His work is wonderful.

Have a Merry Christmas!

This winter feels so blissful

With our family close to us

We are jolly and hopeful.

Santa has brought the gifts

The kids are feeling grateful

Outside it may be freezing

But inside it is delightful.

A Holy Celebration (by Eduard Dițoiu)

Look! Outside it’s snowing

And friends are comin’ to my house

We’ll adorn the Christmas tree

Our windows will be glowing.

Santa Claus will be here

To celebrate the holy season

Everything is so miraculous

For those who are religious.

O, Christmas Night (by Alexandru Morărașu)

It is a merry atmosphere outside

Father Christmas is coming tonight!

In December on the twenty-fifth

We will all get a Christmas gift.

All the good children in the world

Are singing carols from door to door

Wishing a Merry Christmas to you

And a Happy New Year, too!

Christmas wishes for the eTwinned European Tweenagers

 

Immortal Trees in Literature and Art - students' presentations for the eTwinning project "Today's Seeds, Tomorrow's Trees"

 

Main aims of the activity:

- to create real opportunities for collaborative learning for a class of 9th graders and to develop their social, peer learning and evaluation skills, ICT and presentation skills, team spirit, self-confidence and engagement in their own learning;

- to promote environmental education in general and the protection of trees and forests - as part of the natural heritage of our planet - in particular;

- to use visual arts and poetry to increase the students’ emotional intelligence (their awareness and recognition of emotion);

- to develop the students’ visual literacy (their ability to interpret, negotiate and create meaning from poetry and artwork, using their own imagination and life experience);

- to improve the students’ creativity, positive attitudes and behaviours through intercultural understanding and respect for diversity;

- to develop a deeper appreciation of the role of poetic language and aesthetic images as powerful communicative art forms.