Create Vokis to introduce yourselves

Do you know what Voki is? It is a free service that allows you to create personalized speaking avatars and use them on your blog, profile, and in email messages.

What about creating vokis to introduce yourselves to the other students who are involved in the project?You can embed them on Facebook thanks to the Voki app. 

If I managed to do it, you WILL ;-)

Have a look at mine below. Do you recognize me? Listen to my message!

If you need help, e-mail me HERE. 

Pupil Evaluation Report 1

Here is the report of the answers and informations given by the pupils involved in the Comenius project in the questionnaire.
On the whole, 62 students answered the questionnaire, pupils of the different classes involved in the project and pupils that took part in the trip in Sofia.

• 49 pupils consider that the communication between pupils is very good or good, and 40 of them think that the goals of the projects were clearly explained to them. Maybe some concrete details on the project, like the game approach and the different parts of the program should have been more clearly explained.

• The eTwinning portal and the NING Network are considered useless communication tools by the pupils. Emails and Facebook were indicated as the most useful tools (52 votes as “very useful” and “useful”), especially in order to communicate with pupils of the other countries.

• As for the logo, many different ways of creation were chosen in the different classes involved in the project: 17 of them indicated that a small group of pupils was in charge of the creation of the logo, 12 said “a large number of pupils” and 21 answered “pupils and teachers”. This part of the project seems to have been considered as great and resulting of an efficient collaboration between all the partners (45 answers)

• Concerning the boxes, 51 pupils answered that it was a good way to get involved in the project. The following answers about “their opinion” on this activity were not always clearly and completely given, with details and explanations :
31 said “I liked it very much because…” and the main explanation is about the great moments spent choosing the objects to send and discovering what the boxes contained. Some pupils also mention that it was a very good way to improve their English and to learn more about the cultures of foreign countries.
25 said “I like it but…” and 9 answered that they didn’t feel concerned or that they didn’t like it. Their explanations here are linked with the stay in Sofia that concerned only a few of them (lack of motivation), and also with the feeling that this activity was useless to know the pupils of the other countries. 2 pupils tell that they didn’t understand the meaning of all the objects.

MEETING IN BULGARIA (31 answers)

The pupils who traveled in Sofia enjoyed their stay in Bulgaria. Here is the summary of their answers:

• Concerning the way they were chosen to take part in the meeting in Sofia :
- 11 of them told they were chosen thanks to teachers’ choice (with cover letters or not)
- 6 answered “voluntary participation”, 15 “random drawing”, and 3 “lottery”
What about coordinating our selection measures?

• Only 15 of them got in touch with their hosts before going to Bulgaria mostly by mails or Facebook.
• All the pupils unfortunately didn’t answer to the 3 last questions : 15 told they enjoyed their stay in their Bulgarian families, 5 answered that they didn’t enjoy it (with no explanations).
• The program was well-organized for most of them: they appreciated to discover Sofia, the monastery of Rila and also their school activities.
• As a conclusion, most of them appreciated the discovery of a new culture, speaking English and meeting new friends…

Treasure Hunt Contest, Clues n°4

Here are the last clues... 

Do not forget your map of Europe!

Bulgaria

THE MYSTERY TOWN

You start from Sofia and travel to the north-east of Bulgaria. On your way you pass through the town of Veliko Turnovo. It is the second Bulgarian capital. The books written in the Turnovo literary school put the foundations of the contemporary Slavic literary language. The Old-Bulgarian book is hand-written and extremely precious with its miniatures (with multi-coloured compositions), the Tetraevangelia of Ivan Alexander known as the Gospel of London which still decorates the British National Museum as well as the chronicle of  Manasii –kept in the Vatican.

Then you should pass through the town of Shoumen. The mystery town is located at about 20 km., south-east of the town of Shoumen.

The mystery town became the first Bulgarian capital during the reign of King Simeon. The first literary school was established at this place. The importance of its activity marked the beginning of the Golden Age in the cultural history of Bulgaria. Some of the most famous writers and teachers that worked there are Naum Preslavski, Chernorizets Hrabar and Joan Ekzarh. 

Belgium 

The popular detective series “Aspe” was filmed in this city. In the series, the charming police inspector Pieter Van In solves crimes and murders.

The successful series was based on the books of Pieter Aspe, who was born on 3rd April 1953 in this particular city.

Czech Republic

He had two wives. The first, Olga Šplíchalová died in 1996 and the second, Dagmar Veškrnová is czech actress.

When he was politician, he lived in castle in city, which is called “Town of hundred towers”.

Poland
The masterpiece which the poet is best renowned for is Treny (Laments). He wrote a series of elegies upon the death of his beloved little daughter.

Norway

This author received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920.   

68° 5′ 2″ N, 15° 38′ 18″ E.

Good luck!

Treasure Hunt Contest, Clues n°3

Here are new clues to help you dicover 
the mystery places...

Bulgaria

This town was one of the former capitals of the first Bulgarian state on the Balkan Peninsula.

Belgium

The writer of this book, called ‘Het dolfijnenkind’ (‘The child of the dolphin’) was born in the mystery city.

When Marijn and her class visit a dolphinarium one day, something very strange happens. Without thinking about it, he dives in to the water and swims with the dolphins, as if he had always done that. When his mother finds out what happened, she tells Marijn a few things from the past, though it is very painful for her. Shortly after, they leave for the Bahamas, where Marijn was born, but where his father disappeared mysteriously. Their search for the truth can begin. 

Czech Republic

He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. His most famous pieces are: Letters to Olga and Garden Party.

Norway

His most famous work is “The Growth of the Soil”.This author received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920.

Poland
One of Polish best-known writers died there. The man was a Polish Renaissance poet.

Good Luck ;-)

Treasuer Hunt, Clues n°2

 Here are the next clues for every country! 
I hope they will help ;-) Good luck!

Belgium

There is a statue of a poet in the mystery city. This is one of his poems…

Hoe zoet is 't om te peinzen dat, terwijl ik rust misschien, Een ander, ver van hier, mij on- bekend en nooit gezien, U lezen kan mijn dichten, mijn geliefde, en niet en weet Van al de droeve fouten van uw vader de poëet!

How sweet is it to think that, maybe while I’m resting, Someone else, far away from here, unknown to me and never seen, can read my poetry, my beloved, and not know of all the sad mistakes from your father the poet!

Bulgaria 

It is connected with the name of King Simeon I (10th century), during his reign the Bulgarian country bordered on three seas.

Norway

This tiny place is the place where one of our most beloved and, for other than literary reasons, hated authors grew up.

Czech Republic

He’s a Czech writer, politician, dissident and the co-founder of Charta 77.

Poland

It is also one of the oldest in our country. This city is famous for its beautiful Old Town.

Treasure Hunt Contest

As expected, 1L1 students have chosen a city in France and they have imagined 4 clues. Here is the first and the most difficult:

1. The stranger's father lived there.

Have you found out the name of this city?

___________________________________________________________

Now, you can find the riddles sent by our partners, below. Most of them have imagined 4 clues, but let's make it a bit more difficult ;-) For each country, you will find only one clue for the moment! I will add the others regularly before the end of the month... 

Belgium

1. Georges Rodenbach (1829) wrote a book about this city.

Bulgaria

1. The students of the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet used to work there.

Norway

1. “Hammer Island”.

Czech Republic

1. He was born on 5th October 1936.

Poland

1. This place is the largest Polish city in the east of Poland. It is also one of the oldest in the country.

____________________________________________________________

So, why did I entitle this post "Treasure Hunt Contest"? Well... because we propose you, 1L students and 2de7 students, to take part in a... contest!

Here are the rules:

1. Work in teams! 3 or 4 students working together is a good idea! Give a name to your team and say to your "Comenius" teachers that your team is taking part in the contest.

2. Draw a map of Europe with the six countries of our project.

3. Find out the 5 places thanks to the clues below and the others that will be posted in the next few days.

4. Each time you find out a place, locate it on your map.

5. Once you have found out the 5 places, PROCLAIM IT!

The winner is the team that has found the 5 places FIRST!

And of course, as for any good contest, there will be a reward, even two! 

One for the quickest team and the other for the best map of Europe!

 Visit this site again to get the new clues ;-)

Start of the treasure hunt through Europe!

Concept: Each country sends riddles to find out one important place in connection with the tasks students have to perform.
The first place must be connected with literature as the students are to write a European tale.

On January 15, 2010, the first riddle is to be published.

Here are the details which were discussed in Bulgaria:

- Each country will choose a stop that has something to do with its national literature (in general). A map will be put in every school, on which the stops of the quest will be pointed out. These stops mustn’t necessarily have something to do with the 2 narratives.

- Clues will have to be given (3 to 5 questions or riddles). These clues will eventually be used in the party game. They can refer to a writer, whose picture can be put on the map. The clues mustn’t be too straightforward (the students must not be able to simply google the answer, they must be challenged to think about it). Several clues can be used to refer to one answer. The clues can also lie in the field of geography, history etc, as to help the students find the answer. In case the clues are too difficult, they can be passed to other students (from other class groups) as well.

- Each country will receive five clues (for five stops) from five countries. The clues can be divided among the students.

- Three to five clues, which are ranked according to difficulty. 2nd and 3rd clue will only be given if the other clues are too difficult. Teachers are free to decide to use this system or not. When the stop is found, a picture can be put on the map.
1st clue: difficult
2nd clue: easier
3rd clue: easy

A group of 1L students are in charge of this task. Good luck and work hard!