EXPLORES THE NORDIC COUNTRIES THROUGH SELF-PRODUCED TEXTBOOKS
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Stefan in the library at Vonsild School. Photo: Joan Rask. Image taken from Norplusonline.org
In schools around the Nordic region, pupils and teachers work to create textbooks on differences and similarities between the Nordic countries. The students get involved and work diligently to do research, write, translate and read the books, which are available online for free to all schools throughout the Nordic region. The project is called Atlantbib and is supported by Nordplus Nordiske Språk . The goal is for students aged 8-12 to gain an equal knowledge of the Nordic language and culture.
Atlantbib was started in 2015 by Stefan Åge Hardonk Nielsen, teacher and school librarian at Vonsild School in Denmark. The project is a collaborative project between Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, of which two schools also have Sami participation. All the books are written in the pupils’ mother tongue, then the books are translated by pupils and teachers in other Nordic countries.
The good thing about the textbooks is that they are easy to use in teaching because the teachers can connect the books to topics that the students are still working on – be it history, geography, language or culture. In addition, the website is open for all schools to write or translate books.
Check out the project at www.atlantbib.org or read more on Nordplus’ website here .
USES MUSIC TO BREAK LANGUAGE BARRIERS
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Image taken from nordplusonline.org
Music helps to lower the threshold for learning a new language. This is the idea behind the project Dream Academy Norden, which uses music to get students from upper secondary schools in the Nordic countries to get acquainted with a new language and new cultures.
The project is supported by Nordplus Junior and is part of the cultural initiatives the network Svenska Nu uses to increase interest in language studies in general and knowledge of the Nordic language in particular. Today, schools from Sweden, Finland and Norway participate.
Through DreamAcademy Norden, students from various partner schools meet across borders and participate in joint music workshops where they create, mix and produce their own songs in a Nordic language and perform together. Through music, students get the opportunity to utilize language skills, create Nordic contacts and social and musical skills. In addition, students get to experience new school environments as well as challenging and interdisciplinary working methods. The teachers, for their part, benefit from the project by collaborating with schools in other countries, and working together for closer Nordic co-operation.
Hanaholmen – cultural center for Sweden and Finland is behind the Svenska Nu network. Read more about the project at www.danorden.fi or on Nordplus’ website here .
FACTS ABOUT NORDPLUS
Nordplus is the Nordic Council of Ministers’ largest educational program in lifelong learning. In 2018, they will distribute 9.3 million euros. The purpose of the program is to develop the region’s cooperation in the field of education, create opportunities for the exchange of experience and contribute to strengthening the quality of education. Participation in a project will also increase interest in Nordic languages and promote cultural understanding.
A project within Nordplus can, for example, include dividends, internships, competence development, development projects, thematic network activities or mapping projects. Nordplus has five sub-programs:
Nordplus Junior
Nordplus Nordic Languages
Nordplus Adult
Nordplus Horizontal
Nordplus Higher Education