Projects

Progress reports 2002 - 2003

Northgate High School / Lycée Delambre

Staff

Simon Ruscoe / Catherine Agricola/Pascale Grosjean

Background

The second year of the exchange has gone very well. Via tandem e-mail pupils have developed some very strong links. The tandem e-mail system is an excellent way to involve a large number of pupils. The pupils were able to take part in the choice of their exchange partners and as a result some very strong friendships have evolved.

We were hoping to get the video conferencing up and running effectively this year, but owing to technical difficulties we were unable to. However, the strength of the e-mail contacts and exchanges meant that this was not a problem. We will still keep a video conferencing link as a target for next Year. We have evaluated the use of ICT as a means of communication and find that ‘tandem e-mailing’ is a very effective system. Pupils get used to working in the two languages and also communicate via text messaging. This has some interesting linguistic implications as pupils use a ‘meta-language’ to communicate via text messaging, using a mixture of French, English and symbols to communicate.

Pupils introduced schools and descriptions of areas in February and March, using e-mail as the main means of communication. In September when the French group come to Ipswich they are going to prepare a guide on Northgate and the Ipswich area. The Ipswich pupils produced a trip diary, including photographs about their experience.
We aim to create some materials which can be posted on the school website.

The number of pupils taking part in the exchange doubled this year and the success of the relationships that have grown from the exchange has meant that other pupils in the UK are willing to act as host families for the return visit. Last year families were reluctant to host, so it looks as if there is a slow culture change in that respect.

Mrs Agricola and Mr Ruscoe-Price are both involved with Initial Teacher Training and discussed way of looking at furthering links and possible exchanges for trainee teachers. This will need further consultation and planning and will be followed up.

The project is meeting its objectives as pupils in each of the schools are able to communicate with each other using the foreign language they are learning, both long distance and face to face. Pupils understanding of cultural awareness is enhanced, through shared exploration of themes of mutual interest. We have compared music, the press and cultural differences between the two countries from the perspective of a young person. The teachers have been able to share resources and the French teachers were able to meet up and share resources with the Heads of Department in their subject specific areas (Humanities and Science). The project has proved to be very successful and we are confident that it will go from strength to strength.

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