In this project, pupils translated songs into their
partner’s language and then rehearsed joint performances.
Their goal was to sing their entire
repertoire to three separate audiences during each
exchange – the pupils and parents from the host
school, the embassy staff and representatives from
both the town council and the board of education.
In this unique project, Latvian and Czech participants
selected a number of songs, which they then together
translated into their native languages as well as German.
The school accepted volunteers for the project and then
adopted a cooperative approach, assigning students to
tasks according to their strengths. Translators translated
the songs and compiled a relevant dictionary. Artists
illustrated the songs and designed the logo for the project
while designers created webpages. The singers in the
groups learned and rehearsed their own songs as well as
those from their partner school.
The concerts proved to be a big success during both
exchanges. Two of the shows were attended by the respective
ambassadors and all shows enjoyed wide media
coverage. Student-created posters advertised the events
and the groups compiled a calendar of related activities.
The fi nal concert was attended by newspaper reporters
and fi lmed and recorded by regional television stations.
In a studio, engineers touched up the recording and added
several new songs.
Following the exchanges, a CD and DVD were produced
and are being used by music teachers in the schools. A
song book including all of the songs was published. The
projects were presented to both schools and students
received copies of the song books, CDs and DVDs.
Although the project is fi nished, the pupils continue to
enjoy translating songs from diff erent languages.
An evaluation proves that the project motivated the
students to learn foreign languages. Preparing and
performing the shows also broadened their knowledge
of their partners’ culture through personal interaction. In
turn, this deepened their European thinking and strengthened
inter-European relations. The class exchange also
reinforced the social and computer skills of the pupils
while strengthening their motivation and confidence.
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