Chain stories

1. Chain stories An innovative approach in motivating children to learn foreign languages

2. Main principle: Intercomprehension A. The ability to understand situations of intercultural communication. B. Establish bridges between languages, cultures and knowledge, resorting to already acquired skills and knowledge C. A way of overcoming linguistic and communicative obstacles, promoting dialogue between speakers of different languages.

3. Objective - to raise student’s interest towards other languages (LWURT) and intercomprehension. - the collective production of stories(in their mother tongue), through online exchanges between five European schools from five Latin countries

4. Process After the five participant schools “meet” (through the Project web page) one of the schools is appointed as the coordinator. This school will start the process, by producing the first chapter of the story which, when completed, will be sent to the second partner school. This school will continue it and send it to the third partner. The process will continue until the end of the narrative, to be produced by the fifth partner school. 

5. Main stages 1. Decoding a). a pre-reading introduction (concepts of Europe,language families, etc.) b). activities on global comprehension; c). activities aimed at deducing the text

6. Main stages 2. writing their part of the story a). creative writing activities b). writing the chapter c). follow up activities

7. Main stages 3. posting the story on the website 

8. Materials 1. Templates A. First chapter- initial situation, presentation of main character(s), space and time coordinates, one event at the end B. Second chapter- action arising from the event, complication Third chapter- solution of the complication,  another complication C. Fourth chapter- solution, unexpected event (complication) Fifth chapter- final resolution, unexpected solution/ revelation/ conclusion

9. Elements of Template

10. 2. Other products:English version of the storyIllustrations to the story A mini dictionary Materials

11. Conclusions The process of writing the chain story itself enables a wide range of creative activities as well as activities for linguistic awareness which help to develop a student’s autonomy and their general communicative competence, in any language. The Project stimulates the integral learning of languages. The project will include writing, written comprehension, oral production and oral comprehension, though the main aim is comprehension.

12. Quotations Teachers        “It was a nice and entertaining project, offering students a chance to be creative and to use their imagination. It was a fun activity that students really enjoyed and would like to repeat. As a teacher I found it to be great fun and an excellent idea that connects children from different countries and creates an interesting final product.”

13. Quotations Headteachers         An excellent project aiming at raising children awareness about and interest in foreign languages. It also helps improve children’s self- esteem and confidence as children have to make use all their resources in order to achieve the task. Demanding and fun!

14. Quotations Parents         An interesting idea of joining children from different countries to work together!         Congratulations! Such projects really enhance children’s motivation to learn other foreign languages besides English!

15. Quotations Children I liked the story because it was interesting. It is useful- now I know some words in French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese!The activity can be useful because if we go to other countries we can understand some words. I liked it because I had the freedom to continue a story.This activity stirred my interest in other languages. I also liked it because we tried to understand words from other foreign languages.I realized that it is not difficult to understand other Latin languages. I am glad we contributed to the story. I really enjoyed the intercultural activity.I felt good.

16. A Sample Story  A chapter in its English version