Making UNESCO World Heritage Sites Appealing to the Young

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Our project website: https://szlierasmus.wixsite.com/unesco

The website is created by Daniella Böjtös and Kristóf Gellér.

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Our partner:

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Earlscliffe - Sussex Summer Schools Ltd
29 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, CT20 2NB, UNITED KINGDOM

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Hungarian Project Leader:

Dürrné Rákos Zsuzsanna

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The summary of the project:

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The context and background of the project called 'Making UNESCO World Heritage Sites Appealing to the Young' reflect upon the fact that 2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage, involving the partnership of a Hungarian bilingual secondary school and a British Sixth Form, a UNESCO School, with an international student-teacher community.

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The objectives of the project are to bring history, culture, and heritage closer to students in forms of real-life, first-hand experiences. As well as practicing the English language, empowering the whole community of both schools is the main priority. The two participating schools of the project put great emphasis on the values of history and culture. The students involved are aged 16-18, who possess enough knowledge and language competence to understand and creatively apply the gained new information. The project is based on an earlier collaboration and a job shadowing visit.

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The activities take place throughout the whole year of the project and beyond. There are four one-week long learning events focusing on visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites in both countries and four online topic-based lectures related to national traditions and holidays, in between the visits. The main tool for communication between the participants is creating the common website and working on its content together in forms of short films, videos, photos, quizzes, questionnaires, presentations.

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There is a multitude of different kinds of methodology to be used in carrying out the project. Raising awareness of cultural heritage occurs in both schools while preparing, implementing and doing the follow-up activities of the project. Motivating the young to discover and appreciate the historical values, find further connections between past and present are done through first-hand learning experiences. Participants adopt the necessary multicultural and social skills, use the English language to communicate in speaking and writing both online and face-to-face. Throughout the project, IT skills development and 21st-century skills are facilitated, like collaboration and teamwork, creativity and imagination, critical thinking, problem-solving. By getting to know invaluable sights of cultural heritage, all participants disseminate the positive image of both countries.

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In terms of the achieved results of the project, both schools envisage growing awareness and attention towards world cultural heritage. Tangible results include a common website with cultural content and intensive language practice throughout. The inclusion of numerous students and teachers in both schools has a considerable impact on both communities and a boost in their school life.

As far as the potential longer-term benefits are concerned, students are greatly encouraged to investigate further World Heritage Sites within and outside their country. Both schools are eager to maintain and further develop the current relationship as well as open to start new projects in the future.

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