The European Year of Cultural Heritage have introduce the willing to put the spotlight on Europe's wealth of cultural heritage, showcasing its role in fostering a shared sense of identity and building the future of Europe. According to a new Eurobarometer survey released today, most of the Europeans think cultural heritage is not only important to them personally, but also to their community, region, country and the European Union as a whole. All the participating countries – Croatia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal and Spain – are coastal European countries. The sea and the coast present natural borders that can divide or unite, depending on our approach. This is why project partners decided to plan a project with the purpose to use culture as a tool for language teaching. Communication in English will be developed not by talking only about English culture (as we are used to), but talking and discovering cultural heritage of project partners' countries. This aim matches with the general aim of improvement of the adult education offers and adult teachers’ competences. The aim will be achieved by two IO that will involve two target groups: adult learners and adult teachers/educators: - Foreign Language Teaching through European Cultural Heritage Discovery Curriculum for Adult Learners - Learnpress Learners Management System – Digital platform for learning materials Both the IO will be used in providing a 60 – 80 hour English language course targeted at improving communicative competences in English language and intercultural understanding based on discovering the local cultural heritage of the partners’ countries. At the very beginning of the project, partners will establish a Project Management Team (four persons) to ensure efficient project management. Three transnational meeting and one Skype meeting will ensure continuous monitoring of the work in progress and achievement of the results. The Participatory Approach and the P.C.M. Methodology will be used for communication and cooperation between partners. 60 adult learners and 12 teachers will be involved in piloting the English language course level A2 – B1 based and carried out from the Foreign Language Teaching through European Cultural Heritage Discovery Curriculum for Adult Learners and will use the learning materials upload on the Learnpress Learning Management System – digital platform. 18 teachers and staff members will be involved in the sort-term joint staff training event in the 1st year of the project. 79 participants (around 61 learners and 18 teachers) will take part to the blended mobility of learners in the 2nd year of the project. Aroung 215 participants will take part in the multiplier events planned in the middle of the project going on in order to promote the English language course based and the project results. Around 50 participants will take part to the project final conference. The target groups of the dissemination activities will be (indicatively) • Adult learners • Training Providers • Foreign Language Providers • Teachers • Disadvantaged adult groups • Local community Leaders • Cultural Organisations at regional/national level • Linguistic experts • NGOs • Public Authorities The dissemination activity will ensure sustainability of project results, by analysing the evidence of the past and developing strategies for the future. The main expected impacts will be to have: - improved communication and presentation skills for teachers and learners in the home language and in English language , - developed critical thinking, reflexivity, and self-assessment, - identified different learning styles and strategies of adult learners and applied appropriate methods and techniques for teaching adults, - applied motivational strategies, develop communication and presentation skills, - evaluated the process of learning and teaching, develop consultation skills with the aim of helping adult learners select a learning programme, - improved the capacity of piloting, monitoring and evaluating a new curriculum for language competence development, - improved the use of a digital platform for learning materials, - developed the capacity of intercultural communication and cooperation, - developed the self assessment skills and planning the own lifelong learning process.

Context/background of the projectImmigration is currently a widespread phenomenon in European societies. Many adults are under compulsion to move to other country due to lack of employment. Adults when moving to a foreign country, often don’t know even the basic of the local language. It is desirable to offer them language courses with well-trained personnel and innovative methods. Therefore the project should help adults literacy teachers to improve their skills in teaching adults foreign languages and make the process of learning more effective. The background of the project is mainly based on the idea of the Flipped Classroom which is a new way of teaching. It could improve and accelerate adult education.ObjectivesThe project was aimed to introduce adult’s literacy teachers with innovative methods of teaching immigrants foreign languages. It was concentrated mainly on the concept of the Flipped Classroom. During the project the ideas of the Flipped Classroom and its main strengths were explained. Participants gained the knowledge about the adult’s education characteristics. The aim was that the participants would try to produce materials which would be beneficial to use in language teaching. Number and profile of participating organisationsMiðstöð símenntunar á Suðurnesjum (Iceland)Miðstöð símenntunar á Suðurnesjum (MSS) is a self-owned educational institution operated in the southwest of Iceland. The main objective of MSS is to promote and assist in adult education in the community, with special attention to the increase of continuing education, increased personal skills and qualifications, as well as promoting general well being of the population. Speak Europe (Poland)Speak Europe is a language school situated in Warsaw. They teach foreign languages and Polish for foreigners to adult learners. Their staff consists of teachers with sound experience who can see a big need of implementation of new teaching program. The International Language School (Italia)The International Language School has been working in the field of language training for 31 years. Since its foundation (1985), it has been continuously committed to research and improvement of operating processes in language training and communication. It is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, and is an examination center of Cambridge University as well as for the Universities of London and Edinburgh. North West Academy of English (North-Ireland)The NW Academy is a private English Language school established in 2003. It is a small family run school with 10 staff and international scope. It is the largest host for students participating in European mobility programme in North Ireland. Paikuse Basic School (Estonia)Paikuse Basic School is a children's school with 450 students and 35 teachers and is the biggest school in Pärnu County. The institution is well equipped with ICT facilities and they use many electronic systems in school management. The teachers use ICT facilities daily in the lessons and the school is known as IT school.Description of undertaken main activitiesThe main activities were connected with creating the language teaching materials using the flipped classroom methodology. Each partner, except Icland, made their own materials that would fit in 12 lessons. Iceland made the materials for 24 lessons. The materials were different between the partners and very many different programs and apps were used by all the partners. Results and impact attainedAs a result of the project the teachers got a new method in teaching languages to immigrants. The results were also the created materials that the institutions can use further in their teaching. The impact is more diverse teaching that should benefit the learners. The materials are a contribution to a more diverse teaching and we should be able to accommodate different needs of the learners in a better way. If relevant, longer-term benefitsThe long term benefits are considerable. Because of the project all of the partners‘ institutions have evolved their skills in using the flipped classroom method and are more skilled in using different programs and apps in their language teaching. This knowledge is used after the project end and the institutions are evolving thank to this project.

The selection of technology, tools and methodologies, intended for education, makes it difficult for educational institutions and adult learners to choose between them. For people who despite being at a disadvantage in society, have gathered up the courage to take up studies, disappointing experience is among the worst that can happen. Bad choices can cost worsened reputation of schools, lost self-confidence among the staff and students, time and money and a breach in trust between students and institutions. Therefore, it is important to learn from others´ best practices and experience in the use of technology in education and career- and study counselling. Professional development of teachers, career- and study counsellors and other staff. To: Share best practices, knowledge and experience of interactive tutorials in teaching and learning; Motivate career- and study counsellors, teachers and other staff to learn Interactive use of technology in counselling and teaching/learning; Help career- and study counsellors learn to design and implement effective strategies for specific adult target groups to enhance basic skills in learning; Design ICT action-plans; Organize workshops on the development and use of exemplary technical projects; Introduce special learning approach and knowledge of how to assist students in the use of ICT in education; Nurture the joy of studying and prevent as possible disappointment among adult learners; Improve access of the institutions´ target groups to education, regardless of place and time; Create the opportunity for learners to assess their own progress with interactive study-material; Make a project web-site linked to the partner institutions´ web-sites. Six institutions from Europe participate in the project. 79 people from the institutions take part in the activities. Invitees included, 50 people participate in each event and learn from each other's best practices.Participants; the project´s coordinator, project managers, teachers, career- and study counsellors and other staff, will be selected and involved in the different activities according to their expertise and experience. Activities: Design and use of interactive tutorials in teaching and learning. Technology in counselling and teaching/learning. Designing and implementing effective strategies for specific adult target groups to enhance basic skills in learning. Development and use of exemplary technical projects.Use of ICT tools and Media as a support for language courses. Assisting students in the use of ICT in education. Presentation of language learning apps.Nurturing the joy of studying and preventing disappointment among adult learners. Improving access of target groups to education. Introduction of self-paced e-learning with access to interactive materials. Use of apps and mobile devices to improve target group´s quality of life. SELFIE: Learners assess their own progress. Supporting adult schools to design ICT action plans. A project website.To carry out the project we will use a mixed-method approach, applying a combination of research methods and workshop activities. It is designed around a series of interrelated activities leading to a common result: to increase the technological knowledge of teachers and counsellors.Results:Professional development of participants and others. Interactive study material, user-friendly and rewarding interface.Shared best practices and experience of interactive tutorials.Career- and study counsellors motivated to learn the use of interactive technology in counselling. Career- and study counsellors can design and implement effective strategies for adult target groups.Knowledge of: how to design ICT action-plans, development and use of exemplary technical projects, special learning approaches and how to assist students in connection with the use of ICT in education, how to nurture the joy of studying, prevent as possible disappointment among adult learners.Access of the institutions´ target groups to education, regardless of place and time.Learners can assess their own progress A project website The impact and longer term benefits of the project will be on the partner institutions´ staff and other educational staff that will be introduced to the project results and learn from them. The institutions´ target groups will benefit from it by easier access to educational opportunities and guidance, independent of time and place. The project will have impact at local and national level since it will facilitate studies and guidance among disadvantaged groups. At European level it will spread tried knowledge among the partners and in their respective communities. It will also bring about experience in communication between different nationalities in Europe.The INTERACTE project is in line with all the priorities stated in the ET2020/European Agenda for Adult Learning priorities8, see: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/book/export/html/326_en

The project ensured that teachers were trained as intercultural mediators, to better understand the cultural issues that foreigners bring with them and become able to effectively transmit the elements of the host culture. This is a fundamental step to ensure the effectiveness of intercultural communication, knowledge and skills. Intercultural learning is of great importance, due to the movement of migrants to Europe and extremely important for teachers of migrants. Increased number of migrants is entering several countries in Europe where there is little or no experience in receiving them and how to solve problems in the classrooms attended by students from different cultures. It was urgent to support teachers and students by helping them understand cultural differences. Intercultural understanding supported teachers offering high quality teaching, deal with complex classroom realities and adopt new methods and tools. Special attention was paid to the integration of refugees and recently arrived migrants. Therefore the role of the teacher and volunteers, connecting people of many cultures, is vital. The objectives were to:- support educators towards a better understanding of interculturalism, share best practices and methods in teaching adult migrants and refugees between different European countries and help with changing problems due to migration into opportunities. - reinforce network between our institutions with the aim of sharing knowledge and experience and increase our capacity to operate at a transnational level. 97 individuals from seven countries participated in the activities. Invitees included, about 50 people participated in each event, or around 350 people who spread the knowledge. All the coordinators, teachers and volunteers were experienced in the field of adult education but with different experience of teaching migrants and refugees. Most of the partners had previously taken part in EU projects. Some have experience of cooperation with volunteers.The main activities were in the form of research and sharing of best practices in the field of interculturalism. Each partner was responsible for finding quality material / topics in order to share their best practices with the others. Also, each partner organization discussed what could be improved and which lessons could be learned from other partner organizations. Each partner was also responsible for the preparation of a conference/seminar/workshop which was focused on certain predefined topics within the field of Adult Education. A mixed-method approach was used, sequently applying a combination of research methods and workshop activities. It was designed around a series of interrelated activities among the partners leading to a common goal: increased quality and intercultural awareness of teachers and volunteers in the field of adult education with the purpose of becoming a good and active cultural mediator between migrants and the local society. Results were discussed during activities and amendments made. The results of the project are:An interactive project website with the opportunity for teachers, volunteers and learners to upload materials, find information and tips about new knowledge of interculturalism, andragogy, and new teaching methods, such as the story line and story-telling. Also, how to use digital devices in adult education, the European Framework Certification and CIS Certification for migrants and refugees. In addition to that, how to use work practice as a means of teaching and assessment as a tool for introducing the local school system to migrants. Another factor is how to become familiar with methods of using volunteers in non-formal language teaching and better communication skills in a foreign language for the participants. The general impact is: Increased quality of education and training - Increased knowledge of transversal skills, social-, intercultural- and language competences - Increased critical thinking among teachers and volunteers - Use of learning outcomes when describing and defining qualifications - Strategic and integrated use of ICT and educational resources in education - Increased motivation for English language learning and development of communication skills among participants - Intercultural communication skills and intercultural understanding - Reinforced interaction between different practices. Budget control was the responsibility of the project leader. It was monitored closely that the funding was spent according to plan. Monthly there was a check on the actual status of the budget. During activities its status was on the agenda. Dissemination is a key factor in the longer term benefits of the project. Besides introductions within the partner institutions and relevant organizations it was done through the partners´ websites and/or other social media available to the partners.