Euractiv interviewed Piotr Nazaruk, an English teacher at CLVI Liceum Ogólnokształcące Integracyjne (in Warsaw), one of five partner schools in the European Commission-funded EUPress project.
E: Hi Piotr, is this the first time your school has participated in a European project?How do you feel about it?
P: Since we joined the EUPress Project in December 2022 our project team, both teachers and students of CLVI Liceum Ogólnokształcące Integracyjne in Warsaw, have been actively trying to get comfortable with the topic of the European Union. This is the first time our school has been participating in an international project so we are both excited and a bit anxious. At first, the task ahead of us may seem daunting but we are convinced we can handle it and are willing to take this challenge head on.
E: Can you tell us what activities you have been involved in so far?
P: From February to May we took part in EUPress Teachers Training. The training aimed at educating teachers (the coordinators and leaders of the project) in the issues of European integration as well as the new challenges facing the EU. The training was delivered twice a week in the form of live online meetings as well as recorded video lectures. The participants also had a chance to discuss topics covered with the experts and other members during scheduled discussions and debates. Additionally, at the end of each module, each participant prepared a short written reflection on a chosen topic which they could then present in front of the class.
E: How are your students taking part in this project?
P: Since the start of the project our students have been working on extracurricular activities called ‘Erasmus’ which have been created to prepare them for the project. During our weekly meetings we discuss the most important topics introducing the mechanisms and history of the Union including: the origins of the European integration process, most important EU institutions, competences and functioning, and the many challenges of the EU, like the economy, environment, terrorism, migration etc. We are going to work using Visible Thinking Routines – a teacher is only a tutor in this project.
E: Great! Have they so far participated in any practical activities that involved them personally?
P: Absolutely! In June this year our school project team had a chance to prepare a short video introducing our school to other participants of the project. Our students had a great fun preparing the material, presenting the pros of our small school located next to the Royal Baths Park in Warsaw and conducting the street review with project coordinators who talked about their expectations concerning the future of the project.
E: Thanks Piotr. So are you satisfied with how the project is progressing so far?
P: Very satisfied. We are grateful we can be a part of the EUPress Project because we are convinced that the outcome of the project will be beneficial for both teachers and students of our school (not only those who participated). We would like to thank all the participants of the project, both host and guest schools, for creating such a great atmosphere for studying and meeting together. Last but not least, we are very grateful to the main coordinator Fabio Masini and the CesUE team for all the support and encouragement we have received.
