Targeted to Intermediate English (B1+) speakers.Read more
This is the standard requirement for most courses. Participants at this level can participate actively in discussions and manage everyday and professional situations. If they are unsure about their English level, they can test it here or explore our courses facilitated in Basic English.
Cross-Curricular.Read more
The listed audiences are those for whom the course is especially recommended, but courses are not exclusive to them and are open to everyone. In fact, most of our workshops are built around the collective sharing of participants’ experiences and having a variety of profiles enriches the learning process and is highly encouraged!
Introductive Course.Read more
This course is designed as an entry point to the topic. There are no entry tests, and it is open to everyone, as the exchange of diverse perspectives enriches the learning experience. If you prefer a more advanced course on the topic, we encourage you to explore our catalogue further.
Description
Ireland: One Nation, Two Countries?
One cannot fully educate students on the modern European Union without addressing the complications surrounding Northern Ireland.
This course is designed for history, political science, and English teachers and anyone interested in the history of the Island. It provides a deeper understanding of the events of the last thousand years.
Ireland’s unique position as the only EU member state sharing a land border with a former EU country (the UK) makes it a fascinating case study.
Ireland is mostly known on the continent as the Emerald Isle for its beautiful nature. More difficult to understand is the decades-long ethnic and political conflict in Northern Ireland.
A central focus of this course is to find out when and how the conflict arose,
intensified and escalated.
In workshops, we will examine the reasons that could help us understand today’s divisions. In today’s world, where Nations often seem divided, it is crucial to take a closer look at why.
Teaching this complex topic can be challenging because of possible political and social conflicts in one’s own country.
Therefore, we will discuss teaching methods for dealing with divisions in the classroom. The highlights of the course include a day trip to Belfast and one to the battleground of the Battle of the Boyne.
A Tour of the Murals will open your eyes, and you will visit Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods as well as important Belfast museums.
We will look at the situation on both sides of the Irish border after Brexit, and you will see and better understand the differences between the Republic of Ireland and its northern neighbour. On site, it will become clearer how people live and feel.
Important info: While there are no routine immigration controls when crossing the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, travellers may be asked to show their passport and any required travel authorisation if encountered by UK Border Force officers. Many visitors to Northern Ireland now require a ETA Visa UK – Electronic Travel Authorization.
Participants should check whether they need an ETA and obtain one before travelling
What is included
Learning outcomes
The course will help participants to:
- Recognise the differences and similarities between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland;
- Get a better understanding of the political situation in Ireland, particularly in Belfast (Northern Ireland), and to understand why there is still no satisfactory solution to the conflict;
- Recognise the significance of the historical and political background contributing to the negative impact of Brexit on Ireland;
- Develop comprehensive teaching strategies for addressing complex conflicts in Europe within the classroom;
- Identify the advantages of EU membership and assess the consequences of regions separating from the European Union;
- Communicate the importance of a collective European identity and highlight the significance of programs like Erasmus+;
- Gain an idea of the impact of Irish history on our shared European identity and the importance of Erasmus+ which is the key objective of the course;
- Be clearer of the advantages of EU membership.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Introduction to the course
- Introduction to the course and the Academy;
- Introduction to the host city and the week’s cultural activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools and institutions;
- Teachers’ expectations;
- The History of Northern Ireland;
- Our Common European Identity;
- Dublin city walk.
Day 2 – Excursion to Drogheda
- Excursion to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre and
- Oldbridge House in Drogheda;
- Inquiry-based learning: How the conflict started;
- Depiction of the Northern Ireland conflict in film: Showing some excerpts and analysing what we see: what is reality, what is fiction.
Day 3 – Excursion to Belfast
- Tour of the city;
- Explaining the Murals;
- Visiting Shankill Rd <-> Falls Rd;
- City Hall (Queen Victoria);
- Sinn Féin Women’s Prison (Museum);
- Visiting a Catholic and a Protestant neighborhood.
Day 4 – Group work
- Group Work Activity: What we have learned so far;
- Brexit and the consequences for Northern Ireland and our Common European Identity;
- Creating a Presentation of ” Ireland – a Divided Nation”.
Day 5 – Make it happen
- Project presentations;
- Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
- Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance.
Day 6 – Structured cultural activities
- Structured cultural activity(ies) according to the hosting location;
- Learning journal: individual written reflection on the course experience;
- Course reflection: self-reflection and review of course materials and resources.
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