Study Visits to the EU Institutions in Brussels (Easy English Course)

Description

Many teachers would like to help their students understand Europe, the European Union, and democratic citizenship, but international training opportunities (and even accessing European materials) can feel intimidating, especially when their English level is still basic.

This course is designed specifically for educators with elementary and basic English skills (level A1.2-A2) who would like to improve their confidence and vocabulary using English in practical and supportive situations while taking the opportunity to discover the European Union directly in Brussels, “where the European Union is made”.

The course intends to help participants understand European institutions and values more clearly, using multilingual support and accessible English throughout the week.

This way, throughout the week, participants will build practical, accessible English vocabulary for talking about European institutions, democratic values, and active citizenship.

Educators will be given the opportunity to explore key content in their own language through official EU resources and multimedia guides, and at the same time, they will practice simple English for instructions, group work, visits, and exchanges with colleagues.

Through slow-paced and supportive classes, participants will learn useful vocabulary related to Europe, citizenship, schools, and international cooperation, but always in realistic situations for their educational contexts.

Also, every day is designed to combine in-class English practice with self-guided study visits to the main European institutions in the EU Quarter, including educational spaces such as Experience Europe, the Parlamentarium, and the House of European History.

These visits allow them to fully discover how the European Union works and to reflect on democratic values, rights, and active citizenship.

By the end of the week, participants will feel more confident talking about Europe in English, will have visited the heart of the European Union, and will take home a simple, ready-to-use classroom activity – plus free European Parliament teaching resources in their own language – to introduce their own students to European democratic life.

This is a Jean Monnet-inspired professional development experience for teachers who believe Europe is best taught by those who have seen it from the inside.

Concept by Veerle Ponnet

Learning outcomes

The course will help participants to:

• Build the confidence to talk about Europe, European institutions, and democratic values in English at a basic level;
• Acquire practical English vocabulary for discussing the European Union, European citizenship, and the rights of European citizens;
• Practise speaking and listening in simple, accessible English in a supportive, slow-paced environment designed for A1.2–A2 learners;
• Understand the main European institutions through visits and multilingual learning resources;
• Explore European values, democratic participation, and active citizenship;
• Discover official EU educational resources available in their own language and ready to use in their classrooms.
• Design classroom activities to introduce their own students to the European Union and democratic life, adapted to the teacher’s subject and students’ age group;
• Connecting with teachers from across Europe and building a network of potential partners for future Erasmus+ projects.

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.

Welcome to Brussels: kick-off and vocabulary basics

• Who’s in the room? Casual introductions on the basics: who the educators are, where they’re currently teaching, and what their subject;
• The week’s “Power Words”: a focus on the essential terms educators will need for the week (Europe, countries, school, citizenship, and cooperation);
• Getting over the “Fear Factor”: using basic English to participate, ask questions, and interact during the course without intimidation.

Day 2 – The European Union: how the EU actually works

• Vocabulary in context: the main EU institutions, their roles, and key vocabulary for talking about Europe;
• Breaking down the EU: a look at the main institutions and what they actually do;
• Visiting “Experience Europe”, a guided tour of the European Commission’s exhibition with a multimedia guide in their own language, so they can take everything in at their own pace.

Day 3 – European democracy and the voice of the citizen

• Language for talking about democracy, rights, and participation, at a level accessible to basic English speakers;
• Visit to the Parlamentarium (European Parliament Visitors’ Centre), with multimedia guide in any of the 24 official EU languages;
• Group reflection: What does democracy mean in your country, your school, your classroom?

Day 4 – European history, identity, and shared values

• Vocabulary for talking about history, memory, diversity, and European values;
• Self-guided visit to the House of European History, with multimedia guide in 24 EU languages, and introduction to the free House of European History teaching resources (available in their own language);
• Workshop: selecting one European value to bring into their own classroom.

Day 5 – From Brussels to my classroom

• EU Quarter walking exploration: an adapted communicative task in the streets around the European institutions, practising English in a real-world setting;
• Designing your take-home classroom activity: a fun lesson idea to introduce students to the European Union and democratic life;
• Feedback loop: sharing ideas with colleagues from other countries and receiving friendly language support;
• Networking: who are potential Erasmus+ partners for future projects?;
• 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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