Four elements - Legends and stories: improving foreign language learning and intercultural compentences of adults by e-learning

Without cultural differences and multiculturalism, Europe would not only not exist but would also miss one of its greatest strengths. Taking advantage of the European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018), the main aim of which was to encourage more people to discover and engage with Europe’s cultural heritage, this partnership – made up of 7 organisations from Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain active in the fields of education, training and cultural heritage – has developed a project to train educators working with adult learners to equip their learners with the skills and competences, especially language and digital ones, necessary in the modern EU labour market. Targeting social workers, teachers, mentors, professors, adult learners and individuals/organisations working in the fields of cultural and heritage, the ‘FOUR ELEMENTS’ project has raised awareness of and appreciation for the importance of culture and heritage at the level of the European Union. The partnership has developed and delivered innovative teaching materials, presented in a culturally accessible E-book consisting of 84 European legends and stories related to the 4 elements (earth, water, air & fire). This E-book gives visibility to the underlying common values and principles of the European Union and is especially adapted to learners with special needs. In the long term, the project promotes high-quality and innovative teaching methods in adult education for disadvantaged groups in order to improve their literacy and digital skills. Meanwhile it enhances the intercultural awareness of learners and shares good practices related to common European cultural values. The partnership has also developed methodological recommendations for adult educators on using elements of cultural heritage in teaching basic skills, particularly digital and language ones, to adult learners in English and partner languages.Tackling common transversal concerns, such as cultural heritage, language competences and digitisation, the outcomes of this project enable organisations to foster intercultural dialogue between adult educators and learners from different countries of the European Union by connecting territories through culture and education.