LICEO SCIENTIFICO "E MEDI" BARCELLONA (ME)

Progetto PON Mis 1.1C    2005 - 149

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The project “Let’s get trained abroad” was funded by the European Union. The main aim of this project was to give participants an insight into the world of work by enabling them to do a brief work placement in the UK. 

The 15 participants were recruited from pupils attending the scientific secondary school “E Medi” located in Barcellona, a town in the north east of Sicily, Italy.  All participants had to be at least 16 years of age and have an initial level of English equivalent to B2 “independent user” according to the parameters set out under the Common European Framework of reference. 

Before going to the UK, the students did a preparatory course lasting 100 hours at their school.  The course was taught by two native speakers with many years of teaching experience between them.  This phase was designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to help them get the most out of their experience abroad, not just the work placement but also to help them cope with the different lifestyle and culture they would find in the UK.   

The focus of the course rapidly shifted to the world of young people, firstly in terms of their employment prospects and then widened to encompass an overall consideration of adolescents’ lifestyle, their personal values and main concerns.  The students decided to investigate this in a more systematic way by drawing up a questionnaire which was given to teenagers in their hometown and then in the UK.  They collated the results and produced a written report which can be found on this website.  The work involved gave students an excellent means to develop their language skills, particularly the use of formal written English.   

The discussions arising from the preliminary results of the questionnaire encouraged the students to explore some of the main issues emerging from an entirely different perspective, drama.   They achieved this by dividing into three groups and each one devised, wrote and performed a short play.  The themes dealt with are work, bullying and love and friendship.  This proved to be a highly rewarding, challenging and enjoyable activity giving students ample scope to improve their spoken language and understand the importance of clear pronunciation, appropriate intonation and body language.  The plays have been filmed and can be found on this website. The students were encouraged to review and discuss the underlying message of the three sketches and link these to the questionnaire they had created.  

The work undertaken enhanced the ability of students to work as part of a team, a valuable skill for their work placement and produced a tightly knit group of people who were ready to face the challenge of working abroad.  

The UK trip lasted three weeks and was based in the town of Abergele situated on the north coast of Wales. Accommodation was arranged with host families in towns near the main site and students thus experienced British family life first-hand.  The first few days were spent at the Conlan school before students were assigned to their work placements. This website contains details of the work experience as well as a wealth of photos documenting the excursions to a variety of towns and cities not to mention the Welsh castles this region abounds in.  The last two days were spent in London with a whistle-stop tour of the capital’s main attractions.  

The project was devised and administered by Mrs. Francesca Currò, a teacher at the secondary school.   Mrs. Currò also spent the entire three weeks in the UK with the students providing them with all the necessary moral and material support needed to ensure the success of this visit.  

THE TRAINEES

Biondo Alessia

Biondo Mirko

Chiappone Enza

Chillemi Jennifer

Cocuzza Grazia

Da Campo Liliana

D'Amico Francesco

Ferrara Jessica

Floramo Patrizia

Gitto Salvatore

Isgrò Fabiana

Munafò Francesco

Pirri Lucia

Pizzino Antonino

Quattrocchi Alessia