SCHOOL

CREATION AND PROMOTION OF THE E-COURSE OF ENGLISH FOR CHILDREN IN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Project Location
Country: 
Poland
City: 
Wroclaw
Organization
Organization Name: 
FUNENGLISH.PL SP. Z O.O
Organization Type: 
3
Website
HTTP://WWW.FUNENGLISH.PL
Project Type
Education up to 10 years
Project Description
Description Frase (max. 500 characters): 
FUNENGLISH.PL IS AN INTERACTIVE COURSE DESIGNED FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING FOR CHILDREN AT THE AGE OF 6 - 12 YEARS.
Project Summary (max. 2000 characters): 
THE ENTIRE COURSE WAS CREATED ON THE BASIS OF THE FUNENGLISH METHOD DESIGNED BY AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF LINGUISTS. FUNENGLISH METHOD AROSE AS A RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN THAT IS THEIR COMMON USE OF COMPUTER AND THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THE LACK OF UP-TO-DATE MATERIALS. FUNENGLISH COURSE IS BASED ON FOUR MULTIMEDIA PILLARS OF EDUCATION, WHICH ARE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FOR A CHILD: l'hip— EDUCATIONAL GAMES, l'hip— EDUCATIONAL FILMS, l'hip— THE KARAOKE SONGS, l'hip— PHOTOLESSONS. THE "FUNENGLISH METHOD" IS AN APPROACH THAT WE EMPLOY IN OUR USERS' EDUCATION BOTH ON OUR PORTAL FUNENGLISH.PL AND IN OUR LANGUAGE SCHOOL FUNENGLISH.PL. ONE OF ITS BASIC TENETS IS THE FOCUS ON TEACHING WORDS AND WHOLE UTTERANCES. THE USER LEARNS THE WORDS THAT CONSTITUTE OVER 80% STATEMENTS OF THE ENTIRE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. AFTER REALIZATION OF THE DIDACTIC PROGRAMME INCLUDED IN THE FUNENGLISH.PL COURSEBOOK A CHILD CAN COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. ADDITIONALLY, WE AIM AT SUCH FORMS OF TEACHING AS "MULTIREPRESENTATION", THAT IS TEACHING THROUGH PRESENTATION OF MANY SITUATIONS AND CONTEXTS IN A COLORFUL AND ENGAGING WAY. THE RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT CHILDREN DO NOT NEED TRANSLATIONS TO UNDERSTAND WORDS. THE CONTEXT OF A SENTENCE, A PICTURE AND A SOUND SUFFICE. WITH THE HELP OF THE FUNENGLISH METHOD A CHILD LEARNS GRAMMAR WITHOUT ANY STRESS. A CHILD AT A PRIMARY SCHOOL DOES NOT POSSESS THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT NATIVE LANGUAGE AND ITS STRUCTURES. THAT IS WHY WE CANNOT EXPECT THAT HE/SHE WOULD UNDERSTAND THE THEORY OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR. TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WE IMPART THE KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR BY TEACHING THE CHILDREN POPULAR PHRASES AND PRACTISING THEM WITH THE USE OF DIALOGUES THANKS TO WHICH A CHILD IS GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE. A CHILD DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW THE TENSES' NAMES IN ORDER TO USE THEM PROPERLY.
How long has your project been running?
01/2010
Objectives and Innovative Aspects
What are the specific objectives of the project and what are the instruments used to achieve them?: 
FUNENGLISH.PL, THROUGH ITS ACTIONS, MOTIVATES THE USERS TO FAMILIARISE WITH AND COMPREHEND MODERN LEARNING TECHNIQUES AND TEACHES CHILDREN ENGLISH WITH THE USE OF INNOVATIVE METHODS THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THEIR HABITS. ● REACHING ALL OF THE CHILDREN ● ENCOURAGING CHILDREN TO LEARN ENGLISH ● PROVIDING A SIMPLE AND PLEASANT LEARNING ● EASE AND AVAILABILITY OF USAGE ● PROMOTION OF BLENDED LEARNING ● REACHING COMMUNITIES ● FUNENGLISH.PL AS A GUARANTEE OF A HIGH LEVEL OF EDUCATION
Results
Describe the results achieved by your project How do you measure (parameters) these. (max. 2000 characters): 
● ENHANCING CHILDREN'S MOTIVATION TO LEARN ENGLISH BY SHOWING THEM THAT LEARNING ENGLISH CAN BE FUN. ● CONVINCING TEACHERS AT PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO ADVANCED E-LEARNING SOLUTIONS. ● CREATING THE INNOVATIVE E-LEARNING PLATFORM FOR CHILDREN. ● OPENING OF THE LANGUAGE SCHOOL WHERE TEACHERS EMPLOY ADVANCED TEACHING METHODS (BLENDED LEARNING, NATURAL IMMERSION). ● ENCOURAGING PARENTS TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN IN LEARNING ENGLISH (93% PARENTS STATE THAT THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO USE FUNENGLISH.PL.). ● CREATING NEW SOLUTIONS THAT MATCH THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS' NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS AND ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THEIR HABITS. ● ORGANISING ENGLISH WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AT SCHOOLS AND AT NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE AT THE CHILDREN'S UNIVERSITY ● ACTIVE SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVENESS AND TECHNOLOGY AT SCHOOLS
How many users interact with your project monthly and what are the preferred forms of interaction? (max. 500 characters): 
ABOUT 5000 USERS INTERACT WITH THE PROJECT IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY LOG IN ON THE PORTAL FUNENGLISH.PL , THEN THEY GO TO FUNBOOK IN ORDER TO MAKE EXERCISES. ON THE PORTAL THE CHILDREN CAN ALSO SEARCH THEIR FRIENDS OR COMPETE WITH THEM IN EDUCATIONAL GAMES. THE TEACHERS LOG IN ON FUNENGLISH.PL THROUGH THE TEACHER'S PANEL, WHERE THEY CAN INSTRUCT THE STUDENTS, SEE THEIR PROGRESS AND ACTIVITY. THE IDEA IS THAT THE CHILDREN MAKE EXERCISES AND THE TEACHERS CHECK THEM.
Sustainability
What is the full duration of your project (from beginning to end)?: 
From 1 to 3 years
What is the approximate total budget for your project (in Euro)?: 
From 75.001 to 500.000 Euro
Is your project economically self sufficient now?: 
UL. RAPACKIEGO 7, 53 -021 WROCŁAW
Since when?: 
10/2011
When is it expected to become self-sufficient?: 
09/2011
Transferability
Has your project been replicated/adapted elsewhere?: 
No
What lessons can others learn from your project? (max. 1500 characters): 
POLISH PEOPLE STILL HAVE MENTAL BARRIERS CONNECTED WITH LEARNING WITH THE USE OF COMPUTER. THEY PREFER TRADITIONAL METHODS RATHER THAN MODERN ONES. WHAT IS MORE, VERY OFTEN SCHOOLS ARE ILL-EQUIPPED. IN MANY OF THEM, THERE AREN'T ANY NEW COMPUTERS, THE BANDWIDTH IS VERY LIMITED AND THERE ARE NO OTHER FACILITIES LIKE INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS OR MULTIMEDIA PROJECTORS. HENCE, USING FUNENGLISH MAY BE DIFFICULT. WE ARE TRYING TO BREAK MENTAL BARRIERS AND CONVINCE THE TEACHERS. WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOLS WITH AN INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD AND MULTIMEDIA PROJECTORS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS FOR THE PUPILS
Are you available to help others to start or work on similar projects?: 
Yes
Background Information
Barriers and Solutions (max. 1000 characters): 
AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, THE MAJOR BARRIER TO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF OUR PRODUCT IS THE MENTAL BARRIER, THAT IS THE FEAR OF USING A COMPUTER FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE ILL-EQUIPPED SCHOOLS ARE ALSO A CHALLENGE. WE ARE MEETING WITH THE HEADMASTERS AND THE TEACHERS AND TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM TO INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. WE CAN PROVIDE THE SCHOOLS WITH THE FACILITIES THEY NEED IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE LESSONS AND MAKE THEM MORE INTERESTING. WE NOTICED THAT THE EDUCATION IN POLAND IS FOSSILISED AND THE SCHOOLS OFTEN DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO BUY MORE MODERN EQUIPMENT.
Future plans and wish list (max. 750 characters): 
THE PLATFORM IS CREATED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT ALLOWS THE INTRODUCTION OF OTHER TEACHING METHODS, SUBJECTS OR LANGUAGES. HOWEVER, IF WE WILL EXPAND AND HOW WE WILL EXPAND, DEPENDS ON THE USERS' DEMAND. WE RECEIVE VARIOUS COMMENTS FROM OUR USERS ON THE EXPANSION POSSIBILITIES, WHAT IS USEFUL AND WHY. ONLY AFTER FINALISING PROJECT, AFTER ANALISING ITS RESULTS AND AFTER EVALUATING, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DEFINE THE POSSIBLE EXPANSION IN ORDER TO SATISFY OUR USERS. IF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SUPPORT US IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WE WILL BE EAGER TO COOPERATE WITH MORE THAN 150 SCHOOLS. IF THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL NEED EVALUATION FROM THE TEACHERS, THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN. WE ALSO REQUIRE THE PARENTS' AND THE TEACHERS' TRUST IN FUNENGLISH.PL AND IN ITS POTENTIAL TO BE THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN.