European Classes in Tilff

In the charming village of Tilff, near Liège in the French speaking part of Belgium, pupils of 6ST (last year of secondary school, junior management assistants) meet their colleagues from Germany (Dreikönigsgymnasium, Cologne) and Switzerland (Collège du Sud, Bulle) for 5 days.

The 2011 project will be hosted in Switzerland (Ennay), for the first time.

At the beginning of the language week each delegation presents its political issue regarding the EU, followed by a one-hour discussion in smaller discussion groups and an oral report given by the group members. Last year (2010) Leuven elaborated the topic of a EU-wide smoking ban, Cologne talked about stem cell investigation and the rights of unborn life and Bulle focussed on security measures related to violence and terrorism.

The rest of the week is dedicated to other activities: pupils present themselves, their schools, cities and local specialities, they cook, do sports and party together.

Got curious? Watch this Youtube-clip, made by our pupils, to find out more.

What preceded the project ...

were the European Classes in Alden Biesen between 2001 and 2005. Here we put our first steps on the international stage. With a group of 12 pupils teachers Diederik Roelandts and Dirk Staf simulated the European council of ministers. They were together for a whole week to work like ministers: gain information about a political and social topic, give presentations and also write proposals, promote, introduce and amend bills, do the necessary lobbying, voting etc.

In brief, our pupils - motivated youngsters from different classes - worked together in English, French and German with fellow-students from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria and Romania.

After this experience we adapted the Alden Biesen concept and tailored it to our own specific wishes: the use of foreign languages (English, German, French) in formal and informal situations, getting youngsters to know their own boundaries and using their knowledge and social skills in a situation where growing adults communicate and work together as a team on an international level.

Our own precious European triangle project has become a tradition already. Our German colleagues put it this way: "Tilff has become a verb in German: ich tilffe, du tilffst, wir haben getilfft"!