AmaraBerri
when /earning (we a/so use it in many aspects of our lives).
(In the sta te school of Amara Berri, students learn the metric
system by playing the role of a shopkeeper or they learn about
mortgages paying a credit to aftctitious bank run by a peerJ
- In 1990, it was recognized as "Innovative Educational
System" by the Basque Government.
- It is a project of growth for the whole school
community (they all, learners and teachers, teach and
learn from each other); they work on activities or "social
con texts for cooperative or individuallearning,
11
related to ages and interests ofstudents and quite often
linked to "the game" where the students distribute the
work, decide the approach, look for and select
information, prepare presentations... Teachers are
seeking: children's social interaction, improving
learners' personality and knowledqe of different subjects.
Activities have a "final aim" or "output" that may consist
ofpreparing a radio/televtsion programme, publish a
school magazine etc.
- Classes are organized by curriculum areas, i.e. language,
maths etc., divided into "corners",
- The Methodological Principies are
* Individualization: shools offer a programme that lets
students work on their own pace (rythm).
* Socialization: interaction between students and teachers
makes children change their mind and improve their
abilities.
* Activity: teachers are responsible of guiding the activity
and letting learners perform on their own.
* Creativity: one of most relevant abilities of children
* Freedom: /earners can choose what they want to work.
ENGLlSH and AMARABERRI
• The English cJassroom has its own corners,
differentiated spaces where they can learn about
vocabulary, oral expression ..., rotating periodically and
using different materials and working individua/Iy or as
a group ( hetero.geneous groups distributed bv
~).
Procedure (example takenfrom the 2nd cycJe)
• As they en ter the c/assroom, they take their notebook
and go to their corresponding corner.
• There are "4" corners: a) Bookland where they can
practise vocabulary and /anguageforms in small
groups, b) in Gamesland they /earn new vocabulary,
they choose a topic for 4 sessions and work on the
material ofthe corresponding "folder" and learn it for
the "showday"; c) Stories, students do learn a tale and
get ready for performing it; d) Funzone, in this case,
they prepare a kind ofbooklet on vehic/es, children or
anima/s, individuaJ/y and then, they present it: to their
mates.
* "Show day". AII presentations start saying: I have
11
been working on FunzonejBook/and .... It is not on/y a
time when the teacher eva/uates but also learners; at
the end of each presentation, 3 students will comment
on it (" lliked it", I didn't like it", "It was so and so"]
11