Gastronomy as an Educational Resource Comenius Project: my experience.

In the beginning, some of the people who decided to participate in this project (I count myself among them) weren’t sure about what this Comenius project was exactly going to be. We were told the project had to do with gastronomy and different countries working together to create different activities which would result in new and interesting educative experiences for pupils and teachers. It didn’t sound bad at all. As time went on, I had the chance to discover all the important advantages the project would bring about for my students and for me, as a teacher. 

The project has given us the opportunity to learn vocabulary and cultural aspects related to gastronomy, but it has been more than that: it has given students and teachers the opportunity to practice the language we are studying in class in context (English, although I have been surprised to see my students speaking French, Italian… they have felt free and highly motivated to use any language to communicate with other students in the different countries they have been to).  

So, the issue of “learning languages” has been correctly tackled. But I don’t want to consider only that as a positive aspect. What about “learning from other people”? What about “learning about life”? I have been surprised by the improvement in my students’ ability to connect with people from a different culture; my students’ ability to solve problems that they had to face in a new situation and in a new country; and my students’ ability to react to problems with a smile, showing a resolute attitude in order to find a solution.

In conclusion, I can honestly say that everything in this experience has been beneficial and enjoyable. I want to thank all the people who have participated in it; all the people who have worked to create a motivating and welcoming atmosphere during these years. I think the coordinator Jose Luis Ruiz has made an incredible job, as he has shown great organizational skills (it’s complicated to meet everybody’s requirements) and a good sense of humor, which has encouraged us to work together. Thanks everyone for an extraordinary experience!

Belén Ortega

Spanish teacher