Prerequisite(s): This activity targets those TCNs who know the language of the host country at least up to A1-A2 level.
Estimated duration: 2 hours (1 hour: first meeting, 1 hour: second meeting) and time for the preparation of the essay to be decided between the TCN and the mentor.
Related to:
Step: 3
Dimension: Cognitive
Qualitative Indicator: Local cultural monuments, Local history/narratives, National language
Type of Activity: Individual
The TCN, who has already become acquainted with the main local cultural monuments though pictures and/or cultural visits, is now invited to select the monument that had impressed him/her the most and write an essay about it in the language of the host country. For this activity, the TCN will have to recall the information that were given to him/her, do a relevant research, and, at the same time, try to express himself/herself in the language of the host country.
The TCN meet with the mentor and announce to him/her the local cultural monument that he/she has selected to write an essay about, explaining why. The mentor gives some time to the TCN to prepare an essay plan and then gives relevant feedback to the TCN about it. At the end of the meeting, they arrange another meeting in order for the TCN to deliver the essay and the mentor to give feedback to him/her again.
- One mentor.
- Paper for the development of the essay plan.
- One marker.
- A place for the meetings.
- Action plan.
Implementation Steps
The voluntary local guide along with the TCN(s) visit monuments based on a visit plan prepared by the guide from before in order for implementation of visits to monuments that are close to one another. At each stop, the guide explains to the TCN(s) the history of the monument and its value for the locals. He/she also gives to him/her/them other useful information about it. During the presentation of each monument, he/she shows to the TCN(s) where this monument is located on the map. This will help the TCN(s) to orient himself/herself/themselves more easily.
In case that provision of information from the local authorities or the locals in general is possible, the voluntary local guide can arrange additional presentations through which representatives of the local authorities or individuals living in the area can provide the TCN(s) with wider or different kind of knowledge about the monuments. Alternatively, for some monuments only the representative of the local authorities or the local resident can present the monument to the TCN(s).
After the cultural visit, the mentor meets the TCN(s) again in order to have a discussion with him/her/them on the monuments they visited. During this meeting, the TCN(s) express(es) his/her/their thoughts and feelings on the monuments that he/she/they visited, tell(s) to the group which monument impressed him/her/them more and why, and compare(s) the visited monuments with local monuments of his/her/their own culture. Also, if the mentor decides so, he/she can ask questions to the TCN(s) to help him/her/them recall the cultural visit and every stop that they had made in order to realise what he/she/they have learnt from the visit. Additionally, he/she can summarise what was presented to the TCN(s) during the cultural visit or ask from one or more TCNs to do so.
After that, the mentor signs the action plan(s) of the TCN(s) as completed.