This document discusses various projects undertaken by an Italian school to provide students with opportunities to practice their English skills in meaningful ways. The projects include a student exchange with a school in Denmark where students communicated solely in English for two weeks, a virtual exchange where students from Italy, the US and Netherlands collaborated online, and an e-twinning project where Italian and Polish students shared information about their cultures through a blog. The goal of these projects is to enhance students' English proficiency, especially their speaking and writing skills, by using the language in real-world contexts that relate to their lives and interests. Feedback indicates students felt more confident in their English abilities and that their skills improved as a result of having to use English for meaningful communication.

1. ASSUMPTION: ENGLISH IS A MEAN OF COMMUNICATION IT IS USED: TO EXSPRESS OPINIONS, THOUGHTS, FEELINGS; TO REPORT LIFE EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED WITHIN ONE’S COMPETENCE TEACHERS’ AIM IS TO GIVE STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO “ USE ” ENGLISH IN EACH OF THESE FIELDS CREATING CHANCES AND THE NEED TO USE IT. PRACTICE IS FUNDAMENTAL BUT IT COMES NATURAL WHEN RELATED TO STUDENTS’ INTERESTS AND TO THEIR NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEERS

2. Projects of my school STUDENTS EXCHANGE: ITALY-DENMARK VIRTUAL EXCHANGE : ITALY, USA, NETHERLANDS E- TWINNING : ITALY – POLAND FLT PRACTICE: USE OF “English of pedagogy”

3. STUDENTS EXCHANGE: ITALY-DENMARK LICEO SARONNO EFTERSKOLE GLAMSBJERG PRACTICE: - EMAILS EXCHANGE - TWO WEEKS LESSONS( maths, science, literature, art, P.E.) IN ENGLISH - USE OF ENGLISH IN THE FAMILY AND IN EVERYDAY LIFE STUDENTS’ FEEDBACK: “We spoke English all the time! - I feel more confident with the laguage. – I can think in English! In Demnark we had to speak English all the time and all people can speak it as a first language!” POSITIVE RESULTS: ENHANCEMENT OF SPEAKING SKILL Glamsbjerg Saronno OCTOBER 2009

4. VIRTUAL EXCHANGE : ITALY, VERMONT- USA, NETHERLANDS CLICK ON : http://worldcultures2009.wikispaces.com

6. E-TWINNING: ITALY – POLAND click on : http:// saronno-plock.blogspot.com