4 ELEMENTS

Project logo
Improve the foreign language learning and intercultural competences of adults through e-learning

The project

FOUR ELEMENTS is an initiative called to raise awareness and appreciation of the importance of culture and heritage as well as to train educators working with adult learners who want to improve their skills and competences necessary in today’s EU labour market.

The project will take advantage of the potential of the common European cultural values associated to the 4 elements earth, water, air and fire) to empower adults to improve their digital, foreign language and intercultural competences.

The partnership expects to develop and deliver innovative teaching materials presented in a culturally accessible E-book consisting of European legends and stories – giving visibility to the underlying common EU values and principles, especially adapted to learners with special needs.

To achieved such objectives, partners will develop:

An interactive map: a collection of legends and stories related to earth, water, air and fire, in different EU countries.

Digital Books with national legends and stories related to the four elements.

Methodological recommendations for adult educators.

To find more information, access the Four Elements platform here.

Digital books

The nations of Europe all have rich cultures of myth and folklore which give the different regions their particular individual flavour. Here we have grouped traditional stories from Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain according to the four elements: earth, air, wind and fire.

They are specially adapted to adult learners and can be used to develop language or ICT skills among your students while enhancing intercultural understanding.

Alongside the stories, this digital book contains interactive exercises and is in Easy Read format. All the material in it can be downloaded and printed. Teachers and trainers will find tips and suggestions for how to use it on the Recommendations section of this site.

European partnership

Four Elements is an Erasmus+ KA204 project designed to highlight the importance of culture and heritage at European Union level. It aims to train educators working with adult learners to enable them to acquire the skills and competences, including linguistic and digital skills and competences, required in the European labour market.

The project is coordinated by : CVO EduKempen (Belgium). The partnership also includes DomSpain Consulting (Spain), The Central Library of Võru County (Estonia), Les Apprimeurs (France), Istituto dei Sordi di Torino (Italy), Slovenian Third Age University (Slovenia), MyArtist (Greece).

Erasmus+ project

Erasmus logo The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The Danish King's Garden

LEGEND

Main element: Earth

Language of the original: Estonian

Date of origin: 1219

To find more information about the legend, access the Four Elements platform here.

The symbol depicted on that piece of material has remained the national flag on Denmark – the "Danneborg", the longest serving national flag in the world. The place where this symbol fell from heaven is also marked in the Tallinn Old Town and is known as the Danish King’s Garden.

In 1219, Valdemar II, the Danish King, invaded Tallinn with his fleet. After initially overcoming the Estonian fortress without much effort, the King sat back and embraced the gifts bestowed upon him by the Estonian emissaries. Foolishly, the King saw this as a sign of surrender and declared the fortress conquered. While the Danish forces were celebrating that night, the Estonians unexpectedly unleashed an attack in which many Danish troops lost their lives.

The situation looked hopeless for the King as he and his forces had been driven back considerably by the unexpected nature of this attack. In an act of desperation, the King fell to his knees and prayed to the heavens for divine help in defeating the superior Estonian forces.

Just as all hope was dwindling, the heavens opened and a tiny piece of material floated gracefully downwards, landing in the King’s arms. The material depicted a white cross on a red background. Inspired by this divine intervention, Valdemar and his men found within themselves the strength and courage to fight back and defeat the Estonian resistance.

Taani kuninga aed

LEGEND

Element: Maa

Originaalkeel: Eesti

Pärinemise aeg: 1219

Rohkem infot legendi kohta leiad 4 elemendi veebilehelt siit.

1219. aastal ründas Taani kuningas Valdemar II oma mereväega Tallinna. Eestlaste linnus vallutati suurema vaevata ja kuningas võis rahus hinge tõmmata ja vastu võtta kingitusi, mida eestlaste vanemad talle saatsid. Ekslikult pidas kuningas seda allaandmise märgiks ja kuulutas linnuse vallutatuks. Samal õhtul aga, kui taani väed pidutsedes oma võitu tähistasid, ründasid eestlased neid ootamatult ja taanlased kandsid suuri kaotusi.

Kuningas ja tema sõjavägi olid ootamatu rünnakuga taganema löödud ja nende olukord tundus lootusetu. Viimases meeleheites langes kuningas põlvili ja palvetas taevaste jõudude poole, et jumaliku sekkumise abil eestlaste vägedest võitu saada.

Kui lootus juba kadumas oli, avanenud järsku taevavõlvid ja sealt langenud väike riidetükike otse kuninga kätele. Sellel oli kujutatud valget risti punasel taustal. Jumalikust sekkumisest tuge saanutena leidsid Valdemar ja tema mehed endas taas vaprust ja jõudu, et eestlaste vägedele vastu astuda ja viimaks neid ka lahingus võita.

Tähepõld, K. and Kareva, D. (2008). Lood ja legendid Tallinnast. Tallinn: Ecce Revalia.