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 Death Valley

LEGEND

Main element: Earth

Language of the original: Estonian

Date of origin: 2002

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

Those who know what to look for when walking along the banks of the Piusa River can see a small patch of grass and stream that joins the river between two sombre walls of forest. In spring many globeflowers bloom here, and the whole meadow shines forth at the onlooker as if wishing to forget the terrible events of the past.

According to the legend a very evil and inhuman squire lived in the area. There was not a person on the estate who had not been unjustly punished at his behest. The coachman, who had been the witness to many cruel punishments, harboured a particular hatred for his master. Once before dusk the coachman was on the way home with the master and they were caught in a powerful thunderstorm. Just as they reached an outcropping the thunder clapped so loudly that the horses spooked. Without further thought, the coachman turned the horses abruptly to the right, gave a crack of the whip and jumped off. The carriage and the cruel master plunged into the ravine. After several days of searching the body was found in the valley by the stream. From that time on the valley has been called Surmaorg (Death Valley). On long dark autumn evenings one can hear moaning and the grinding of teeth. This is the spirit of the wicked master, who can find no peace.

Surmaorg

LEGEND

Element: Maa

Originaalkeel: Eesti

Pärinemise aeg: 2002

Rohkem infot legendi kohta leiad 4 elemendi veebilehelt siit.

Kes Piusa jõe kaldal kõndides vaadata oskab, näeb väikest niidulapikest ja jõega ühinevat oja kahe sünge metsamüüri vahel. Kevaditi õitseb siin palju kullerkuppe ja siis ergab kogu heinamaa vaatajale vastu justkui sooviks unustada kunagisi koledusi.

Kõneldakse, et sealkandis elanud väga kuri ja ebainimlik mõisahärra. Mõisas ei olnud inimest, kes poleks tema käsul ilmsüüta karistada saanud. Eriti vihkas oma härrat kutsar, kes olnud julmade karistuste pealtnägijaks. Kord õhtu eel oli kutsar härraga koduteel ja neid tabas tugev äikesevihm. Just kuristikuserval kärgatas kõu nii kõvasti, et hobused ehmusid. Pikemalt mõtlemata keeras kutsar hobused järsult paremale, andis veel piitsa ja hüppas ise maha. Tõld koos härraga lendas kuristikku. Mitme päevase otsimise järel leiti laip oja äärest orust. Sellest ajast hakatigi orgu Surmaoruks kutsuma. Pikkadel pimedatel sügisõhtutel kuuldub all sügavuses oigamist ja hammaste kriginat. Eks see ole tigeda härra vaim, kes rahu ei leia.

Prangel, A., Harding, A. and Kaskpeit, T. (2002). Põlvamaa radadel. Põlva: [Põlva Maavalitsus].