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 Carnac's stones legend

LEGEND

Main element: Earth

Language of the original: French

Date of origin: 1912

Author: Zacharie Le Rouzic

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

Saint Cornely was Pope in Rome but was driven out by pagan soldiers who pursued him. He walked ahead of them, alongside two oxen that were carrying his baggage. He first wanted to stop at a village, but he heard a young girl insulting her mother and decided to continue his journey toward the mountains where there was a very small village.

Saint Cornely was quickly forced to stop his journey. Beyond the mountain was the sea and behind him was the army of soldiers in battle array. He hid in an ox's ear and turned the army of soldiers into stone, so he could escape.

Farmers passing by stood still in front of the inconceivable image that was before them. Where a large army had been held, stones rose in several rows to the east, as far as the eye could see.

Since then, to the north of Carnac, one can see long lines of standing stones. These soldiers, transformed into stones, only move once a year: on Christmas Eve, to drink in the nearby stream. Legend has it that many treasures are to be found under these stones, but that all those who tried to seize them have died.

La légende de Carnac

LÉGENDE

Élément : Terre

Langue d'origine : Français

Date d'origine : 1912

Auteur : Zacharie Le Rouzic

Vous pouvez retrouver plus d'informations sur cette légende sur le site du projet ici.

Saint Cornély était pape à Rome, mais fut chassé par des soldats païens qui le poursuivaient. Il marchait devant eux, en compagnie de deux bœufs qui portaient ses bagages. Il voulut d’abord s’arrêter dans un village, mais il entendit une jeune fille insulter sa mère et continua sa route jusqu’à une grande montagne où se trouvait un tout petit village.

Mais Saint Cornely fut rapidement bloqué, derrière la montagne se trouvait la mer et derrière lui se trouvait l’armée de soldats romains rangée en bataille. Il se cacha dans l’oreille d’un boeuf et changea l’armée de soldats en pierre pour pouvoir s’échapper.

Des paysans qui passaient par là s'immobilisèrent devant l'inconcevable image qui s'offrait à eux. Là où s'était tenue une importante armée, des pierres s'élevaient sur plusieurs rangées vers l'est, aussi loin que portait le regard.

Depuis, au nord de la ville de Carnac, on trouve de longues files de pierres debout. Ces soldats, transformés en pierres, ne bougent qu’une fois par an : la nuit de Noël, pour aller boire dans le ruisseau voisin. La légende raconte que de nombreux trésors se trouvent sous ces pierres, mais que tous ceux qui auraient cherché à s’en emparer seraient morts.

Le Rouzic, Zacharie (1864-1939). Carnac. Légendes, traditions, coutumes et contes du pays, par Zacharie Le Rouzic. Impr. de A. Dugas (Nantes), 1912.