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 legend of Mont Saint-Michel

LEGEND

Main element: Fire

Language of the original: French

Date of origin: IXth century

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

The Mont Saint-Michel is a small island of granite in Normandy which name comes from the archangel Saint Michel. The latter is a major character in Christian history: as the chef of the celestial militia, Saint Michel is often represented fighting the devil.

Saint Michel, one of the seven archangels in Christianity, was one day called to fight the devil. The latter turned into a formidable dragon to lead the fight. The battle started on the Mont Dol in Brittany. Satan, supported by an evil horde of demons, fought fiercely against the archangel. But the battle, whose outcome was uncertain, continued for days in the sky before it ended on the Mont Tombe, the former name of Mont Saint-Michel.

Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, witnessed the fight.In a dream, he received Saint Michel’s order to build a place of worship at the exact location where he won against the devil. The poor bishop, who thought he was losing his mind, did not dare to do anything and decided to wait. The archangel appeared to him a second time, but Aubert still doubted this apparition.

When Saint Michel manifested himself a third time, Aubert could not doubt any more. However, Saint Michel was furious about the bishop’s hesitation and left on the latter’s skull an indisputable proof of his presence: a circular hole. Now sure of Saint Michel’s apparition, the bishop built the actual Mont Saint-Michel to celebrate the archangel’s victory over the devil.

Today, the bishop's skull is still kept in the basilica of Avranches.

La légende du Mont Saint-Michel

LÉGENDE

Élément : Feu

Langue d'origine : Français

Date d'origine : IXe siècle

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

Le Mont Saint-Michel est une petite île de granit en Normandie dont le nom vient de l'archange Saint Michel, personnage majeur de l'histoire chrétienne : en tant que chef de la milice céleste, Saint Michel est souvent représenté en train de combattre le diable.

Saint Michel, un des sept archanges du Christianisme, fut un jour appelé à se battre contre le démon qui, pour livrer combat, s'était transformé en un dragon redoutable. La bataille commença sur le mont Dol en Bretagne. Satan, assisté par ses hordes maléfiques, s’est battu farouchement. Le combat dont l'issue était incertaine se poursuivit dans le ciel pendant plusieurs jours avant que le dénouement ne se produise loin de là sur le mont Tombe, qui est l’ancien nom du Mont Saint-Michel.

Aubert, l’évêque d'Avranches, qui est témoin du combat, reçoit en songe l'ordre de saint-Michel de lui construire un lieu de dévotion à l'endroit où il a vaincu le diable. Le pauvre évêque, craignant d'être devenu fou, n'ose rien faire et décide d'attendre. L'archange se manifeste une seconde fois, mais Aubert doute encore de cette apparition.

À la troisième manifestation, Aubert ne peut plus douter. Saint Michel, furieux des doutes de l’évêque, laisse sur le crâne de ce dernier une preuve indéniable : un trou circulaire. Alors sûr de la présence de Saint-Michel, l’évêque construisit le Mont Saint-Michel pour célébrer la victoire de l’archange sur le diable.

Aujourd'hui, le crâne de l’évêque est conservé dans la basilique d'Avranches.

Amory de Langerack, Joséphine (1800-1860). Le Mont Saint-Michel, son histoire et sa légende (Cinquième édition). J. Lefort, imprimeur, éditeur, A. Taffin-Lefort, successeur (Paris), 1893.