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 Bull

LEGEND

Main element: Water

Language of the original: Italian

Date of origin: The Bull a popular tale, first written in 1881 by the writer Ghirardi. From that moment on, the bull officially became a symbol of freedom, power and determination, considered virtues of the people living in Turin.

Origin/author of the legend: The author of the legend is unknown because it is part of popular stories transmitted orally, but the first that put it in written form was Antonio Ghirardi, a Salesian religious in 1881.

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

The bull is the symbol of the city of Turin. It is represented not only on the coat-of-arms, but in many places and monuments all over the city: for example, the famous little fountains called “Torets” in green, cast iron, which are two centuries old.
This is a legend about the birth of the name of the city of Turin. According to history, in the area there were already many farmers raising cows and bulls, and the Latin name of the city was Augusta Taurinorum.

Once, Torino (Turin) was a small city and it was surrounded by woods. In these woods lived an enormous snake with many heads who terrorized the citizens and devoured many wayfarers. People were sad and frightened and kept on asking the rulers of the city to do something to get rid of such a beast.

The Council met numerous times without finding a solution. Eventually they decided to offer a rich prize to whoever could suggest the best idea.

No one showed up except a young boy who offered his strongest and prettiest bull to kill the snake. During the night the citizens made the bull drink a lot of wine and water. When he was completely drunk, they brought him into the woods, where the monster was sleeping, and with many furious butts he killed the snake.

In the city there were celebrations, and in gratitude a bull was represented on the municipal coat of arms and the city was named Torino.

Il Toro

LEGGENDA

Elemento: Acqua

Lingua originale: Italiano

Data di origine: The Bull a popular tale, first written in 1881 by the writer Ghirardi. From that moment on, the bull officially became a symbol of freedom, power and determination, considered virtues of the people living in Turin.

Autore: The author of the legend is unknown because it is part of popular stories transmitted orally, but the first that put it in written form was Antonio Ghirardi, a Salesian religious in 1881.

Per avere ulteriori informazioni sulla leggenda, accedi alla piattaforma 4elements da qui.

Una volta, Torino era una piccola città ed era attorniata da numerosi boschi. In questi boschi viveva un enorme serpente con molte teste che terrorizzava i cittadini e divorava molti viandanti. La gente era triste e impaurita e continuava a chiedere ai governanti della città di fare qualcosa per liberarsi di questa bestia.

Il consiglio si riunì numerose volte senza mai trovare una soluzione finché non si decise di aprire un bando e offrire un ricco premio a chi avesse suggerito l’idea migliore.

Non si presentò nessuno a parte un giovane ragazzo che propose il suo toro più forte e bello per uccidere il serpente. Così fu: nella notte fecero bere al toro molto vino e acqua. Quando fu ben ubriaco, lo portarono nel bosco e dove il mostro dormiva e con delle cornate furiose uccise il serpente.

Nella città iniziò la festa, per riconoscenza un toro fu rappresentato sullo stemma e la città si chiamò Torino.

Gatto Chanu T. (2010), Leggende e racconti popolari del Piemonte, Newton Compton Editori, Roma.