ELOS

WORLD CAFÉ

Mendebaldea BHI
Lakua, Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Elos Basque Country Team
17th October 2019
 TABLE 1:
GENERAL ASPECTS
● What does the European Union mean for
you?
● What type of decisions are made in the
European institutions? Who are making
those decisions? Can you think about any
specific examples?
● Have those decisions any influence on
your everyday life?

ec.europa.eu
TABLE 1 What does the European Union mean for you?

● The European Union is like a team of

countries that help one another with
political and economic issues. It works The European
well; if we have a problem, they work Union is a team of
together to find a solution. countries working
● The countries cooperate to make laws. together to make
● It helps us,Europeans, live better,
laws and solve
without wars. However, we cannot forget
we are not alone in this world and we are
problems
closing the doors to other people. Some
mention they do not think something like
European culture exists and that
immigrants come to Europe to add, not to
pollute.
TABLE 1 What type of decisions are made in the European institutions?

● They sometimes make bad

decisions, like the ones
concerning refugees. Most of us
Decisions to solve
feel that all countries in the
general problems
Union should take refugees, but
the countries closer to the
coastline should take more.
TABLE 1 Who are making those decisions?

● The decisions are made in the

different comissions. They have Decisions are taken
to be voted to be passed. by the ruling
countries trying to
serve their own
interests for the sake
of the common good.
TABLE 1 Can you think of any specific examples?

● Free mobility.
● Roaming
● Age for riding motorbikes
● Erasmus mobility programmes We are not emotionally
● Article 13 copyright intellectual attached but life is
better for us living
property
together.
TABLE 1 Have those decisions any influence on your everyday life?

● Thanks to free mobility, we can go to any other

European countries without any restrictions, to
study for example. With Brexit they are worried
it will affect them, for example, in case they
want to go and study to the UK.
● Article 13 copyright intellectual property. It
affects us when using social media. We cannot
share Brand-related things. Thus, it is not good
for a lot of people, as it bans us from using
music or franchise images.
●Voting in European elections is important. If you
do not vote, you cannot complain when you do
not like a decision that is made in the Union.

scdd.ca.gov
 TABLE 2: EUROPE IN
YOUR LIFE
● Do you speak any other (European)
language outside school? When? Where?
Why? With Whom? Do you participate in
any social network?
● Do you know the customs of any other
(European) country? Do those customs
influence your everyday life? How did you
get to know them? What do you think
about them?
● What type of activities related to Europe
are organized in your school? Do you take
part in those activities?
● Do you know any other school in Europe?
What would you import from them?
TABLE 2: Do you speak any other European languages outside school?
● Everybody speaks at least three
languages: Spanish, Basque and Do you participate in any social
English and some students have network?
studied another language at school
.
(French or German). Some
students have other backgrounds
and they speak Guarani.. ● All students use social networks
● Learning other languages is (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook,
considered to have added value for Snapchat...)
job opportunities; German is very
much appreciated in this sense. ● When we have foreign friends we use
● Languages are also cool to travel English as the "lingua franca".
and not feel out of place.
● Communication is the main goal.
TABLE 2: Do you know the customs of any other European country?

Different
customs
teach us to
Most students have been to Different customs seem to be a way to
be open taste other cultures and students are
England, France, Malta, Italy, The
minded and always ready to try other routines and
Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland.
They certainly would like to visit to appreciate approaches to our well being. They are
our own curious and open to enjoy other cultures
other countries and they are well
far from our roots.
aware of different customs: background.
timetables, meals, daily routines,
gastronomy.
TABLE 2: European activities organized in your school.
● Even when we study about the EU & an
eurocentered history, we don’t really know
much about Europe.
● We all take part in the celebrations of the
European Day of Languages shooting
videos (European languages, minority
languages) and other activities (quizzes
and contests).
● We also take part in the European Youth
Parliament.
● School trips to Germany or Italy are really
motivating.
● Erasmus projects are a wonderful way to
meet friends and experience Europe so
close to us.
● ELOS activities, of course.
● We celebrate the Day of Europe the 9th of
May.
● Students LOVE exchanges: Italy, Germany,
Poland, Paris...
TABLE 2: Do you know any schools in Europe? What ideas did you like?
● We do not know much about
educational systems. If we have an
European friend we do not talk much
about school!
● But we have heard about other
educational systems:
-The Finish system is excellent.
- Fewer exams and less homework in
the UK
-more choices in Paris.
-two hour periods in some subjects.
- higher level in languages.
.
● We believe we should change our
model from an Exam based system to
a Project based one, with a creative,
practical, active method. We
should be more academically
autonomous.
● It is a contradiction between those
alternative relaxed methods and the
stress about needing high marks to
enter university!!!
 TABLE 3: THE
EUROPEAN DREAM ● Do you know the European motto?
“United in diversity” What does diversity
mean?
● Are we all European? Are we all equal?
Think about different European countries
and come to conclusions.
● Your opinion about refugees and the
answer of European countries to their
needs.How do you feel about it?
● Differences between refugees and
immigrants. Have you experienced this in
your own family?
● How do young people see Europe living in
any European country? How do people
from other parts of the world see Europe?
Can we really speak of a “European
dream”
“Unity in diversity” What does diversity mean?

●Diversity is the state of different things; respect among ●Even if we are different, that is good. We benefit
the different culture and races , not thinking that we from other cultures copying what we like better.
are better than others, but being aware that we are at We also learn to accept and respect the differences;
the same level. empathy is important.

●When you travel in Europe , you must adapt to the ●We have different cultures but we must help one
different habits, customs, traditions… There are lots of another. We need to know about one another;
things that might be different within the same knowledge is respect.
continent: timetables, driving, languages, school
systems, landscapes, history, gastronomy, the way we
dress. However, there are some things we share as well:
the currency or the way we see the world.

http://www.euintheus.org/
 Are we all European? Are we all equal? Think about different European
countries and come to conclusions.
●Some countries, like Germany, are richer than others
and those are the ones that set the rules for the rest
to follow.

●In theory all Europeans should have the same rights,

but the truth is that it all depends on the legislation
of each country. We should end discrimination
through education: if you teach someone not to
discriminate others, we will get a more equal society.
However, if a country wants to join the European
Union, they must respect human rights and change
their laws accordingly.

●We should always keep our identity.

 Your opinion about refugees and the answer of European countries to their
needs. How do you feel about it?
●There are two different opinions mong students:
●On the one hand, there are some who believe
refugees deserve an opportunity because they are
escaping from a difficult reality. It is not fair to suffer
because of our laws. It is good to welcome them in
our country. Aswe should have the same rights, they
should be given the chance to have a better life.; they
are human beings, the same as we are. Europe has
somehow to pay for what they did to these countries
in the 19th century. And, in our case, we must not
forget that Basque children were refugees during the
Spanish Civil War.
●On the other hand, there are others who think that
we should provide for ourselves before we think of
helping others. Although they are human beings and
not guilty of anything, they have a different culture.
Thus, they should either be helped in their own
countries or, if they come, have their own schools,
live apart.
●Nevertheless, they all agree that governments take
refugees because they are forced to, not because
they want to. There are even some countries, like
Italy, that have already closed their borders.
However, they are aware of the Civil movement that
exists all around the European Union that is trying
to help refugees.
 Differences between refugees and immigrants. Have you experienced this in
your own family?
●Refugees are people who escape from wars or threats
whereas immigrants go to another country to get a
better life, or to study and work there.
●Students elaborate their ideas further. They mention
that Spain is a good country for refugees that have
fled from their country for being homosexual, as
Spain is gay-friendly.
●Some of the students know about immigration
first-hand: they talk about the different experiences
their parents or siblings have gone through as
immigrants in Europe.
 How do young people see Europe living in any European country? How do
people from other parts of the world see Europe? Can we really speak of a
“European dream”
●The European dream is to get people to have equal
opportunities and have other countries admire what
they have achieved. It is klike the American Dream: to
have a nice house, a good job and be happy.

●The idea of a European Dream is idealized (the same as

the American Dream). It is not really working. When
we think of Europe and the advantages of living in
Europe, we always think of France or Germany, but we
forget about Lithuania or Russia, which are also in
Europe but may not be so nice to live in.
TABLE 4: YOUR FUTURE
➢ What plans do you have for your future? Will you continue learning other
European languages? Will you start learning any other language? Do you
think you will participate in ERASMUS programme when you go to
University?

➢ Have you ever considered living in another country? Do you see yourself
working in any European country in the future? What do you think can help
you to find a job in Europe? Would you ever consider having a relationship
with someone from another European country and living together abroad?

➢ Do you think it is positive for us to know about the European Union, to

learn its languages and to live different experiences abroad? Can it help in
spreading our culture, traditions and language?

➢ What do you think will happen with the European Union in 25 years? And
the Basque Country? And what about yourself? (In 2035 you'll be around
40 years old)
 What plans do you have for your future? Will you continue learning other
European languages? Will you start learning any other language? Do you think
you will participate in ERASMUS programme when you go to University?
● Some of the students want to stay home and study degrees such as Criminology, Physiotherapy, Psychology…
in Basque Country.
● Most students think that speaking Basque, French, Spanish and English is enough. So, they do not intend to
learn more languages. Anyway, there are also a few students that, for different reasons, want to study Italian,
Japanese, Korean, Scottish Gaelic, Catalan, Ukrainian, German or Russian.
● All students are planning to go abroad to study someday. Some of them in Erasmus and others willing to travel
to non European countries in Asia or the USA.
● Erasmus is a good choice and chance.
● Some people should look for financial support to go abroad.
 Have you ever considered living in another country? Do you see yourself working
in any European country in the future? What do you think can help you to find a
job in Europe? Would you ever consider having a relationship with someone from
another European country and living together abroad?

● They would like to live and work abroad, e.g., in England, Scotland, Belgium, Italy, Korea, Japan…
● Some would prefer to stay here but think it wouldn’t be a big problem if they had to move abroad for some
time.
● “Travelling broadens your mind and I would even stay abroad for the rest of my life if needed.”
● Most would not mind starting a family abroad.
● Some of them would always return home sooner or later if they had to leave.
● But there are a few who would be ready to leave forever.
● They would like to move around different countries.
 Do you think it is positive for us to know about the European Union, to learn its
languages and to live different experiences abroad? Can it help in spreading our
culture, traditions and language?

● We can spread our culture by going abroad or by social networking.

● The contacts and cooperation among UE countries can help spreading our culture too.
● But, we realise that the farther away we go from Basque Country, the less they know about us.
● Globalisation may also be an insurmountable problem: Cultural diversity may fade away into a digital culture.
 What do you think will happen with the European Union in 25 years? And the
Basque Country? And what about yourself? (In 2035 you'll be around 40 years old)

● It’s difficult to see what will happen with the European Union in 25 years.
● But we hope that the immigration problem will be fixed.
● Also we think that the economic issues from all Europe will be solved
● And Finally we hope that Europe will become a model to follow all over the world.
Elos Basque Country. October 2019