Our podcast journey
Making Europe Real: Teaching the EU in Finland
Our podcast journey through Europe continues in Finland, where Marjut Välikangas from Ammattiopisto Luovi shares her innovative approach to bringing EU citizenship into the classroom for students with special needs.
Marjut, a special needs teacher with a background in economics, teaches a wide range of subjects—from communication skills and languages to mathematics and society competence. After participating in the EUCLASS Alliance summer school in Athens, she returned to Finland inspired to make European topics accessible and engaging for all her students.
Last October, Marjut organized workshops for all first-year students focusing on EU decision-making.
The highlight?
A simulation exercise using the "chocolate directive" from EU resources, where students represented different countries and learned to negotiate and persuade others—many for the first time experiencing a structured meeting format.
"There were some quite negative thoughts about EU with younger students," Marjut explains. "I think for quite many, it's because they don't know. They don't have the knowledge."
The workshop opened their eyes, sparking more informed discussions about Europe's role in their lives.
The real breakthrough came through collaboration. Inspired by connections made in Athens, Marjut partnered with Anne from Centro San Viator in Spain for a joint online English lesson. Students from both countries prepared presentations introducing their schools, regions, and fields of study—practicing language skills in a meaningful context.
Practical Advice for Teachers
- Start with "internationalization at home" - Integrate global topics like sustainability, cultural diversity, and EU citizenship into everyday lessons;
- Use authentic materials - Music, news articles, videos, and podcasts from different countries spark meaningful discussions;
- Embrace VE - Platforms like Teams connect students with real people in real life;
- Let students take ownership while teachers guide and support
Celebrate cultural days.
Listen now to the full episode to discover more insights from Luovi and get inspired for your own classroom!
