On Speaking Terms With The Whole World

Translated from the avisen, Denmark

Hej! Det er Dan mark, der taler.
Hello, this is Denmark speaking.

The students from Fjerritslev Gymnasium might as well get used to the fact that english is and will be their second main language. Many of them will need it on an everyday basis in the future global community of communication.

The distance around the globe is short in terms of tele-communication, and it is getting still shorter these years.

This impression is evident when one enters the world of which 3.Y. for the time being is a part.

With the teachers Hans Gregersen and Lars Jodal the class is in the middle of an experiment with advanced two-way video equipment which means the opening of direct video- and audio-connection to high school classrooms world wide, in this case USA and Greece.

In combination with the video equipment they use the Internet, and the later use of modern 3D technology is planned, so that the participants can demonstrate pictures, figures and reconstructions for each other.

First part of the experiment is to test the technology and estimate how the medium works in distance learning at all. Even when all students regardless of nationality are forced to speak only English.

Expensive connection.
The transmission goes through the satellite connections of the telephone companies, and that’s why it is expensive to keep in touch for hours. The equipment for this special video-communication is not for free either.

“We are lucky to have the experiment supported by sponsors, both in USA and from TeleDanmark and Dansk Data Display in Denmark. Locally, Egnsbank Han Herred has supported the project with a superstrong computer. Without this the project could not be reality”, says Hans Gregersen.

Fjerritslev Gymnasium is by now the only gymnasium in Denmark participating in the global experiment.

The choice fell on the gymnasium in Han Herred because of a recommendation from the Ministry for Education. Fjerritslev Gymnasium is well ahead in computer technology, and there is at the same time a certain interest in Ancient Greek Culture, the area chosen as subject in the first series of video-conferences.

An American behind the idea.
An American specialist in tele-communications is the mind behind the new project, George Newman in Boston.

He calls his system OPEN, One Planet Education Network, and his vision is that the media can be used in future tele-teaching.

It is also an obviously useful medium for scientists and students to exchange knowledge. Not only to talk and show pictures, but also to show reenactments and processes.

From Ancient Greece.
First part of the session in room 1.1, Fjerritslev Gymnasium, where most of the students from 3.Y. have sat down nicely in front of the combined video-camera and TV, is a visit to DeWitt-Clinton, Bronx in New York.

Afternoon in Fjerritslev, but early morning in New York. The time difference is one of the issues to address when planning a video-conference between two continents. All students involved have for some weeks worked with subjects from Ancient Greece, the main area in “oldtidskundskab”.

Every student tells his or her own little story, and they illustrate the small paper with pictures and stills, on which the camera is pre-set to focus.

There are some problems with the positioning of the camera and some fall- outs in sound - any beginning is difficult. And they speak fast, the American students, while looking down into their manuscrips - this does not enhance the understanding. On the other hand it is educational for all.

The Greek school is not on today, but a high school in South Carolina with a couple of groups sitting together to tell us about themselves and their curriculum. They are at home in the language; the Danes aren’t to the same extent - for good reasons.

But the Fjerritslev students are well prepared, and even if they too must read from a manuscript, it goes fast with small parts of Greek mythology. The famous maze in Knossos, the prince Icaros who in his pride flew too close to the sun, so that the bee’s wax that kept his wings together melted away. Hubris punished with death.

Exchange of questions.
Afterwards an opportunity to exchange various questions, also some a little outside the curriculum.

The Americans are interested in the Danish weather. Kim says it is supposed to be spring, but it is rainy and rather cold.

Students from Fjerritslev Gymnasium dare the South Carolina-class to do the ultimate Danish-test. “I skal sige: Red porridge with cream”.

"Raed parridj wid kriim" it sounds loud and clear across the Atlantic.

And everybody laughs.