Course Schedule

Core Activities

Day 1: Introduction to STPM and building connections

Start the week with an active introduction to the Smart Teachers Play More (STPM) approach, emphasising the importance of collaboration, creativity, and well-being in education. Participate in energising ice-breaking activities to connect with European colleagues and build a supportive learning community. Discover Spain’s rich cultural heritage through “The Spanish Corner,” featuring engaging activities and traditions. Explore digital tools for sharing resources and fostering collaboration. Conclude the day with a relaxed social gathering at a local venue, setting the tone for a dynamic and inspiring course.

Day 2: Introduction and building confidence in English communication

Start your journey with icebreaker activities designed to boost confidence and ease in using English. Explore speaking boards as a practical tool for discussing classroom routines, subjects, and Q&A sessions.

Grammar in action – Bringing language to life

This session focuses on practical language use to build confidence and fluency in real-life classroom contexts.  Explore classroom verbs through movement and gestures, connecting language with action for better retention. Practise present simple and present continuous tenses through creative activities that involve cultural comparisons, sensory experiences, and team-based challenges. 

Day 3: Exploring tenses through interaction

Build confidence using future expressions to discuss plans, predictions, and possibilities. Practise the present perfect tense with activities that encourage reflection on past experiences, accomplishments, and shared stories. This session emphasises active participation, playful repetition, and real-life classroom scenarios to improve fluency and accuracy.

Language in action – Practical activities

Take part in hands-on activities to practise tenses and language functions in real-life contexts. Explore how simple tools, like play dough, can become powerful resources for practising grammar and communication skills creatively. Participate in interactive tasks that encourage collaboration and engagement. 

Day 4: Learning, reflecting, and building relationships in Altea

Experience a day of inspiration and relaxation in the picturesque village of Altea, blending learning, exploration, and cultural exchange. Begin the day by transforming the local beach into a dynamic outdoor classroom. Engage in whole-class teacher-directed movement activities and calming games designed for open spaces, fostering creativity and mindfulness. Following refreshments and a reflective session, enjoy free time to connect with European colleagues while exploring Altea’s charming streets, unique shops, and Mediterranean views.

Conclude the day with a cultural evening, featuring presentations of participants’ local foods, drinks, music, and traditions. Enjoy team-building activities and music games, creating a vibrant atmosphere of connection and celebration.

Day 5: Sharing experiences through storytelling 

Explore the power of storytelling using story maps and visual prompts.  Build confidence in using the past simple tense through interactive activities that encourage sharing personal experiences and memorable moments. Practise sentence construction and fluency with engaging tasks that bring past events to life. 

Sharing good practice

Lead an activity you love using English with your European colleagues. Share teaching strategies, inspire others with creative ideas, and practise your English in a supportive, collaborative space.

Day 6: Let’s get creative with language

Expand your English vocabulary with adjectives and adverbs through interactive activities. Experience how traditional worksheets can be transformed into dynamic, language-rich activities, encouraging active participation and discussion. Conclude with an active listening session.

Vision planning and reflection in English

Using digital collaboration tools, create a vision plan with actionable goals for improving your English skills in educational and professional contexts. Practise expressing intentions and commitments clearly in English. Conclude the day with an evaluation and feedback discussion, reflecting on your growth and future language-learning goals.

Day 7: Reflection, Storytelling and STPM at Santa Barbara Castle
Participants begin the morning with a short interactive storytelling session exploring a local legend connected to Santa Bárbara Castle and how storytelling, history, and multimodal learning can be combined through the STPM methodology. The day continues with a guided educational field trip from Hotel Maya through Monte Benacantil up to the different levels of the castle, followed by a walk down through Parque de la Ereta and the Barrio Santa Cruz. Along the route, participants engage in several learning stations, including mindful listening activities, mindful observation of the horizon and castle silhouette, and a team spotting and sketching challenge using cardboard frames to identify natural features, landmarks, and elements of the local environment. The experience models how outdoor and urban spaces can be used as meaningful learning environments that encourage wellbeing, creativity, reflection, and active learning.