Café Philo in Greece
Debating democracy where it was born
The hybrid “Café Philo” project links Lycée Yves Leborgne with the high school of Artemis, a seaside town in the greater Athens area. After months of virtual exchanges, ten students from Guadeloupe were hosted by Greek families for five intense days of activities around Athenian democracy.
The project
The hybrid preparation relied on monthly video conferences between project leaders, then on WhatsApp and Padlet as the eTwinning platform was unavailable: introductions, ice-breakers in Greek and English, and publication of students’ work on democracy.
On site: attending classes in Greek and English, interviews with Greek colleagues, the president of the student body and the mayor of Artemis, visit of the Acropolis and its museum, guided tour of the Greek Parliament, discovery of Athens and of the battlefield of Marathon.
The report highlights the exceptional hospitality of the host families: “it felt like Homer’s Odyssey”, a strong development of cooperation and mutual respect, and progress in both English and Greek. One student produced a 90-minute film in three parts and ran the project’s Instagram account.
From October to March, the Café Philo students prepared the mobility in regular workshops: monthly video conferences between project leaders, then WhatsApp exchanges and a shared padlet when the eTwinning platform proved unavailable. Cross-presentations, ice-breakers in Greek and English and joint publications on Athenian democracy built the bond before departure.
On site
- Joining classes in Greek and English at the Artemis high school
- Interviews with Greek colleagues, the head of the student council and the mayor of Artemis
- Visit of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum
- Guided tour of the Hellenic Parliament
- Discovery of Athens and the battlefield of Marathon
- Play by the Greek students on democracy and the place of women
« It felt as if we were in Homer’s Odyssey. »
2023-2024 report, Greece mobility
Highlights
- Host-family accommodation, with two different families per student
- Play performed by Greek students on democracy and the place of women
- Stephen Hawking commemoration and historical presentations in English
Crossed perspectives
The report highlights family hospitality experienced as exceptional, a very clear development of cooperation and mutual respect, and language progress in English as well as Greek. One student produced a ninety-minute film in three parts and ran the project’s Instagram account.
Results and follow-up
Disciplinary skills in political philosophy, language skills in English and Greek, stronger cooperation between teams; the connection created opened the way to further student mobilities.
In pictures
