Helsinki (Finland) | 8–9 June 2026 — Co-funded by the European Union (TAPPEO Project)

When teachers from seven European countries came together at Specia in Helsinki, their main mission was clear: to combine their classroom expertise, explore the growing role of digital tools, and collaboratively co-design a series of practical language activities for young learners. Hosted by Context Learning over two intensive days, the core of this TAPPEO face-to-face workshop was centered on international teamwork. Working in mixed groups, pre-service and in-service educators joined forces to craft four high-quality activity scenarios tailored for immediate implementation in preschool and early primary classrooms.

Project coordinator Alonso Mateo Gómez opened the event with a guide on designing accessible learning for three-to-six-year-olds. He highlighted how simple instructions, physical movement through Total Physical Response, and strong visual support ensure that all children can participate in language tasks. Adding a concrete example of inclusive design, Michael Dirhalidis from PLATON Schools presented A World of Us, a cooperative board game that uses drawing, acting, and pointing to teach values alongside English.

With pedagogical principles in place, the spotlight turned to the role of modern technology in early education. A key session led by Dr. Letizia Cinganotto explored how digital applications and generative AI can be integrated responsibly into the classroom. Rather than replacing the essential role of the teacher, these tools were presented as creative assistants capable of generating custom stories, adaptive listening tasks, and interactive songs tailored to children’s interests. To see play-based language immersion in action, participants also visited the Kruununhaan Ankkalampi – Duckies nursery school.

The heart of the workshop unfolded as international working groups rolled up their sleeves for intensive drafting and peer-review sessions. Teachers evaluated each other’s ideas, refined step-by-step procedures, and integrated both physical and digital elements into complete teaching plans. The event culminated in a series of live pitch presentations where the teams demonstrated their final designs, spanning interactive storytelling, movement games, and song-based routines.

By bringing together diverse perspectives from across Europe, the Helsinki meeting successfully fulfilled its goal of building teacher skills and producing ready-to-use classroom resources. With unanimous participant satisfaction and four fully developed scenarios heading to TAPPEO’s digital repository, the workshop proved that when educators collaborate across borders, technology and creative play become powerful tools for early language learning.