TwLetteratura Cymru

Delivered by Literature Wales, this project introduces an educational programme developed by TwLetteratura (Italy) to encourage better engagement with reading by making it more fun.

TwLetteratura is one of the 15 good practices enlisted in the manual “Promoting Reading in the Digital Environment”, published by the European Union and written by the work group of the experts in digital reading of the EU States.

Aims

It aims to improve literacy, communication and digital skills through combining old fashioned techniques (comprehension, oracy, reflection and precis) with “cool” activities using social media, including a specially designed app (Betwyll) enabling young people to participate in places where social media sites are blocked.

The skills developed would improve literacy, communication and digital skills, contribute towards people entering employment, help people participate in a positive activity twice weekly, reduce social isolation, provide a personal and social development opportunity, help parents feel more confident supporting their children and help young people to gain an Arts Award certificate

The project

The project will involve writers trained in the TwLetteratura techniques (working alongside teachers and youth support workers) facilitating a series of 10 creative writing sessions where the participants devise their own creative responses to the text they are reading. The responses are framed in a “tweet” format, incorporating different challenges that encourage the participants to play with words, language and explore the characters in ways that retain their engagement and prompts reflection and discussion.

The introduction of TwLetteratura techniques to Wales has the potential to influence the way in which Literature Wales and its partners support literacy learning in Wales and will help develop stronger working links between them. It will be equally accessible to English and Welsh speakers and has the potential to link with other readers in different countries using the same text in translation.

The project evaluation will also explore how TwLetteratura techniques might contribute towards Welsh language learning.