From words to worlds: The educator’s guide to storytelling (1 week in Thessaloniki)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Dates

2026: 03.08.2026 – 08.08.2026 | 23.11.2026 – 28.11.2026

2027: 18.01.2027 – 23.01.2027 | 12.04.2027 – 17.04.2027 | 14.06.2027 – 19.06.2027 | 11.10.2027 – 16.10.2027 | 06.12.2027 – 11.12.2027

2028: To be announced (Ask for dates)

Intro

Are you ready to captivate your students and bring your lessons to life through the timeless art of storytelling?

This course is designed to empower educators with the creative techniques needed to craft rich characters, immersive settings, and gripping plots.

‘From words to worlds’ encompasses a diverse range of projects, such as digital storytelling, interactive classroom experiences, and songwriting, to help you build your narrative confidence. Discover simple, accessible techniques for creating stories that capture attention and keep audiences engaged.

Who is this for?

This course is tailored for education, cultural and youth professionals of all levels – including teachers, leaders, counselors, mentors, camp leaders, extracurricular activity coordinators, and more – who want to harness the power of creative narratives.

No prior storytelling experience is required. The course is open to anyone interested in exploring how compelling stories are created. Participants will benefit from an international learning experience while traveling with Erasmus+.

Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply storytelling techniques: Find out about narrative frameworks and how to adapt them for your specific teaching context.
• Craft compelling characters: Work on developing engaging stories, plots, and characters that captivate your learners.
• Build an inclusive community: Use storytelling to support diverse learning needs and adapt narratives for special populations.
• Enhance digital fluency: Leverage modern digital multimedia tools and platforms to create impactful digital stories.
• Overcome creative blocks: Utilize practical tools and strategies to conquer writer’s block and maintain momentum in your projects.

Modules

• Module 1: The power of storytelling. Dive into the psychological and emotional impact of narratives, and learn how to craft compelling plots and characters.
• Module 2: Storytelling across the curriculum. Explore how to seamlessly integrate stories into various subjects, educational contexts, and lesson plans.
• Module 3: Digital and interactive storytelling. Harness technology to create multimedia narratives and build participatory, immersive experiences in the classroom.
• Module 4: Storytelling for inclusion and culture. Use stories to promote cross-cultural awareness, global perspectives, and support special populations.
• Module 5: Storytelling for personal growth. Reflect on the role of storytelling in self-expression, mindfulness, and personal development.
• Module 6: Creative expression and poetry. Discover techniques in songwriting, lyrical structure, and poetic expression to enrich the classroom experience.

Course Outcomes

• Build a practical narrative toolkit: Take away practical insights into accessible digital tools, and reusable storytelling templates ready to use in your classroom.
• Enhance intercultural literacy: Gain the critical tools necessary to guide youth safely and effectively in cross-cultural dialogues and European initiatives.
• Drive digital transformation: Build confidence in using digital storytelling tools, supporting innovation within your institution.
• Empower youth/student voices: Shift young people from passive learners into active creators by modeling confident creative expression.
• Engage your audience: Explore ways to use storytelling to capture attention and create meaningful connections with your audience.
• Exchange best practices: Connect with an international network of educators and youth workers, sharing strategies and building long-lasting cross-border partnerships.

Equipment

Participants will need to bring their laptop to effectively utilize web-based tools and applications during the course.

See all available Erasmus+ courses we offer.

Destination:

Thessaloniki – the heart of northern Greece. Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece, considered the co-capital of the country. It’s the place the heart of Northern Greece beats since antiquity. It served as an economical and commercial centre for many years and has rapidly developed, mostly because of its geographical location.

A stroll around the city instantly reveals its rich history. The Old Town, the Castle of Heptapyrgio, the Rotunda, the emblematic White Tower built during the Ottoman rule are just a few of the city’s famous monuments that will please every culture and history enthusiast.

Nowadays it is considered a business hub for the Balkans as it hosts several conferences and major exhibitions including the Thessaloniki International Fair. In 2021 it was acknowledged as the first Greek city to join the UNESCO Network of Gastronomy.

Thessaloniki is the city people love to visit for its culture, cuisine, and hospitality.