Course Introduction
This Sustainability and the Environment in Education course is an intensive professional training course for primary and secondary school teachers who want to gain a better understanding of the UNs’ Sustainable Development Goals and how to integrate student thinking about these issues into classroom practice.
20 lessons of group tuition / week
1 lesson = 50 minutes
Course Duration: 1 week or 2 weeks
Minimum Level: Upper-intermediate (B2)
Who is it for?
Primary and secondary school teachers who are interested in innovative ideas to motivate and engage their students. You must have at least a B2 (Upper-Intermediate) level of English to join this course.
Course Format
This Sustainability and the Environment in Education course can be organised as either a one-week or two-week course and consists of 20 classroom-based sessions per week, plus an extensive cultural and social programme led by your teacher trainers.
- 20 lessons of group tuition / week
- 1 lesson = 50 minutes
2022 Dates
| Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|
| 4th April – 15th April
18th April – 29th April |
4th July – 15th July
19th July – 29th July 1st August – 12th August 15th August – 26th August |
17th October – 28th October |
*Or by arrangement for closed groups
Course Location
Dublin, Ireland
Course Aims
To promote awareness of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
To raise awareness of positive actions that could be the driving force for environmental integrity and a sustainable global future.
To promote and facilitate a practical critical engagement with new ideas and recent pedagogical developments in ELT with a particular emphasis on integrating student thinking about sustainability and the environment into classroom activities.
To provide an opportunity to develop participants’ own language skills.
To establish contacts between teachers from a variety of European education systems and facilitate future networking.
Methodology
Theories, ideas and activities are presented and demonstrated through lessons with content that is suitable to the course participants’ level and interests.
Participants are expected to actively participate in the workshops, and applied exercises and tasks, to reflect on their own beliefs and practice, and share thoughts, ideas and expertise in pair work, small groups and with the class as a whole. Critical thinking and active peer and self-evaluation are essential for the course.
During the course participants will also take part in a range of afternoon activities where they will be encouraged to develop their language skills in a more informal environment outside the classroom and further enhance their knowledge of contemporary Ireland and the vibrant city of Dublin.
Course Themes and Sample Timetable
The Sustainability and the Environment in Education course has three main components:
- Sustainability and the Environment based language classes
- Teaching Methodology (innovative methods to enhance teaching and learning)
- Irish Life and Culture (including focus on language development)
To ensure your course meets your development objectives, the schedule of sessions on every course is drawn up and agreed with each group of participants and Erasmus Plus coordinators on the basis of pre-course training needs analysis questionnaires.
| Week One (Sample) | Session One 9am to 10.40am |
Session Two 11am to 12.40pm |
Afternoon Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Course Orientation. Introduction to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its 17 Sustainable Development Goals |
Dublin’s Parks, Squares and Public Spaces | Lunch with Teachers and orientation tour of Dublin. |
| Tuesday | Alternative Approaches to Lesson Design 1: Project-Based Learning | Ireland – Brexit, The Border and a Border Poll | The Liberties (gentrification) Walk and Talk Tour with teacher |
| Wednesday | Fostering Critical Thinking through Questioning | Fast Clothing – Where does my stuff come from? What’s the cost to the planet? | visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells |
| Thursday | Smart Cities – How can technology make city-life more eco-friendly and sustainable? | Housing in Dublin – Affordable & Sustainable? | The Music Walk and Talk Tour with teacher |
| Friday | Slow Tourism – What’s the impact of tourism on cities? How can we plan more sustainable holidays? | Teaching Pronunciation: Models and Goals | End of course Lunch and Irish Coffee Film and Fluency Club |
| Saturday | Full day excursion to Howth |
Follow Up
Participants on the course are encouraged to keep in contact, sharing materials and experiences when back in your own classrooms. Follow-up contact is made with the participants three months after completion of the course to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the classroom activities presented and on how your teaching practice has been developed. The course trainers are available for follow-up advice and support at all times.
Price List
1 week training course
- Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
- Additional Fee: Homestay Accommodation: €225 for one week of host family accommodation (single room, half-board) + €65 placement fee
2 week training course
- Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
- Additional Fee: Homestay Accommodation: €450 for two weeks of host family accommodation (single room, half-board) + €65 placement fee
Erasmus Plus Info
Organisation ID (legal name): Atlas Language Institute
Participant Identification Code (PIC): 943679051
Organisation ID: E10128627
Registration Number: 373677