Language teaching and learning

Language teaching framework

Through our news articles, we examined the intercultural dimension in language teaching, and how it develops pupils’ capacity to understand and accept people from other cultures as individuals, with different opinions, values and behaviours. We also looked at how the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) can be used in the classroom as a framework for learning, teaching and assessing language proficiency.

• Intercultural competence: the role of language learning
• Step by step: Using the CEFR in the classroom

Bilingual education

Bilingual education and early language learning can bring many benefits to children. For example, bilingual children often perform better on tasks that require switching between activities and have a better-developed ability to focus on relevant information. In our expert article, Dr María Luisa Pérez Cañado, from the University of Jaén, Spain, discussed Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) – considered to be the European approach to bilingual education. She explained how it can be a powerful tool to improve language teaching and learning standards in schools.

• Lessons learned: CLIL and paths forward in bilingual education (expert article)
• Raising multilingual children: the benefits of early language learning
• United in language: multilingualism and cultural diversity
• Video - The European Language Label: Inspiring children to learn languages (Agrupamento de Escolas Navegador Rodrigues Soromenho, Portugal) 

Digital technologies

Digital tools such as artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted language learning have emerged as powerful tools to enhance language learning, offering new and effective pathways to support multilingual education. We also explored this in our practice article, which looks at how innovative teaching methods using digital tools, such as game-based learning, supports multilingual classrooms and inclusive education. We also took a closer look at one school in Beaumont, Belgium, where teachers motivate students to learn foreign languages through active and creative practices.

• Artificial intelligence as an asset to language learning in Europe
• Language learning through digital and creative innovation
• Video - Language learning through active and creative practices (Athenée Royal Simone Veil, Beaumont, Belgium)

Language learning in the EU

In our featured survey, over 1000 platform users gave us their opinions about language learning and how languages are taught in schools across Europe. Among other things, the results highlighted the importance of maintaining student engagement in language learning, and that digital technologies could be used to develop more personalised and immersive learning experiences for pupils.

• Survey on language learning - Results

Webinar recordings and course materials

You can also re-watch our September webinars on culturally responsive teaching and language acquisition, or take a look at our course materials on linguistic diversity and content-based teaching.

• Intercultural communication: Strategies for culturally responsive teaching
• Language acquisition inside and outside the classroom
• Embracing linguistic and cultural diversity in mainstream classes
• Unlock language skills with content-based teaching