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Sustainability

How do we achieve sustainable language teaching and learning? How do the sustainability goals of Agenda 2030 reflect in language teaching and learning? And how can sustainability in teaching professions be attained?
The dossier assembles thoughts and suggestions on this vital topic.

People with environmental sustainability concept © Adobe Stock

  • Long-term learning in youth education
     Strategy Games in Language Teaching

    How do you motivate youngsters to stay on the ball when learning a foreign language? How can schools contribute to personality development? Experience shows that strategy games can help achieve both of these goals, as well as giving kids a better understanding of democratic decision-making processes.

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  • Practical tip
     Getting Started: Working Sustainable Development into Your German Class

    Climate protection, clean energy, responsible consumption – young people are taking to the streets nowadays to demonstrate for these issues, which are also economic, social and environmental development goals set by the United Nations. So let’s talk to kids about sustainable development in the classroom.

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    Practising sustainability in German lessons © Colourbox

  • Sustainability goals in the classroom
     What can I do about it? - Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

    How can you address complex issues like poverty, solidarity and growing inequality under the Covid-19 pandemic in German classes? Can ESD goals be worked into language teaching? This article points up some inspiring approaches and methods that teachers of German as a foreign or second language can use.

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    Several young people hold up a globe together © Getty Images

  • Lastingly boosting motivation
     Developing teachers’ potential

    Teachers face challenges every day at work. Studies show a particularly high level of psychological stress in the teaching profession. Hence the high incidence of burnout among their ranks. So how can we stave off stress while keeping teachers motivated and enthusiastic about their jobs year after year?

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    Man jumping over the rocks Alex Radelich © Unsplash

  • Language learning and German education policy
    "Bilinguals have better maths skills!"

    Language learning trains the brain. Learning two languages at an early age develops language skills in general. But bilingual kids also do better in other cognitive subjects – like mathematics. Professors Michaela Sambanis and Heiner Böttger explain why a paradigm shift is needed and how to make it work.

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    Little boy in front of blackboard © Getty Images

  • Digitization and multilingualism
     "The world is language": Why language learning is worthwhile even in the digital age

    Innovative technology helps us communicate in different languages. Will translation apps make learning a foreign language superfluous? How can we rekindle the desire to learn languages? Professors M. Sambanis and H. Böttger share some fascinating findings from neuroscience research on language learning.

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    Language © Adobe Stock

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