Sustainability and Environment in Education

This course is for teachers who want to upgrade their language skills while gaining a better understanding of sustainability and the environment and to incorporate these ideas into their teaching.

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Course Overview

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
Level: Upper-intermediate (B2)
Course Location: Dublin

Who is it for?

This course is for teachers who want to upgrade their language skills while gaining a better understanding of sustainability and the environment and to incorporate these ideas into their teaching, while gaining a better understanding of Irish life and culture. Participants must have at least a good intermediate level (B1+) of English and must bring an electronic device to connect to wifi – i.e., a phone, tablet or laptop.

Course Dates

Spring 2023	Summer 2023	Autumn 2023
3rd April – 8th April	3rd July – 15th July	16th October – 21st October
10th April – 15th April	31st July – 12th August	23rd October – 28th October

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

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

Week one (Sample)	Session 1	Session 2	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	Orientation Tour around Dublin
Tuesday	Alternative Approaches to Lesson Design 1: Project-Based Learning	Ireland – Brexit, The Border and a Border Poll	Trinity College and the Book of Kells
Wednesday	Teaching Pronunciation: Models and Goals	Women in Irish Society	Visit to Kilmainham Gaol
Thursday	Smart Cities – How can technology make city-life more eco-friendly and sustainable?	Sustainable Cities – Dublin and Gentrification	The Liberties Walk and Talk Tour with teacher
Friday	Slow Tourism – What’s the impact of tourism on cities? How can we plan more sustainable holidays?	Reflection on learning. Developing your Personal Learning Network (PLN) Looking ahead. End of course Irish Coffee.
Saturday	Full day excursion to Howth

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.

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

€450

Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
Additional Fee: Residential Accommodation: €375 for one week in residence (single ensuite room, self-catering) + €65 placement fee + EUR30 ( summer supplement for accommodation bookings 17th Jun – 10th Sept)

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2 - week training course

€890

Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
Additional Fee: Residential Accommodation: €750 for two weeks in residence (single ensuite room, self-catering) + €65 placement fee + EUR30 ( summer supplement for accommodation bookings 17th Jun – 10th Sept)