Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals in Language Education: A Critical Inquiry-Based Curricular Project.
This collection of free instructional resources for novice and intermediate collegiate classes was developed by CERCLL Director Beatrice Dupuy (University of Arizona) and Tara Hashemi (Fresno State University). It is designed to help world language educators integrate sustainability and global citizenship into language and culture classrooms, using a multiliteracies framework. By connecting language learning with real-world challenges and opportunities, the project aims to foster inquiry, critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and a sense of responsibility for building a more sustainable future.
Centered on several of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this project supports the development of sustainability-literate, multilingual, and interculturally competent learners who are prepared to engage thoughtfully with complex global challenges. The project offers instructional modules that encourage students to explore culturally relevant topics, engage with authentic materials, and critically reflect on issues related to social justice and sustainable futures.
The materials are informed by several influential educational frameworks, including:
- Backward Design (Wiggins & McTighe)
- Learning by Design (New London Group; Cope & Kalantzis)
- Critical Global Citizenship (Andreotti)
- UNESCO Sustainability Literacy Competencies
The SDGs in Language Education resources include:
- Templates for developing SDG-focused curricular modules, lesson plans, and assessments
- Novice- and intermediate-level French instructional modules
- A curated bibliography of scholarly and practical resources related to sustainability literacy, global citizenship, and the SDGs
Most materials are available as Open Educational Resources (OERs), allowing educators to freely use, adapt, and share them to meet the needs of their own teaching contexts.
Explore these resources and discover new ways to connect language learning with the global issues shaping our world today!