The Future of Education

This study explores how Global Citizenship Education (GCE) can be woven more intentionally into Initial Teacher Education for modern foreign languages and Gaeilge in Ireland. Although language classrooms are rich sites for intercultural and ethical engagement, many pre-service teachers remain unsure about how to integrate GCE meaningfully into their practice. Through a dedicated workshop, participants engage with key GCE principles and subsequently design pedagogical artefacts in the target language that address themes such as social justice, sustainability and intercultural understanding. Pre- and post-intervention surveys, supported by reflective work and focus groups, examine changes in teachers’ confidence, dispositions and perceptions of both the opportunities and challenges involved.

The project offers fresh insights into how future language teachers interpret and operationalise GCE in their lesson planning, while also generating an open-access bank of classroom-ready materials. In doing so, it highlights the potential of language education to cultivate critical, empathetic and globally aware learners.