Linguistic and global competences: French course on the UNESCO goals in summer semester 2024

In French, a new course at A2/B1 level was added to the program in the summer semester 2024, the content of which was entirely dedicated to the 17 UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals. These goals covered a wide range of global challenges, including climate change, poverty, inclusion, education, gender equality and many more. The aim of the course was for students to engage intensively with these topics and reflect on the various opportunities they have to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Specific linguistic elements were practiced in class to help students communicate effectively and clearly on these topics in French. This included both expanding vocabulary and improving grammatical skills in order to present complex contexts precisely. Students were encouraged to lead discussions, formulate arguments and defend their opinions.
A special aspect of this course was the freedom given to students to decide for themselves which of the 17 sustainability goals they would like to explore in greater depth. This individual focus allowed participants to incorporate their personal interests and passions into their learning. At the end of the semester, the students presented their results and reflections in a final presentation.