Topic outline
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Dear teachers,
Welcome to our course 'GSS for teachers' centered around our impactful project 'Green Standard Schools'. This engaging initiative aims to:
- Integrate crucial environmental topics into the language learning curriculum of three languages (English, Spanish, and French)
- Enhance the language competence of foreign language learners
- Boost the teaching competences of language teachers
- Foster responsible and sustainable environmental behavior in both language learners and teachers
- Inspire language schools to develop comprehensive environmental policies
This course features a comprehensive Environmental Handbook for Language School Managers and Teachers, designed as training material to empower language teachers and managers with tools to minimize environmental impact in their operations and enhance their proficiency as language course providers.
Also, you can explore our Video Collection, accessible on our YouTube channel Green Standard Schools, where you'll discover a series of short videos featuring discussions on environmental issues. This curated collection serves as a readily available database of teaching materials, seamlessly integrable into your lessons.
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In this lesson, you'll explore the consequences of global warming and climate change. Over the past decade or so, you've likely heard that global temperatures are on the rise, and the repercussions of this trend could be disastrous for life on Earth. While the terms "global warming" and "climate change" are often used interchangeably, they have distinct definitions, although they are closely intertwined. With the rapid increase in temperatures attributed to human activities, international agreements like the Paris Agreement and COP26 are working to limit the rise and prevent catastrophic outcomes.
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In this lesson, the long-term average of weather conditions is discussed along with the impact of climate change, driven by rapid global warming, which leads to more frequent and severe extreme weather events. The lessons cite examples from 2021, including record temperatures in Canada, heatwaves in Russia, and historic flooding in various countries. The consequences of climate change on agriculture, food security, human migration, and health are emphasized. The primary cause is identified as the burning of fossil fuels, with varying responsibility among countries. Climate justice is introduced, and measures to combat global warming, such as reducing energy consumption, transitioning to renewable energy, and supporting carbon offset initiatives, are outlined. Additionally, you will learn about the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source.
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Given the real threat to much of life as we know it that is posed by global warming and climate change, it isn’t surprising that this is the issue that grabs most of the headlines. But there are plenty of other ways that humanity is damaging the environment, and chief among them is the way we are polluting the vast majority of our fragile ecosystems. In this lesson, we will outline some of the major problems involving air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, plastic pollution, and suggest ways that can all do something to help.
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In this lesson, we will explore the topic of biodiversity and conservation. We will focus on the concept of mass extinctions throughout Earth's history and the current process of the sixth mass extinction, driven by human activities, known as the Anthropocene extinction. We will also discuss the challenges of conservation and learn about the current status of global conservation goals. You will discover measures that can be taken to help preserve species diversity and how individuals can contribute to this crucial effort.
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In summary, this lesson highlights the severity of environmental challenges, while also promoting hope and collective action. It introduces Green Standard Schools to encourage environmental standards in language education and suggests integrating environmental themes into language classes. The '5 Rs' of environmental sustainability and the circular economy concept are presented as practical approaches for a more sustainable future, with additional information available through the provided links.
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