Supporting multilingual classrooms

Local organiser: Lília Maria Vicente, Ministry of Education, Directorate-General for School Administration

ECML experts: Catherine Carré-Karlinger (Austria), Katja Schnitzer (Switzerland)

Participants: 27 school leaders, teachers of the language of schooling, researchers

The Supporting Multilingual Classrooms training workshop, which aims to help member states ensure access to quality education for migrant learners and bridge the attainment gap between these learners and non-migrant pupils, was organised on 13-14 November 2025 in Lisbon by the Portuguese Directorate-General for School Administration of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation. This entity is responsible for the school principals’ Continuing Professional Development, (CPD) on the theme of "Inclusive approaches in language education” within the module on "Developing language-aware schools".  

School principals and other educational actors from school clusters that show a diversified cultural and linguistic reality were invited, in order to provide them with moments of sharing and reflection on their contexts and practices, and, above all, to show that multilingualism and cultural diversity are added values in the life of schools, contributing to promote inclusion.

In fact, the responsibility that falls to school principals to manage school clusters that incorporate pupils from many different nationalities requires the development of strategies that ensure that all members of their community have opportunities to develop awareness of the value of multilingualism for all and integrate these opportunities into their practices, which does not always seem easy. It is therefore very important to give school principals the opportunity to share their reality with others and to get to know new ways of addressing their problems in a more effective and rewarding way and to give them access to other strategies and approaches that enable them to meet the challenges posed by these new educational contexts.

Lília Maria Vicente, local organiser, 19 December 2025

ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2025 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe together with the European Commission are launching a new round of workshops within the joint action on Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning focusing on the following initiatives:

• ICT-REV – Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning
• RELANG – Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference
• Supporting Multilingual Classrooms

The activities are scheduled to take place between March and mid-December 2026, the three initiatives offering a total of 20 national workshops during this period.

The call is open to current European Union member states and the additional member states of the ECML until 9 January 2026.

For further information, please contact Adelina Rosca-Birnstingl ([email protected]), the ECML-EC cooperation agreement coordinator.

Local organiser: Meline Galstyan, Brusov State University

ECML experts: Terry Lamb (United Kingdom), Chantal Muller (Belgium)

Participants: 26 foreign language teachers, teachers of other subjects, teacher educators, teachers of the language of schooling as a second language, policymakers, school administrators

The “Supporting Multilingual Classrooms” national training workshop, offered through the ECML-EC cooperation agreement, provides teachers and school communities with practical, research-informed strategies to value and build on the linguistic and cultural diversity in today’s classrooms. This professional development opportunity equips educators with tools to recognise learners’ plurilingual repertoires, support second language development across subjects, and create inclusive learning environments where every student’s linguistic identity is seen as an asset.

The training workshop on 13-14 November corresponded to the national priorities outlined in the request form for the event, particularly in the area of promoting quality education and supporting multilingual classrooms.

Firstly, the workshop strengthened teachers’ capacities to value and integrate learners’ plurilingual repertoires into everyday teaching. This directly supports the national commitment to inclusive and culturally responsive education. For example, through activities focused on recognising and drawing on students’ home languages, participants learned practical strategies for fostering a supportive and diverse learning environment.

Secondly, the workshop addressed the priority of improving the language of schooling for all learners, including those with migrant or minority language backgrounds. By exploring scaffolding techniques and linguistic objectives across subjects, teachers gained tools to better support students’ academic language development. This aligns with national efforts to ensure equal educational opportunities and improved learning outcomes.

Finally, the focus on collaborative intercultural projects helps promote social cohesion, another national priority. Teachers were introduced to practical examples of cross-cultural classroom projects that encourage mutual understanding and respect among students from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Overall, the training workshop provided concrete methodologies, classroom strategies, and reflection tools that directly support the national agenda for strengthening multilingual education and ensuring high-quality, inclusive learning for all.

Meline Galstyan, local organiser, 25 November 2025

ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2025 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Elena Paraskeva, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth

ECML experts: Chantal Muller (Belgium), Katja Schnitzer (Switzerland)

Participants: 26 foreign language teachers, teachers of other subjects, teacher educators, teachers of the language of schooling, policymakers, course book authors, school administrators

On 9 and 10 October 2025, a two-day workshop on Supporting Multilingual Classrooms was held in Nicosia. The workshop was co-organised by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (English Language Inspectorate) and the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML). Trainers included Ms. Chantal Muller (Haute Ecole de Namur-Liège-Luxembourg, Belgium) and Ms. Katja Schnitzer (Pädagogische Hochschule der Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland) with Ms Elena Paraskeva, inspector of English, as the local organiser.

The aim of the two-day workshop was to inform teachers about teaching approaches in multilingual classrooms, as well as provide multilingual and intercultural training through activities that can be implemented in school settings.

During the first day, participants discussed the importance of languages and cultures, attitudes toward plurilingualism, and specifically teachers’ attitudes toward languages and cultures, sharing personal experiences and insights. Teaching approaches were then presented, along with examples of good practices already implemented in Cyprus and across Europe. The session concluded with a discussion on the language rights of second-language learners. In a hands-on activity, participants explored their own multiple identities and those of their students. Overall, the importance of implementing democratic and intercultural approaches in the classroom was emphasised.

On the second day, there was an open discussion on the role of languages as a bridge to successful education, as well as the challenges that arise when the language of instruction differs from students’ mother tongues. This was followed by a mini workshop using scaffolding tools, and participants were provided with materials showcasing good practices to support differentiated teaching. The day concluded with presentations from participating teachers implementing the tools introduced and recommendations for developing a holistic approach in schools. At the end of the workshop, participants reported that they would use the materials and methods presented and share the identified good practices within their school communities, aiming to strengthen multilingual education, promote intercultural understanding, and create a more inclusive learning environment.

The workshop was attended by language teachers from both primary and secondary general education.

Elena Paraskeva, local organiser, 6 November 2025

ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2025 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Rogelio Paniza Prados, Dirección Provincial del Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes

ECML experts: Terry Lamb (United Kingdom), Catherine Carré-Karlinger (Austria)

Participants: 22 foreign language teachers, teachers of other subjects, teacher educators, teachers of the language of schooling

The training provided by the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML) has been a truly enriching experience. The Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshop enabled teachers in Melilla to reflect on the linguistic realities of their classrooms and to learn practical strategies for supporting students in multilingual classrooms, thereby promoting inclusive education.

Key highlights of the workshop include its collaborative approach, the exchange of experiences

among teachers, and its adaptability for implementation in our schools. Beyond enhancing teaching practices, this type of training fosters positive and meaningful attitudes that recognise and value the richness of linguistic and cultural diversity.

For all these reasons, we encourage other countries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the ECML through such workshops, which promote equitable education aligned with European values.

Rogelio Paniza Prados, local organiser, 23 October 2025

ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2025 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"