How to teach students to be global citizens

Jeanne Perrett
Children working together outdoors picking up litter
Reading time: 4.5 minutes

As teachers, weÌýallÌýwant ourÌýstudents toÌýwork toward making the world a better place. Through focusing onÌýglobal citizenship,Ìýthis drive to change the world is something we can help foster every day in the classroom.ÌýIn this post, we’ll explore how.

What are global citizens?

ÌýA global citizen is someone who knows that they are part of a worldwide community. They understand that there are people who have completely different lifestyles, appearances, cultures and routines but with whom we share common values and responsibilities. Global citizenship encourages tolerance and understanding, and learning about it helps children become open-minded adults.ÌýÌý

In a primary English classroom, helping students become aware of themselves as citizens of the world will introduce them to a global way of thinking. We can do this while also helping them become familiar with, and proficient in, English.ÌýÌý

How can we introduce the concept?

BeforeÌýstudents put themselves in a global context, they should get to know themselves as individuals. But they should also get to know themselves as people whoÌýare part ofÌýtheir immediate communities.ÌýÌý

In the classroom, this can be done by encouraging students to think about something personal, such as their likes and dislikes. We can then encourage students to look a little further: What kinds of homes do they see in their communities? What makes a house a home to them? What about people working in their communities — what important jobs do they do, and how do they make an impact?Ìý

For language teachers,Ìýthe idea is toÌýcombine vocabulary and grammar structures with a slowly widening view of our world.ÌýSimply by introducing the conceptÌýthat we are part of a worldwide communityÌýcanÌýtake the children out of their own experiences and help them start to consider others.

Tips and activities

Social media makes it possibleÌýforÌýteachers to contact each other across borders and to collaborate between their schools. Something simple, like organizing a class video call for students after lunchtime and encouraging students in different countries to discuss what they ate in English,ÌýcanÌýhelp learners become more globally aware.Ìý

Get in touch and learn about how ÃÛÌÒapp can help your language teaching

How can we teach students to be proactive?

Once students know something, they can progress to putting their knowledge into action. Teachers can foster thisÌýby encouraging good habits –Ìýa simple example isÌýhow weÌýteachÌývery youngÌýchildren to throw their litter in a bin. As they grow older, we canÌý‘unpack’ these habits. That is,Ìýwe can helpÌýchildrenÌýlook deeper into whyÌýthey're so important.ÌýUsing the example of litter again,ÌýthisÌýcould meanÌýmaking students aware about how their civic responsibility has a real environmental impact.Ìý

Let’s look at how we canÌýgo from knowing to doing, in simple stages, with a range of topicsÌýthat are common in theÌýlanguageÌýclassroom:Ìý

Food

  • Ask students to think about what they like and dislike.Ìý
  • Ask students to name foods that are good for us and what we should eat more of.Ìý
  • Teach about school lunches in other countries.Ìý
  • Teach about dishes eaten on special occasions around the world.Ìý
  • HaveÌýaÌýfood festivalÌýor ‘munch day’ where students make snacks from around the world.

Buildings

  • Ask students to talk about their own homes.Ìý
  • Teach about types of homes in other countries.Ìý
  • Discuss eco-architecture – such as solar panels, living walls, wind turbines on roofs, and local materials that might be used in building processes.ÌýÌý
  • Venture outside as a class to plantÌýpottedÌýflowers and improve the school yard or make a container to collect rainwater for the school garden.Ìý

Jobs

  • Teach about the jobs people do at school – such as cleaning, cooking, or driving.Ìý
  • Think about jobs withinÌýthe communityÌýand why they are necessary.Ìý
  • Think about what skills each child and their parents have and how these skills are needed for different jobs.Ìý
  • Have a skill-sharing day whereÌýstudentsÌýteachÌýeach otherÌýsomething new.ÌýÌý
  • HostÌýaÌý‘kids take over day’Ìýwhere studentsÌýget toÌýdo an important jobÌýatÌýschool (such asÌýcleaning the classroomsÌýorÌýserving lunch).Ìý

Technology

  • Discuss the different types of technology used at home and school.Ìý
  • Think about how to use this technology responsibly.ÌýÌý
  • Talk about different householdsÌýand find outÌýhow and whenÌýtablets, laptops and phones are used. For example, who is allowed to watch videos while eating?ÌýWho can read on their tablet in bed?Ìý
  • Make your own set of technology rules for the classroom and discuss why they’re important.Ìý

Holidays

  • Ask students what they like to do on holiday.
  • Teach about how to stay safe at the ocean or in the countryside.
  • Talk about other countries students have travelled to or would like to travel to and learn about interesting landmarks in those countries.
  • Discuss eco-tourism efforts and why they are important.
  • Have aÌý‘Let’s go toÌý[name of a city or country)Ìýday.’ÌýMake posters about famous sights, learn some phrases of the language spoken thereÌýandÌýhave studentsÌýimagineÌýtheyÌýhave gone abroad for the day.

Sharing the messageÌý

The United NationsÌýhas set out a collection ofÌý17Ìýglobal goals, called theÌýÌý(SDGs), which aim to create a better future by 2030. They address issues like gender equality, hunger and poverty and can be an excellent resource for teachers to use in the classroom when discussing how global citizenship can help to improve our world. Ìý

Teachers can encourage students to spread the message aboutÌýSDGs inÌývariousÌýways. For example, students can:ÌýÌý

  • Give speechesÌý– at school or in the local community.Ìý
  • Begin a fundraisingÌýcampaign.Ìý
  • Write letters to politicians.

Teaching students to be global citizens may sound like a big task. However, through weaving these ideas through language lessons, teachers have the opportunity to plant an important seed in students. Because who knows, they may really grow up to change the world.Ìý

About Rise and Shine

Rise and ShineÌýis a 7-level story-based primary course that combines language learning with global citizenship. It is built on theÌýGlobal Scale of English, which helps students to understand exactly what they are learning and why.

The courseÌýinspires learners to becomeÌýconfident explorersÌý– they learn English and aim to become responsible global citizens. The series is also designed for use in inclusive and mixed-ability classrooms and supports every learner to achieve and shine.

Learn more about Rise and Shine

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  • A teacher helping a teenage student working at her desk in a library

    How teachers can use the GSE for professional development

    By Fajarudin Akbar
    Reading time: 4.5 minutes

    As English teachers, we’re usually the ones helping others grow. We guide learners through challenges, celebrate their progress and push them to reach new heights. But what about our own growth? How do we, as educators, continue to develop and refine our practice?

    The Global Scale of English (GSE) is often seen as a tool for assessing students. However, in my experience, it can also be a powerful guide for teachers who want to become more intentional, reflective, and confident in their teaching. Here's how the GSE has helped me in my own journey as an English teacher and how it can support yours too.

    About the GSE

    The GSE is a proficiency scale developed by ÃÛÌÒapp. It measures English ability across four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – on a scale from 10 to 90. It’s aligned with the CEFR but offers more detailed learning objectives, which can be incredibly useful in diverse teaching contexts.

    I first encountered the GSE while exploring ways to better personalize learning objectives in my Business English classes. As a teacher in a non-formal education setting in Indonesia, I often work with students who don’t fit neatly into one CEFR level. I needed something more precise, more flexible, and more connected to real classroom practice. That’s when the GSE became a turning point.

    Reflecting on our teaching practice

    The GSE helped me pause and reflect. I started reading through the learning objectives and asking myself important questions. Were my lessons really aligned with what learners at this level needed? Was I challenging them just enough or too much?

    By using the GSE as a mirror, I began to see areas where I could improve. For example, I realized that, although I was confident teaching speaking skills, I wasn’t always giving enough attention to writing development. The GSE didn’t judge me. It simply showed me where I could grow.

    Planning with purpose

    One of the best things about the GSE is that it brings clarity to lesson planning. Instead of guessing whether an activity is suitable for a student’s level, I now check the GSE objectives. If I know a learner is at GSE 50 in speaking, I can design a role-play that matches that level of complexity. If another learner is at GSE 60, I can challenge them with more open-ended tasks.

    Planning becomes easier and more purposeful. I don’t just create lessons, I design learning experiences that truly meet students where they are.

    Collaborating with other teachers

    The GSE has also become a shared language for collaboration. When I run workshops or peer mentoring sessions, I often invite teachers to explore the GSE Toolkit together. We look at learning objectives, discuss how they apply to our learners, and brainstorm ways to adapt materials.

    These sessions are not just about theory: they’re energizing. Teachers leave with new ideas, renewed motivation and a clearer sense of how to bring their teaching to the next level.

    Getting started with the GSE

    If you’re curious about how to start using the GSE for your own growth, here are a few simple steps:

    • Visit the GSE Teacher Toolkit and explore the learning objectives for the skills and levels you teach.
    • Choose one or two objectives that resonate with you and reflect on whether your current lessons address them.
    • Try adapting a familiar activity to better align with a specific GSE range.
    • Use the GSE when planning peer observations or professional learning communities. It gives your discussions a clear focus.

    Case study from my classroom

    I once had a private Business English student preparing for a job interview. Her speaking skills were solid – around GSE 55 – but her writing was more limited, probably around GSE 45. Instead of giving her the same tasks across both skills, I personalized the lesson.

    For speaking, we practiced mock interviews using complex questions. For writing, I supported her with guided sentence frames for email writing. By targeting her actual levels, not just a general CEFR level, she improved faster and felt more confident.

    That experience reminded me that when we teach with clarity, learners respond with progress.

    Challenges and solutions

    Of course, using the GSE can feel overwhelming at first. There are many descriptors, and it can take time to get familiar with the scale. My advice is to start small: focus on one skill or one level. Also, use the Toolkit as a companion, not a checklist.

    Another challenge is integrating the GSE into existing materials, and this is where technology can help. I often use AI tools like ChatGPT to adjust or rewrite tasks so they better match specific GSE levels. This saves time and makes differentiation easier.

    Teachers deserve development too

    Teaching is a lifelong journey. The GSE doesn’t just support our students, it also supports us. It helps us reflect, plan, and collaborate more meaningfully. Most of all, it reminds us that our growth as teachers is just as important as the progress of our learners.

    If you’re looking for a simple, practical, and inspiring way to guide your professional development, give the GSE a try. It helped me grow, and I believe it can help you too.

    Additional resources