The field of English, akin to other languages, offers a unique avenue for promoting sustainability. It serves both as a conduit and subject matter for education for sustainability. English texts can actively or passively engage with sustainability content; students can learn from literature or discourse on sustainability and be challenged to create their own written or spoken pieces on the topic.

Language facilitates communication and shapes perceptions and societal attitudes towards sustainability. Through the analysis of literary works and the examination of linguistic nuances, English education provides a profound opportunity to delve into the complexities of sustainability issues. Moreover, it cultivates critical thinking skills essential for addressing these challenges effectively.

Sustainability encompasses a broad range of topics that may not immediately appear related to it. In English Studies, students can explore various sustainability-related themes such as physical and mental well-being, inclusion, equality, decent work, environmental equity, and the cradle-to-grave perspective. For example, through literary analysis, students may examine characters’ struggles with well-being in novels or representations of social justice in poetry.

Consequently, English emerges as a pivotal discipline for integrating sustainability, despite current reports indicating a scarcity of sustainability-focused content within its curriculum at Concordia. This page aims to present strategies for incorporating sustainability into your English studies.

Instructional methods for classroom settings

General learning activities

Semantic or linguistic analysis

Students conduct linguistic analysis of texts to examine how language shapes perceptions and representations of sustainability. This could involve analyzing the use of specific terms, metaphors, and rhetoric in environmental discourse to uncover underlying ideologies and power dynamics. Analyzing media for specific sustainability vocabulary and everyday language usage could be a valuable exercise for students. By examining how sustainability concepts are conveyed through language in various forms of media, such as news articles, advertisements, or social media posts, students can develop a fuller understanding of the ways in which sustainability is communicated to the public.

‘Plain English’ communication

Students practice summarizing complex sustainability concepts in clear and accessible language through methods such as writing summaries, letters, presentations, short videos, interviews with experts, and blog posts. This helps students develop effective communication skills for engaging with broader audiences about sustainability issues.

Creative writing workshops

Students focus on creative writing techniques for expressing ideas and emotions related to sustainability. This could include poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction writing exercises that encourage students to explore personal connections to environmental themes and issues.

Global perspectives

Students explore how different societies and historical contexts approach environmental issues, based on readings or resources from global authors and filmmakers. By including perspectives from diverse cultures and regions in the study of sustainability literature and media, students will broaden their understanding of sustainability on a global scale.

Activities linked to sustainability competencies

Futures-thinking

Students engage in activities like scenario planning, future workshops, and forecasting to envision potential futures and explore strategies for sustainability. This may involve imagining desirable futures through back-casting or exploring utopian and dystopian scenarios in literature and other media.

Values-thinking

Students analyze the values presented in texts (e.g., books, videos, films, video games, theatre, poetry, essays) and how they evolve. This helps students understand the cultural, social, and ethical dimensions of sustainability and how they are represented in literature and media.

Systems-thinking

Students analyze how literary texts reflect broader societal and environmental issues relevant to sustainability. For example, they might examine how characters’ experiences mirror real-world supply chain dynamics, considering the production, distribution, and consumption of goods, shedding light on environmental and social impacts.

Activities linked to pedagogical approaches

Collaborative learning

Students work together in groups to explore sustainability issues through projects and discussions. This fosters teamwork and allows for diverse perspectives to be considered. Group projects could involve analyzing sustainability themes in literature or creating multimedia presentations on environmental topics.

Critical and reflective thinking

Students participate in activities such as debates (e.g., devil’s advocate debate), fishbowl discussions (where a small group discusses while others observe) or keeping reflective journals. These methods encourage students to think critically about sustainability issues, analyze different viewpoints, and reflect on their perspectives and biases.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Students collaborate in other disciplines, such as environmental science, sociology, or economics. Interdisciplinary projects or guest lectures can provide students with a more holistic understanding of sustainability and its intersections with other fields of study.

Technology integration

Students work with digital tools and platforms, such as online databases for researching environmental topics, multimedia storytelling platforms for creating interactive narratives, or virtual reality simulations for immersive learning experiences related to sustainability challenges. The Lab for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (LITL) can partner with you to explore different ways to integrate technology with a sustainability focus.

Experiential learning

Service-learning opportunities

Students apply their English language and communication skills in real-world settings while addressing community sustainability needs. This could involve partnering with local organizations on writing projects, communication campaigns, or advocacy efforts.

Community engagement projects

Students collaborate with local communities or organizations on sustainability initiatives. This could involve conducting research, organizing events, or developing educational materials that address local environmental challenges. You may wish to browse resources from and get in contact with Concordia’s Office of Community Engagement for more information on how to get started. Another resource at the university is CityStudio, who can match you with a community partner to tackle sustainability issues in the Greater Montreal Area.

Simulation and role play

Students engage in simulated scenarios or roleplay activities to immerse themselves in real-world sustainability challenges. For instance, they might act out different stakeholders in a hypothetical environmental debate or play roles in a simulated negotiation for sustainable development projects.

Field trips

Students go on field trips to environmentally significant sites or welcome guest speakers from relevant organizations to provide firsthand experiences and insights into sustainability issues. Experiential learning opportunities can deepen students’ understanding and engagement with environmental topics. Visit Concordia’s Office for Experiential Learning to find deeper resources to help you integrate experiential learning into your courses. You may also wish to consult the Office for Decolonizing and Indigenizing Curriculum & Pedagogy for practices on land-based pedagogy.

Resources

For specificity, several intriguing resources are available:

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