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"