The GlobVELT UK-TR project, Global Graduates through Virtual Exchange: A Model for Language Teachers and Internationalization in UK-Türkiye Higher Education, is a collaborative initiative that aims to enhance global competence among language teachers from the UK and Turkey. Funded by the Connect4Innovation: UK-Türkiye Higher Education Partnerships Fund by the British Council Türkiye, the project focuses on fostering intercultural understanding and providing a platform for teachers to engage in virtual exchanges that promote global competence in language teaching.

The virtual exchange runs for 8 weeks, during which participants engage in various activities designed to enhance their skills in integrating global themes into language teaching. The program includes guided readings, discussions, material design tasks, and Zoom meetings where participants will collaborate, share insights, and build their e-portfolios. At the end of the program, teachers will receive a ‘Globally-Competent Teacher Skills Passport’, certifying their engagement and accomplishments.

Detailed Weekly Schedule:

Week 1: Introductions (14-20 October)

  • My Identity Web (Due 16 Oct, 10 am BST) – Participants share their personal identity and begin the process of introducing themselves.
  • Choose Your Group (Due 16 Oct, 1 pm BST) – Participants select or are assigned to groups for collaboration.
  • Zoom Session: Let’s Meet (16 Oct, 2 pm BST) – Introduction session where participants meet virtually to discuss their roles and expectations.
  • Global Competence Video (Watch by 20 Oct) – A video introducing the concept of global competence in the context of language teaching.
  • Kerkhoff Global Readiness Article (Read by 20 Oct) – Required reading on global readiness.

Week 2: Explore Your Global Theme (21-27 October)

  • Critical Literacy – Before exploring the theme, participants engage with readings to develop critical thinking and literacy.
  • Global Thinking Routines – Read and watch materials on global thinking routines by 27 Oct.
  • Discussion: What is Culture? (Post by 27 Oct) – Participants explore the concept of culture and share their perspectives.
  • Zoom Session – Exploring global themes and discussing ideas in more depth.

Week 3: Explore Your Global Theme (28 Oct – 3 Nov)

  • Zoom Session: Explore and Discuss Your Global Theme (30 Oct) – A deeper dive into global themes through discussion and reflection.
  • Reporting the Zoom Discussion – After the Zoom session, participants report on the key insights from the discussion.
  • Material Design for Global Competence – Read and watch content related to designing teaching materials focused on global competence.
  • e-Portfolio 1 Submission (Due 3 Nov) – First round of assignments and reflections uploaded to participants’ e-portfolios.

Break Week (4-10 Nov)

  • No tasks are assigned in this week, allowing participants to rest and catch up on previous activities.

Week 4: Listening & Speaking (11-17 November)

  • Task: Design Listening & Speaking Materials – Over the next two weeks, participants work on creating listening and speaking materials related to their global themes.
  • How to Adapt Listening & Speaking Materials for Social Action – Watch a session on adapting materials for meaningful, action-based learning.
  • Plan Listening & Speaking Materials & Social Action Activity – Participants design materials that promote listening, speaking, and social action.
  • Zoom Session: Plan Your Materials (13 Nov) – A session where participants discuss their plans and receive feedback from peers.

Week 5: Listening & Speaking (18-24 November)

  • Finalise and Upload Listening & Speaking Materials – Participants finalize and upload their listening and speaking materials, as well as the social action activities they designed.
  • Group Discussions – Participants engage in discussions with their assigned groups to provide feedback and exchange ideas.

Week 6: Reading & Writing & Assessment/Reflection (25 Nov – 1 Dec)

  • How to Adapt Reading & Writing Materials – Watch a session on adapting reading and writing materials for global learning.
  • How to Assess Global Learning – Learn methods for assessing global competence and how to design assessments for global learning.
  • Zoom Session: Review & Plan Next Steps (27 Nov) – A session to review the progress of participants’ projects and discuss next steps.

Week 7: Reading & Writing & Assessment/Reflection (2-8 Dec)

  • Finalise and Upload All Materials (Due 8 Dec) – Participants complete their e-portfolios, ensuring all materials are uploaded and shared with other groups.
  • Group Discussions – Final group discussions, where participants share their completed work and provide final reflections.

Week 8: Celebration! (9-13 December)

  • Zoom Session: Let’s Celebrate! (11 Dec) – A celebratory meeting where participants reflect on their journey, accomplishments, and growth.
  • Global Readiness Survey (Complete by 13 Dec) – Participants are asked to fill out the Global Readiness survey again to reflect on their progress throughout the program.
  • e-Portfolio 2 Submission (Due 15 Dec) – Final e-portfolio submission, summarizing their work and the insights gained during the program.

Key Points:

  • The program offers a blend of self-paced learning (readings, videos) and live interaction (Zoom discussions and group tasks).
  • It emphasizes collaboration through group activities and discussions, where participants share resources, ideas, and feedback.
  • Global competence is central to the course, with an emphasis on creating materials that incorporate cultural diversity, critical thinking, and social action.
  • Participants will complete two e-portfolios to track progress and reflect on their development as globally-competent educators.

This virtual exchange offers a structured yet flexible learning experience, allowing language teachers to grow both professionally and personally while contributing to the internationalization of higher education.

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