Intercultural Education and the Teaching of English to Young Learners in Portugal: Developing Materials and Activities

Abstract

Especially for the last two decades, vast international research and work has been done in the field of intercultural education, highlighting its major role in the context of a globalized, multicultural and interconnected world. Moreover, the role of intercultural education in language education has been discussed and studied and its importance in the development of interculturally competent citizens has been acknowledged. Aware of this situation, intercultural education guidelines, specifically in Europe, have encouraged the implementation of educational policies in this regard. However, despite those guidelines and recommendations, there is still a lack of awareness and knowledge on the part of language teachers and other education stakeholders. Therefore, this work intends to go through significant literature on the matter and raise awareness to the need of promoting intercultural communicative competence, and intercultural attitudes in particular. Furthermore, this work aims at exploring the mutual beneficial relationship between intercultural education and English language teaching to young learners in Portugal, taking advantage of their young age to build responsible adults and engaged citizens. Finally, this work seeks to make suggestions of materials and activities that can address intercultural education in the aforementioned context.