Climate Across the Curriculum

This study aims to build a case for Climate Across the Curriculum (CAC) at the University of Kentucky, that is, embedding climate education in coursework across the university curriculum, in all fields of study. As specialists in Second Language Acquisition, Foreign Language Pedagogy, and Instructional Design, we propose to develop world language training modules for novice and intermediate-level (1st-4th semester) learners of German, Japanese, and Russian language on topics related to climate, energy, and sustainable development. We will employ these innovative language training modules in Fall '23 classes as part of an empirical study of the effects of studying climate, energy and sustainability in world language courses on learner attitudes toward climate action. In addition to authoring the language training modules, we will develop a survey instrument to measure learner attitudes about climate action. We will run the survey test on students of our target languages (German, Japanese, Russian) at the start and conclusion of the semester to determine to what extent learning about topics in climate, energy and sustainability may alter learner attitudes toward climate change and climate action. We will also compare these results with student surveys conducted in other language classes that are not part of this project (e.g. French, Chinese, Arabic). We hypothesize that learners who engage with direct climate education during their study of foreign languages and cultures will demonstrate improved motivation to take action against climate change; will have reduced anxiety about climate change; and will perceive themselves to be more equipped to tackle the challenges of the upcoming energy transition.