Results from an analysis of examples of national curricula in ECML member states at the primary level (Kramar, 2022) showed that content on intercultural and democratic aspects can be found in curricula for foreign languages in primary education. Furthermore, there is evidence that foreign language and home language teachers are very motivated to support the development of intercultural and democratic competences in the school context. However, a lack of materials and methods for teaching competences for democratic culture in language classes at this level has been identified. On the other hand, research shows that such content increases at upper primary level (Göbel & Hesse, 2004; Rühle, 2015).
This project is committed to the implementation of the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (Council of Europe, 2018) with the special focus on the Competences for democratic culture for young learners in language education by developing digital materials and guidelines for the implementation of CDC at primary level. This project supports the development of learner´s competences for democratic culture for children under the age of 10 in the grades 1-4 based on the Descriptors of Competences for Democratic Culture for Young Learners (Council of Europe, 2021) not only in foreign language classes, but also in classes of the language of schooling and home languages. It follows from this that plurilingual activities on CDC act as a bridge between the languages of schooling and foreign languages. encouraging collaboration between teachers of different languages. In the longer term, this project aims not only to empower young people by developing competences for a democratic culture and promoting the linguistic and cultural diversity of society, but also to contribute to strengthening civil society and social justice.