Teaching Future-Ready Skills in World Language Classes

As a Spanish teacher, my focus for many years was solely on teaching the content and language skills I wanted my students to develop. However, after teaching about artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies in my STEAM course, I thought about how similar learning experiences could better prepare my students. World language teachers can help their students learn the language in more engaging and immersive ways, while also building essential future-ready skills in the process. 

Future-ready skills

The World Economic Forum’s list of the most in-demand job skills is updated every few years to reflect shifts in the world of work. I consistently use this list to reflect on my chosen teaching methods. The 2025 Future of Jobs Report predicts that by 2027, the most sought-after skills will be the following:

• Analytical thinking
• Creative thinking
• Motivation and self-awareness
• AI and big data
• Leadership and social influence
• Resilience, agility, and flexibility
• Curiosity and lifelong learning
• Technological literacy
• Design and user experience
• Empathy and active listening

I began to look at my classroom through the lens of how I could weave these skills into the activities we do in our classroom. For example, I started by shifting my classroom from rows of desks to learning stations. I then tried different methods that enabled me to step aside and place students in the lead more. By using learning stations, collaborative activities, and digital tools, and by promoting more student choice in our classroom activities and the tools that we used for learning, I saw the impact on my students. And more important, students told me about the impact they experienced as a result.

Building future-ready skills in a language classroom

Analytical and creative thinking. Students must understand how to break down problems, how to evaluate the information they receive, and what to do with it. Sometimes, this is possible through creativity, even though educators and students may not feel creative at times. Involving students in design thinking challenges or leveraging multimedia tools for digital storytelling can spark creativity. 

In my Spanish classes, which range from levels I through IV, I encourage students to create podcasts or videos, collaborate on skits, or use traditional tools to express their ideas in creative formats. Book Creator, Canva, or Delightex (formerly CoSpaces Edu) are great options. These help spark creativity and become artifacts of student learning that can be shared with other students as learning materials.

Another good way to help students build these skills is through project-based learning, which presents real-world challenges requiring critical thinking, research, and evidence-based decision-making. I focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to broaden students’ cultural awareness and make learning more meaningful. I also promote discussions and debates in the classroom to extend their thinking and further develop these essential skills. Students learn new vocabulary in the target language and build communication and collaboration skills throughout the experience.

Motivation and self-awareness. Learning can be tough sometimes, and students may lack motivation if they fear making mistakes. Students can hesitate to take risks in the classroom and recognize their learning potential. Teachers can build a supportive classroom community by providing opportunities for students to reflect on their learning and employ various methods that promote collaboration with and feedback from peers.

Over the years, reflective practices like weekly goal setting, self-evaluations, and engaging in discussions with students about their learning progress have made a difference. I have used something as simple as a Google Form to gather their feedback and reflections. I’ve also used Snorkl, which enables students to record their responses to an activity and share their thought process, which helps with reflecting on learning. Wakelet is a great way for students to track progress by creating their digital portfolios or curating resources that help students learn the content and reflect on their growth by seeing the progression of their work.

AI and big data. AI and data analytics are transforming every industry. AI literacy is a fundamental skill that students must have, and the best place to learn about AI is in our classrooms. Students must understand how AI works, its benefits, and its ethical considerations. Younger students can start with activities available through ISTE, CodeMonkey, or MIT’s Scratch AI and build up to discussions and debates about the impact of AI on privacy, bias, and employment. 

In my Spanish and STEAM classes, students use chatbots and AI-powered tools that are safe for student use and that help them understand how AI works and its impact on learning. In my Spanish class, we use School AI and MagicSchool AI for language practice that is personalized to each student. I create a custom chatbot or use other options to provide opportunities for students to interact with AI in the target language and receive immediate feedback and support.

In addition to the benefits for students, these tools offer many resources for educators to create instructional materials, and I appreciate being able to place AI in the hands of students to learn safe, ethical, and responsible use. When students engage with these tools, they understand how AI can enhance and not replace learning.

Leadership and social influence. For years, I kept myself in the front of the classroom: The class consisted of nearly 42 minutes of me talking at and not with the students. However, I finally took a risk and moved away from the front. I have my students take turns peer-teaching in small groups. In my Spanish classes, students design lessons and games with tools like Edpuzzle, Kahoot, and Nearpod. Other students use paper and make up their own activities to teach the class. It not only develops their leadership skills and builds confidence in the classroom but also fosters the development of those skills outside the classroom. These experiences are what students need to be prepared for the future.

Over the past 10 years, my teaching style has changed a lot. I realized the importance of creating new ways to learn the content that would align with the in-demand competencies. My focus on the skills outlined by the World Economic Forum prompted me to shift to student-centered and student-led learning.

Introducing more collaborative activities and using various digital tools has helped promote the development of essential skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and leadership. Making these shifts helps ensure that all students are prepared for the changes in education and future careers.