Content and Learning Integrated Learning - CLIL

What is CLIL?

Content and Language Integrated Learning is a dual-focused educational approach in which an additianal language is used for the learning and teaching of both content and language. 

CLIL is not a new form of language education. It is not a new form of subject education. It is an innovative fusion of both.

The term CLIL is enclusive in that it brinds together the essence of good practice found in the different environemts where its principles have been adopted.

Why is CLIL relevant to contemporary education?

The forces of global change, converging technologies and adaptability to the subsequent Knowledge Age present challenges for education. And within education as a whole, theu present challenges for the teaching and learning of additional languages.

Young people growing up with this technology are prone to developing a mindset to which educators need to respond.

An alternative approach for using language to learn

• Language OF learning

Is an analysis of language needed for learners to access basic concepts and skills relating to the subject theme or topic. It reveals the need to acquire language specific to subject and thematic content. For the language teacher this means shifting linguistic progression from a dependency on grammatical levels of difficulty towards functional levels of difficulty demanded by the content. For the subject teacher it requires greater explicit awareness of the linguistic demands of the subject or content to take account of literacy and oracy in the vehicular language.

• Language FOR learning: 

Focuses on the kind of language needed to operate in a foreign language environment. Learners need strategies to enable them to use the foreign language effectively. Planning is a prerequisite for effective scaffolding, in CLIL settings this means that the learner will need to be supported in developing skills such as pair groups, asking questions, debating...

          

• Language THROUGH learning:

Is based on the principle that effective learning cannot take place without active involvement of language and thinking. When learners are encouraged to articulate their understandings, then a deeper level of learning takes place. The CLIL classroom demands a level of talk.

The 4Cs Framework

The 4 Cs Framework integrates four contextualized building blocks: content (subject), communication (language learning), cognition (thinking processes) and culture (citizenship). In so doing, it takes account of integrating content learning and language learning within specific contexts and acknowledges the symbiotic reñationship that exists between these elements.

* I have answered a number of questions related to the CLIL method. Now I ask you a question:

"Why is CLIL relevant to the teaching profession?"

I hope you enjoy it! =)