CLIL Methodology Overview

CLIL Methodology

• CLIL methodology combines content and language learning.
• Guiding principles and lesson planning are crucial aspects of CLIL.
• Three types of bilingual education exist: Immersion, CLIL, and Submersion.

Guiding Principles

• Immersion education focuses on teaching a country's other language (e.g., in Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Finland, Switzerland, Slovenia, and the UK), where a language which is not the larger society's language is used for instruction.
• Submersion education aims for linguistic and cultural integration of migrants (linguistic minority). The majority language is used here.
• CLIL lessons integrate content and language seamlessly. Focus is on subject knowledge and language proficiency improvement.

Lesson Planning

• Ensure that the focus of the lesson integrates content and language.
• Lessons should have components for content progression, communication (which is needed for the content learning and for general communication), and cognition.
• Culture should also be considered as a component in planning the lesson.
• CLIL lessons use Coyle's 4Cs framework for planning, which includes Content, Communication, Cognition, and Culture (Community/Citizenship). Specific questions to consider for each component are given in the slides.

CLIL 4Cs

• Content: Identify the central subject matter/topic.
• Communication: Determine which language will be used, analyze the language for communication in that lesson.
• Cognition: What higher-order thinking skills are needed for that specific topic?
• Culture (Community/Citizenship): Is there a cultural focus in the lesson?

Classroom Principles

• Language is used for learning and communication.
• The subject matter determines the language needed.

CLIL Strategies

• Holistic educational experience is critical for sustainable learning
• Clear, meaningful, and authentic goals should be set.
• Scaffolding and building support structure are vital.
• Involve students through rich interaction and collaborative tasks.
• Adapt to varying cognitive levels (use higher order thinking skills).
• Acknowledge the classroom culture and inter-cultural dimension.
• Support students' learning.
• Evaluate and reflect upon the lesson and learning.

CLIL Core Components

• Input: Authentic, meaningful, and challenging material.
• Tasks: Higher order thinking, student interaction, authentic communication, subject-specific study skills.
• Output: Cross-cultural communication, fluency, accuracy, and complexity. BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) and CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) interplay is vital for successful CLIL.

CLIL Lesson Framework

• Content and language are equally important in CLIL lessons.
• The lesson usually follows a four-stage framework. A suggested CLIL framework is described, including tasks, media choice, and topic selection.

CLIL Advantages

• Multi-focal lesson planning where content, communication, cognition, and culture are connected.
• Higher-order thinking skills are part of the CLIL lessons.
• Scaffolding, learning strategies, and study skills are vital parts of planning and teaching.
• Multi-modal input in CLIL lessons accounts for individual learning styles.
• Flexible interaction/cooperation models are common (individual, paired, group).
• Intercultural communication is a consideration.

Teacher Needs for CLIL

Both subject teachers and language teachers need preparation and confidence to successfully use CLIL.

Additional Characteristics for teachers with ELT backgrounds

• Integrate language and skills (receptive and productive)
• Use reading and listening texts as foundational.
• Focus on functional language (determined by context), not just structural elements.
• Focus on lexical (vocabulary) approaches rather than grammar rules.
• Account for different learner styles when creating tasks.