CLIL Methodology Overview

CLIL Methodology

• CLIL methodology combines content and language learning.
• CLIL lessons are not just subject lessons taught in a foreign language, nor are they language lessons.
• The approach focuses equally on content and language.
• A successful CLIL lesson combines content, communication, cognition, and culture, following a four-stage framework.

Guiding Principles

• Teachers should use subject-specific vocabulary.
• Teachers should understand the subject matter and its academic content.
• Teachers need to check student understanding and correct pronunciation of subject-specific vocabulary.
• Teachers need to use appropriate classroom language.
• Subject teachers and language teachers need to be confident in their methodology, selecting materials, planning, and assessing.

Lesson Planning

• Coyle's 4Cs model is used. It involves considering content, communication, cognition, and culture.
• Content: Focuses on the subject topic.
• Communication: Determines relevant science language for students.
• Cognition: Addresses thinking skills needed for the lesson.
• Culture: Focuses on how culture might impact the lesson.
• Language learning in CLIL depends on the subject.
• In CLIL, all four language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) are combined.
• CLIL lessons involve incorporating reading and listening texts/passages.
• Language is functional and is determined by the subject context.
• Language is approached lexically, not grammatically.

Types of Bilingual Education

• Three types exist: Immersion, CLIL, and Submersion.
• Immersion: The target language is used for all subjects with less emphasis on target language instruction.
• CLIL: Content and languages are woven together.
• Submersion: The majority language is used for instruction.

CLIL Founder

• David Marsh, born in Australia, educated in the UK, and now works in Finland is the founder of CLIL.
• He has experience in teacher development, research, and consultancy across various countries (Africa, Europe, and Asia).
• He remains active in issues pertaining to CLIL.

CLIL Strategies

• The CLIL Pyramid, Meyer (2010) framework illustrates a three-stage process.
• Topic Selection leads to Choice of Media and then Task Design.
• The model includes considerations like cognition, communication, outputs, scaffolding, and quality input materials.
• This model combines input, tasks, and output, emphasizing higher-order thinking and cross-cultural communication.

Classroom Principles

• Language is used for both learning and communication.
• The subject matter determines the specific language needs.