CLIL in the Context of Foreign Language Teaching

1. Foreign Language Teaching

1.2. Learning a Language or Learning through Language

fltCLIL is one of many approaches and didactic methodologies in foreign language teaching.

Instead of formal language teaching and learning, CLIL offers immediate opportunities for students to use their new language skills; furthermore, it helps achieve the European Union’s language learning goals. 

Aspects of teaching

FL

CLIL

Approach to language learning

Knowledge transmission based

Competence-based

Role in the L2 curriculum

Language-oriented, prat of linguistics

Cross-curricular, part of general development

 

Focus on

Intellectual development only

Holistic development

 

Delivery of materials

Ready-made, pre-prepared

Through problem discovery and problem-solving

 

Teacher´s role

Knowledge transmission

Providing context for productive language use

 

Learner´s role

Receptive, receiving materials from a teacher

The learner is an agent of their learning

 

Classroom interactions

Lockstep/frontal/individual

Co-operative

 

Teaching materials and tools

Mainly course books, paper, pen…

Coursebooks and authentic materials, audio-visuals and objects, and tools for producing objects

 

Teacher´s efforts

Does not require special effort

 

Requires devoted and highly qualified professionals

Final Objective

Getting by

Getting better


Key features

FLT

CLIL

conventional

content-based

Objectives and outcomes

language

language

subject content

Performed by

language or class teacher

language or class teacher

subject teacher

Assessed as

language

language

subject

Considered as

language teaching

language teaching

subject teaching

Syllabus

general language purpose

language: CALP

subject content and CALP

Material

language

language-subject

subject

Methodology

FLT

language supportive

language-supportive subject-teaching

source: adapted from Clegg, J., (n.d.) Planning CLIL lessons. Retrieved from http://www.onestopenglish.com/clil/methodology/articles/article-planning-clil-lessons/500472.article