Uncovering CLIL – Introduction

Peeter Mehisto, Maria-Jesus Frigols, David Marsh

Uncovering CLIL is for the reader who wants a practical insight into how the learning of both content and a second language can be combined into a single educational experience.

It is for those who want to further their understanding of on-the-ground practice of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). They may be working with younger children at primary level; or with older age groups in secondary or vocational schools. The reader may also be a parent, an administrator or a researcher interested in education.

We live in a time of innovation, and new ways of living and working. This often involves changing the way we do things. Across our societies we can see integration replacing fragmentation. This process is creating fusion between sectors that may have been quite separate in the past.

CLIL is one example of this process. It invites convergence between the learning of content and language. It enables educators to move away from fragmentation, whereby we handle subjects as separate areas.

We have known for a long time that teaching languages and other subjects separate from one another, in a vacuum, does not produce optimal outcomes. Both language and content teachers have already made important strides in revitalizing their teaching for this modern age within and even across their subjects. CLIL provides the opportunity to go a step further. It creates fusion between content and language across subjects and encourages independent and co-operative learning, while building common purpose and forums for lifelong development. This provides significant added value for language learning.

Fusion can be found throughout the world. The information and communication sectors are integrating technologies in direct response to social demand. Phones now provide photographic, navigational and a wide range of media features, alongside Internet access. Yet, they also remain true to the original purpose for which they were created.

Entertainment is following the same trend. Cirque du Soleil has emerged as a new fusion far removed from the traditional concept of a circus. It has synthesized circus styles from around the world, integrating acrobatics, dance and theatre; as well as new technologies; into one single scripted theme. Fusion has become a fact of life. The fusion in CLIL has emerged to help young people build integrated knowledge and skills for this increasingly integrated world.

The eight chapters in this book, Uncovering CLIL, quickly move from the initial why to do CLIL and guide the reader towards the how to do CLIL.

Approaching CLIL describes the rise of CLIL in modern education and offers some practical models. Getting ready for CLIL takes the reader closer to the core features of CLIL methodology. This is then followed by Starting CLIL in the classroom, which translates CLIL methodology into practice at the primary, secondary and vocational levels. Putting CLIL in motion examines how to provide language support in content learning, and content support in language learning. Opening windows for personal achievement describes how teachers and students can take greater control of the learning process and improve outcomes. Making CLIL come alive is about connectivity – connecting learners, and learning, to the wider world. Cruising with CLIL sums it all up: It takes the reader back to the bigger picture of CLIL, and describes how that bigger picture can positively influence classroom practice. The final chapter, More tools, provides additional materials for implementing CLIL.

ISBN: 9780230027190 * £13.95 * April 2008

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