- CLIL stands for Content and Language Integrated Learning, an educational approach where subjects are taught in a foreign language to support learning of both content and language simultaneously. - In CLIL, students learn language through interesting and relevant topics rather than focusing primarily on grammar. This can increase student motivation. - CLIL uses a "top-down" approach where students leverage existing knowledge of a topic in their native language to help learn about that same topic in a foreign language. This makes the learning process faster and more useful than a "bottom-up" grammar-focused approach.

1. ❧
CLIL
Content and Language Integrated Learning

2. ❧
❧ The term CLIL was coined by David
Marsh, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
(1994): "CLIL refers to situations where
subjects, or parts of subjects, are taught
through a foreign language with dual-
focused aims, namely the learning of
content and the simultaneous learning of
a foreign language."
What is CLIL?

3. ❧
❧ The approach is topic focused and the
students learn the language through the
content. When the content is interesting
and relevant to their other studies,
students may be more motivated than
when the focus is on the nuts and bolts of
the language (i.e. grammar).
Advantages in the use of CLIL

4. ❧
❧ By using topics that they are familiar with
and, if possible, that they have recently
studied in their mother tongue, students
will be able to learn more as they will
already know a lot of the content and
context. This familiarity enables them to
pay attention to details that they would
otherwise miss.
Advantages in the use of CLIL

5. ❧
❧ Rather than starting with the small and
building to the large, it works the other
way around. This ‘top-down’ approach,
using existing knowledge, contextual clues
and overall meaning is almost certainly
faster and probably a more useful way of
learning, than a ‘bottom-up’ approach.
Advantages in the use of CLIL

6. ❧
❧ Many English language teachers worry
about using CLIL materials because they
feel they don’t have the background
knowledge of the subject.
Disadvantages in the use of
CLIL

7. ❧
❧ Another potential disadvantage is the view
that other subject teachers might take, for
example: 'Why doesn’t the English teacher
stick to teaching English and leave my
subject to me?’
Disadvantages in the use of
CLIL

8. ❧
❖ The basis of CLIL is that content subjects are taught
and learnt in a language which is not the mother
tongue of the learners.
❖ Knowledge of the language becomes the means of
learning content.
❖ Language is integrated into the broad curriculum.
❖ Reading is the essential skill.
❖ CLIL is based on language acquisition rather than
enforced learning.
How Does CLIL Work?

9. ❧
❖ In intial lessons, the center of attention is on the
language the students use or learn.
❖ Language is seen in real-life situations in which
students can acquire the language. This is natural
language development which builds on other forms
of learning.
❖ CLIL is long-term learning. Students become
academically proficient in English after 5-7 years in
a good bilingual programme.
How Does CLIL Work?

10. ❧
❖ Fluency is more important than accuracy and
errors are a natural part of language learning.
Learners develop fluency in English by using
English to communicate for a variety of purposes.
❖ Learning is improved through increased motivation
and the study of natural language seen in context.
When learners are interested in a topic they are
motivated to acquire language to communicate.
❖ L1 may be used to explain, if necessary.
How Does CLIL Work?

11. ❧
❏ Content-Based Teaching
Concentrates on the topic or subject matter. During the lesson students
are focused on learning about something.
❏ Communicative Approach
Emphasizes interaction as both the means and the ultimate goal of study.
❏ Lexical Approach
An important part of learning a language consists of being able to
understand and produce lexical phrases.
❏ Humanistic Approach
Gives great importance to background knowledge, experiences and
values of the individuals.
CLIL focuses on

12. ❧
Read the fallowing text:
A small example
The miniskirt is a skirt whose hemline is high above the knees (generally 200-300 mm
above knee-level). Its existence is generally credited to the fashion designer Mary
Quant, who was inspired by the Mini Cooper automobile, although André Courrèges
is also often cited as its inventor, and there is disagreement as to who invented it
first.

13. ❧
Ask your students to look for lexis related to the subject, fixed expressions, collocation and
other lexis
A small example
The miniskirt is a skirt whose hemline is high above the knees (generally 200-300 mm
above knee-level). Its existence is generally credited to the fashion designer Mary
Quant, who was inspired by the Mini Cooper automobile, although André Courrèges
is also often cited as its inventor, and there is disagreement as to who invented it
first.

14. ❧
A small Example