This document provides an overview of content-based instruction (CBI). It defines CBI as using comprehensible input to help students acquire both content knowledge and language skills. The key characteristics of CBI are using real communication, meaningful tasks, and language that is meaningful to learners. The goal of CBI is to prepare students to acquire language in the context of learning subject matter. In CBI, students imitate teachers, read repeated words, and respond verbally or nonverbally. Teachers control student behavior, provide a model, and direct language use. Techniques include memorizing dialogues, substitution drills, repetition drills, and response drills.