Content&Language v2
Content&Language v2
CLPI AICLE Iniciaci Primria Carme Florit Ballester CLSI AICLE Iniciaci Secundria Joan Alberich Carramiana Departament dEnsenyament
Content is a subject or a part of a subject from the school curriculum, such as:
Geography, History, Economy Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry Music, Art, Art History
Content is also a project based on topical issues drawing together different aspects of the curriculum, for example:
Global warming Ecosystems The industrial revolution The Olympic Games
Content is also a cross-curricular or interdisciplinary study involving various disciplines to build knowledge, such as:
Climate change Water in the world Global communication Learning accross continents
CLIL teachers will decide what is more appropriate for learners depending on variables such: Teacher availability at schools Language input Age of learners Social environment School context
Traditionally, most people were taught within a teacher centered model: The expert (teacher) deposits information and skills into the memory of the novice (learner) It is a teacher controlled and a teacher led methodology
Nowadays, we tend to teach within a student centered model: Based on social constructivism It is an interactive and student-led learning Learning is supported by experts (teachers, other learners or resources)
Social Constructivism Approach features Teachers role involve facilitating cognitive challenge Learners must be cognitively engaged Teachers should consider how to actively involve learners with group work, student questioning and problem solving: active learning approach
Modelling
Guided practice
Practice or application
Effective content learning has to take account not only of the defined knowledge and skills within the curriculum or thematic plan, but also how to apply these through creative thinking, problem solving and cognitive challenge.
(Coyle, Hood and Marsh, (2010) CLIL. CUP p 29)
CLIL is NOT simply "translating" content learning from the firstlanguage into another language. So we need to investigate what is language learning in CLIL.
In traditional foreign language learning contexts, the learning of the new language was based on: grammar progression reading of texts audio-lingual methods more recently, communicative approaches
Communicative approaches are based on theories of language learning requiring a focus on meaning as well as focus on form (grammar).
The communicative approach has lead to theories which suggest that language learning includes language using and therefore, emphasizes the importance of using language in authentic interactive settings in order to develop communicative skills, rather than focusing exclusively on grammar.
(Savignon, S.(2004) Language, identity and curriculum design: Communicative language teaching in the 21st century, in van Esch, C. and St.John, O.(ed.) (2004) New Insights in Foreign Language Learning and teaching, Frankfurt am Main:Peter Lang, pp 71-88) mentioned in Coyle et al 2010
Then, an alternative approach could be the one offered by Coyle, Hood and Marsh (2010, p 35) :
In CLIL settings, it is necessary for learners to progress systematically in both their content learning and their language learning and using, so using language to learn is as important as learning to use language.
But, as we know, in CLIL settings there is a difference in levels between the cognitive competence and the linguistic competence. Many CLIL learners have a cognitive level higher than their linguistic level of the vehicular CLIL language. So, what can we do to allow our learners to access language fully and use it?
CLIL teachers need to give a special support for language, and, therefore, plan language carefully, analysing what kind of language learners will be using. Teachers have to make explicit the interrelationship between content objectives and language objectives.
The Language Triptych (Coyle, 2002) could help us to integrate cognitively demanding content with language learning and using.
Language of learning
3. APPLY: language THROUGH learning new language which grows from the learning to the recycling of language.
Language OF learning
Language needed for learners to access basic concepts and skills relating to the subject theme or topic: KEY WORDDS and STRUCTURES. Learners need to acquire language specific to subject (eg language of science, language of mathematics, language of geography):
Curriculum Discourse
How do students practise their new language and recycle familiar language?
Have we prioritized the language for learning in this unit in relation to the content? (i.e. what students need to know at which stage of the content e.g. focus on developing reasoning, making a case)
Is the language which is used to assess the learning accessible to the learners?
Coyle, Hood and Marsh, 2010. CLIL. Cambridge University Press
THROUGH
Why: Cognition (thinking)
OF
What: Content
FOR
How: Meta-cognition and grammar system