Content And Language Integrated Learning Instruction Research Articles

STEAM pedagogy in foreign language education: An endeavour to broaden CLIL pedagogy through 6E’s framework

This study addressed the dilemma in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) teaching. It argued that a STEAM pedagogy (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) can inform and broaden CLIL pedagogy through 6E’s framework (engage, explore, explain, engineer, enrich, and evaluate). The authors first theoretically highlighted how STEAM pedagogy addressed some of the issues concerning CLIL instruction and showed that 6E’s framework cohered with the 4C’s (culture, content, cognition, and communication) of pluriliteracies approach to CLIL. We then actuated this conceptualization through a case study exploring Indonesian EFL learners’ engagement in 16-meeting CLIL lessons by examining their multidimensional learning experiences, affectivity, and emotionality. Data were oriented to the contextual variables of effective learning from learners’ standpoint and collected through Academic Emotion Questionnaire (AEQ), language learning attitude battery, and reflection sheet distributed to 204 college learners in six CLIL classes with 6E’s framework. The findings demonstrated the potency of 6E’s framework to provide vital scaffolding for discipline-specific literacies through scientific inquiry in language learning. The framework stimulated intensive multidimensional learning, positive academic emotions, and positive attitudes toward CLIL lessons. Students’ reflections underscored how the framework paved engaging authentic language tasks and science projects as essential drives for intrinsic motivation to learn content and language despite limited linguistic repertoires.

The Application of STEAM Education in CLIL--A Case Study of Halloween Jack-O'-Lantern

In recent years, there has been a promotion and emphasis on CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. The integration of interdisciplinary concepts and applications in English classrooms has brought new value and significance to English teaching. This study aims to investigate the students’ perceptions by STEAM-Integrated CLIL instruction into English Classroom, a Halloween Jack-O-Lantern as an example. The participations were eight freshman students from different department in a university in central of Taiwan. Through a survey, the research aims to analyze different aspects of STEAM and assess the effectiveness of English learning outcomes. The results indicated that the students were satisfied with the application of STEAM education in CLIL instruction in English classroom.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in European Higher Education

The following article discusses Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in European higher education, which has become popular in recent years due to the status of English as a foreign language. Firstly, the difference between CLIL and English Medium Instruction (EMI) is explained, then CLIL modules in higher education are presented. Furthermore, CLIL special pedagogy in higher education is described. The subsequent section is devoted to the benefits and challenges of CLIL in higher education as listed in the literature; finally, insight into research on language in the CLIL higher education context is addressed. The data presented in the article is based on an in-depth literature review and research conducted in higher education institutions in Europe. The findings show that even though CLIL has become a popular approach in higher education in recent years, adapting this concept has been a great challenge due to the very little preparation, proper methodological training and complex linguistic learning situations.

Content-specific vocabulary in CLIL: Exploring L2 learning outcomes in a primary education programme in Catalonia

The present study seeks to explore the effects of participating in a content and language integrated learning (CLIL) programme in terms of second language (L2) content-specific vocabulary learning in a primary education school. CLIL instruction has been found to benefit the development of English L2 vocabulary, more receptive than productive. Nonetheless, little is known on content-specific vocabulary learning in CLIL and how it is supported through classroom input with young learners. We explore the impact of a 4-week CLIL programme implemented in a Catalan primary education school with a group of 16 Catalan/Spanish first language (L1) children, aged 10–11 years. Vocabulary learning was measured by means of ad hoc tests, designed on the basis of the input from the CLIL materials and targeting vocabulary depth and breadth. The results indicate that CLIL instruction positively impacted children’s depth and breadth of content-specific vocabulary knowledge. More specifically, the children experienced a significant improvement both in their receptive and productive knowledge of word meaning and form with regard to content-specific lexis. Moreover, with regard to children’s productive vocabulary knowledge as elicited through a written content task, statistical improvement was found in terms of lexical diversity and sophistication, but not lexical density. We argue for the need to use input profiled assessment instruments to appraise L2 vocabulary gains in CLIL.

Development of second language productive skills through CLIL in a Japanese university: a pre-experimental longitudinal study

Abstract The benefit of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) for second language (L2) development has been addressed by second language acquisition theory and investigated by empirical studies. However, previous studies have not demonstrated the effectiveness of CLIL precisely as most of their study participants took CLIL and non-CLIL courses concurrently. Additionally, existing studies have focused on the effectiveness of CLIL in primary and secondary education and rarely addressed it in higher education. The present study considered the limitations of the previous studies and investigated the development of L2 English productive skills (i.e., speaking and writing) through CLIL conducted in a university in Japan. This study employed a pre-experimental pretest-posttest design, in which all participants received CLIL instruction for four months undertaking the pretest and posttest. The results showed that their productive skills improved significantly. The analysis of pretest and posttest scores also revealed the specific areas of productive skills that benefitted from CLIL, such as Task Achievement (speaking and writing), Coherence and Cohesion (writing), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (writing). However, this study revealed that the degree of improvement was small, and that vocabulary and critical thinking skills did not improve significantly. This study’s findings provide empirical evidence for the effectiveness of CLIL itself on L2 development in higher education.

A comparative study of CLIL implementation in upper secondary school in Sweden and students’ development of L2 English academic vocabulary

Although research on content and language integrated learning (CLIL) has shown that CLIL instruction may enhance students’ second or foreign language learning compared to regular foreign language instruction, there are also studies that have indicated similar language development between CLIL and non-CLIL students. However, CLIL can be organized and implemented in many different ways and thus, it is necessary to identify the specific features of various CLIL contexts when comparing learning outcomes. In this study, CLIL implementation at three Swedish upper secondary schools was explored and compared. Further, students’ development of second language (L2) English productive academic vocabulary was compared over three years between CLIL groups at different schools as well as between CLIL and non-CLIL groups ( n = 230), using corpus-based methods. The results revealed significant differences in the progression of L2 academic vocabulary between CLIL groups that may be attributed to substantial differences in CLIL implementation, e.g. with regard to the time allotted for CLIL, teacher availability and the balance between first language (L1) and L2. At the school where the CLIL group’s L2 productive academic vocabulary progressed more than in other groups, both Swedish and English were languages of instruction, increasing the proportion of English over the three years; in the third year, English dominated as the language of instruction. The results indicated similar development of L2 academic vocabulary between CLIL and non-CLIL groups when CLIL implementation was very limited in scale and scope. Further, the results showed that apart from vocabulary, CLIL teachers of non-language subjects generally paid very little attention to other aspects of language.

Vietnamese Learners’ Reactions to Content and Language Integrated Learning Programs at a public university

One of the important goals of Vietnamese tertiary education is the acquisition of CLIL (Content-and-language integrated Learning) skills. In order to be successful on the national and international labor market, tertiary education students need to acquire both English as an international language skills and discipline-specific knowledge and skills at high functional levels. This paper reports study results using a quantitative method in which data were collected from a questionnaire from students in CLIL programs at a public university in Vietnam. The findings will provide additional relevant research evidence on student perceptions of CLIL instruction practices in Vietnam which could contribute to the sustainability and future development of dual-focused programs.

What key stakeholders think about CLIL programmes: Commonalities and differences of perspective

The goal of this study is to critically discuss some of the most controversial issues affecting the characterization and implementation practices of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) programmes from key stakeholders' perspective (teachers, learners and parents). The focus will be placed on examining their voices on what CLIL education actually means, its alleged potential benefits in terms of enhanced L2 competence and increased L2 exposure and use, whether content knowledge is improved by CLIL instruction, whether content is emphasised over language in CLIL assessment and, lastly, whether teachers and learners feel motivated and satisfied with the CLIL experience. With this in mind, and based on methodological triangulation, this paper follows a mixed-method research design for investigating the commonalities and differences of perspective. The stakeholders' voices we draw on in this paper largely coincide with most expectations and with what has been reported in the CLIL literature, though, surprisingly, not all view the need for L2 exposure and use in CLIL classes in the same way. On the whole, CLIL is positively evaluated by all stakeholders, provided these educational programmes are well articulated and effectively implemented in practice, although there is always room for further quality improvement and teacher training.

RECEPTIVE VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN CLIL INSTRUCTION

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) has recently attracted the attention of practitioners in the language teaching field. As the name suggests, CLIL is an approach built upon teaching content-based area through a language as a medium. For such a language learning process, one of the important language aspects is vocabulary. The number of words language learners know - vocabulary size - and how well they know those words - vocabulary depth - (overall, the receptive dimension of word knowledge) are crucial foci to consider in language learning. Therefore, the primary concern of the present study is to examine the effects of the CLIL approach on the receptive vocabulary knowledge of university students in a state university. Accordingly, Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT) by Schmitt, Schmitt and Clapham (2001) and Word Association Test (WAT) by Read (2000) are administered to the participants before and after CLIL treatment. The findings indicated that the subjects’ size of vocabulary knowledge has significantly differed with CLIL instruction in time, which means that CLIL instruction has been found to be successful for developing both general and academic vocabulary knowledge. Similarly, an increase in the depth of vocabulary knowledge of participants alongside with the CLIL instruction has been observed, indicating that participants’ quality of vocabulary knowledge evaluated through WAT seems to have improved with CLIL treatment. Further research including less frequent words as well as the productive aspect of word knowledge might shed light on the impacts of CLIL treatment on vocabulary development of language learners, especially university students.
 
 <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0726/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Challenges in the Implementation of CLIL in Higher Education: From ESP to CLIL in the Tourism Classroom

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) has often been touted as an effective means of enhancing the language proficiency gains among its learners due to its focus on content over form and higher cognitive demand. However, cautions have been raised regarding the varying conditions and contexts that need to be taken into consideration in order to ensure its effectiveness. This study aimed to analyze the outcome of switching from an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) program to a CLIL program in the fourth and fifth semesters of the School of Tourism at the University of Azuay. Study participants were randomly divided into two groups: a CLIL (experimental) and a non-CLIL group (control), where the former received CLIL instruction and the latter received ESP instruction for an average of five hours per week over a period of two consecutive semesters. The findings revealed no significant increases in language proficiency or differences in achievement between the two groups, thus suggesting that the starting language level of learners influenced the results of the CLIL program.

The effects of CLIL on content knowledge in monolingual contexts

ABSTRACTThe adoption of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in Spain has affected educational spending and introduced modifications in learning and assessment procedures for students. While positive effects are noticeable in terms of language learning, evidence concerning the impact on non-linguistic subject areas has been less forthcoming. This study, which forms part of the wider MON-CLIL investigation into CLIL instruction in monolingual areas of Spain, aims to contribute to the developing body of knowledge by comparing academic performance in science in primary education and natural science in compulsory secondary education. In addition to comparing school results for a sample of 93 public, charter (semi-private) and private primary students and 139 public and charter secondary students (total = 232), this study also involved a stepwise discriminant analysis with other potential intervening variables in order to determine the extent to which differences might be due to instruction type or to other factors. Significant differences were detected between certain school types in favour of non-CLIL groups in primary education, while differences also existed between public secondary groups in favour of CLIL. These findings seem to indicate that CLIL instruction had no detrimental effects on the science learning of the secondary learners participating in the study.

CLIL and Productive Vocabulary Acquisition in the Czech Context

This paper sheds light on productive vocabulary development in classes of CLIL (content and language integrated learning). Participants in the study were pupils of lower-secondary school (aged 11-15) in the Czech Republic having experienced CLIL instruction in History or Civics. The investigation was aimed at measuring vocabulary acquisition gained during a year of CLIL. Half of the pupils in the experimental group already had one year of CLIL experience prior to the experiment; the second half of the pupils started with CLIL at the time of the experiment. Both of these groups were compared to one another as well as to a control group with no CLIL instruction. Data collection instruments were created on the basis of standardized Laufer & Nation’s vocabulary levels tests (Laufer & Nation, 1999). As it turned out, previous experience with CLIL as well as the role of the teacher were significant factors. The study points out differences in productive vocabulary development in CLIL in terms of a one-to-two-year time frame. The role of the teacher appeared to have an undeniable importance as well. These factors are discussed in terms of language education improvement.

Enhancing critical thinking through active learning

Abstract Today the Framework for 21st Century Learning developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning (P21) is widely recognized and has been used in the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. P21 defines and illustrates the skills and knowledge students need and states that critical thinking is fundamental for twenty-first century success and essential for success in an academic context. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also values the importance of cultivating critical thinking. However, critical thinking is not a part of the EFL curriculum in Japan, and lessons are not focused on the development of meta-cognitive strategies. How do we help students learn foreign languages and twenty-first Century Skills at the same time? Active learning and content and language integrated learning (CLIL) offer such a learning environment where learners enhance their cognitive skills and gain knowledge while they are learning content and language. This paper reports on a study that explores how active learning with CLIL instruction helps Japanese EFL learners to develop critical thinking skills. In the author’s student-centered instruction based class, critical thinking was stimulated with questions based on the revised Bloom’s taxonomy to develop lower and higher order thinking skills while various scaffolding activities were provided. Pretest-posttest results from the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale (CTDS) and the Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) Level Z were compared to determine to what extent, if any, EFL learners developed critical thinking disposition and skills through active learning in CLIL classes. The results of the CTDS and CCTT suggest that active learning has value for increasing critical thinking.

The impact of CLIL instruction on content learning: evidence from the Greek context

The present paper aims to look into the effect of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) instruction on learners' content knowledge. The study took place in a Greek primary school where CLIL has been implemented for the last six years. Two groups of 6th graders participate in the study: an experimental group which is taught geography in English and a control group that is taught geography in Greek. The comparison between the two groups is based on two Geography tests that each group took - the experimental group in English and the control group in Greek. The results of the study indicated significantly superior performance of the experimental group in the first test and slightly inferior performance in the second one. Learners' proficiency level in English seems to affect significantly learners' performance in the content tests at the beginning of the school year. Differences in CLIL performance between students of higher and lower proficiency level in English seem to fade out as the year progresses.

The impact of CLIL instruction on content learning: evidence from the Greek context

The present paper aims to look into the effect of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) instruction on learners' content knowledge. The study took place in a Greek primary school where CLIL has been implemented for the last six years. Two groups of 6th graders participate in the study: an experimental group which is taught geography in English and a control group that is taught geography in Greek. The comparison between the two groups is based on two Geography tests that each group took - the experimental group in English and the control group in Greek. The results of the study indicated significantly superior performance of the experimental group in the first test and slightly inferior performance in the second one. Learners' proficiency level in English seems to affect significantly learners' performance in the content tests at the beginning of the school year. Differences in CLIL performance between students of higher and lower proficiency level in English seem to fade out as the year progresses.

The influence of CLIL on receptive vocabulary: a preliminary study

Empirical studies have shown that Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) seems to be beneficial to receptive vocabulary, which in turn correlates with a higher level of general competence. However, these studies have mainly compared CLIL and Non-CLIL groups matching in age at testing and without a control of other variables such as amount of exposure. The present study, even though exploratory in nature, sets out to fill this gap by comparing groups with the same onset age as well as controlling for other variables. To test general proficiency, the Quick Placement Test (QPT) was used, and the 1,000 and 2,000 frequency bands of the Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT) were delivered to measure functional vocabulary size. CLIL students were found to outstrip their respective Non-CLIL counterparts at the same educational level and to perform as well as an older Non-CLIL sample. Taking together the level of English language lessons and differences in cognitive maturity and amounts of exposure, it is argued that CLIL instruction has intrinsic benefits for receptive vocabulary.

On self-reported use of communication strategies by CLIL learners in primary education

The use of communication strategies (CSs) in oral and written second language (L2) production has been widely investigated (e.g. Muñoz, 2007). As for content and language integrated learning (CLIL) settings, learners seem to resort to the first language (L1) less often than in traditional foreign language instruction (e.g. Celaya & Ruiz de Zarobe, 2010). However, few studies have examined what L2 learners say about their use of CSs by means of questionnaires – e.g. Ehrman & Oxford (1990), with adult English as a foreign language (EFL) learners – and little is known about the reported use of CSs by young learners (Purdie & Oliver, 1999), and much less by young CLIL learners. This study examines learners’ self-reported opinions about the use of CSs (guessing, miming, morphological creativity, dictionary, predicting, paraphrasing, borrowing, calque, foreignizing, avoidance and appeal for assistance). An adapted survey (Kellerman, Bongaerts, & Poulisse, 1987; Oxford, 1989; O’Malley & Chamot, 1990; Yule & Tarone, 1990) was administered to CLIL learners of English in grades 5 and 6 of primary education. Quantitative differences in terms of the type of strategies used were explored. Analyses showed striking similarities between grades 5 and 6 as well as significant differences in the use of the different CSs, paraphrasing and appeal for assistance being the most frequent strategies, whereas morphological creativity and miming obtained the lowest frequency. Findings are discussed in the light of learners’ age and the nature of CLIL instruction.

Good Practices for Primary-Level Content-based Foreign Language Instruction Identified in Finland

This practice-oriented article, also applicable for general foreign and second language instruction, outlines experiences and classroom practices recognized as functional and effective in CLIL (content and language integrated learning) contexts. CLIL can be defined as a comprehensive approach to foreign language teaching because it aims at learning language through various content across the curriculum. Since one of the guidelines in the Finnish basic education is teacher autonomy, the fluctuation in materials, practices and methods is notable. Therefore, there is no sole authenticated model of CLIL implementation, but the practices rather vary significantly from one classroom to another. Furthermore, the extent of the target language (TL) exposure has an impact on the instructional choices as well as the pre-negotiated and defined learning objectives. In most cases, the primary aim is that the child learns to read and write in the mother tongue or the main language of instruction (most often Finnish in Finland), and the target language (in this case English) is gradually and increasingly incorporated into the everyday classroom practice. Hence, instruction is bilingual. Research on foreign language teaching and learning helps to formulate some of the recurring linguistic practices in CLIL classrooms which is important in shaping the language used for social purposes. The integration of language and content and academic language need special attention in CLIL. In a similar manner, assessment of the target language, has to be specifically addressed. I will touch upon all these issues in the three main sections drawing on CLIL instruction with approximately 25% English exposure of total instruction.

Analysis of accuracy in the writing of EFL students enrolled on CLIL and non-CLIL programmes: the impact of grade and gender

ABSTRACTThis paper examines written language accuracy in a content and language integrated learning (CLIL) and a non-CLIL instruction context including grade and gender in the analysis. Essays written by 393 third and fourth year CLIL and non-CLIL secondary education students were evaluated by two measures of second language (L2) accuracy: error-free sentence ratio and errors per word ratio. Errors were analysed and scored as syntactic, morphological, lexical, lexicogrammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Results revealed that accuracy progressed with grade significantly in the CLIL instruction context whereas in the non-CLIL group only lexicogrammatical errors decreased significantly. The analysis of error subtypes revealed some cases of regression and stabilisation tendencies, with articles posing problems in both contexts and prepositions, determiners, voice, subordination and word order in the non-CLIL context. As regards gender, female participants did not significantly outperform their male peers in written accuracy in the CLIL group as they did in the non-CLIL group indicating that CLIL may help balance gender differences.

Oral production outcomes in CLIL: an attempt to manage amount of exposure

AbstractThis study aims at testing the benefits of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) on oral skills in English by comparing a group of secondary school CLIL learners to two Non-CLIL groups matched for amount of instruction – a two-year-ahead group and a peer group. This sampling design is an attempt to tease the effects of exposure, age and CLIL variables apart, something which has not been addressed in most previous CLIL research. The analyses (holistic evaluation, amount and density of production, and use of compensatory strategies) of participants’ story tellings indicate that CLIL learners’ oral abilities are superior to those of Non-CLIL groups, especially to those of their exposure-matched peer counterparts. Overall, CLIL learners produce denser and richer oral narrations characterized by better content, vocabulary, grammar and fluency, and a marginal use of the first language. These results could be read as indicative of the beneficial effect of CLIL instruction itself on oral production when intervening variables such as amount of exposure and age are managed. In addition, particular attention is given to the lack of positive effect of CLIL on pronunciation.