Overseas Teachers' Theory & Practice of CLIL

Course details

The primary objectives of this 2-week course on the Theory and Practice of CLIL are

• to familiarise participants with key concepts and issues in CLIL and to share international best practice techniques as applied in today’s school environment
• to help develop their skills in teaching subjects through English
• to examine the impact on teaching of recent pedagogical developments including developments in classroom technology
• to cover a variety of school subjects including geography, history, science and art with a focus on methods of making the subjects accessible to learners through English.
• To examine the theoretical principles underpinning CLIL in such a way that they will be applicable to practice at primary and secondary level
• to establish contacts between teachers from a variety of European backgrounds and facilitate future networking among these professionals

By achieving these objectives we aim to assist schools in addressing identified needs as outlined in their European Development Plan and to re-inforce the capacities and international scope of the participating organisations.

Format

• This Course on the Theory and Practice of CLIL is a two-week course consisting of 40 contact morning hours as well as 2 afternoon workshops and an extensive cultural and social programme which is directly linked to the morning sessions.

Methodology

• This is a practical, hands-on, participative course which focuses on the application of CLIL within the context of the European Profile for Language Teacher Education and the CEFR.
• The input sessions are a blend of lecture format and practical activities based on CLIL methodology. Throughout the course, participants are encouraged to reflect on their own practice, consider alternative practices and try out a variety of classroom activities through lesson planning, workshops and presentations. The morning sessions are complemented and reinforced by a series of related afternoon activities where the participants are encouraged to develop their language skills in a more informal environment outside the classroom.

Day one

• Induction and introduction to course.
• Communicative activity to integrate course participants.
• City orientation and sourcing of authentic materials.

Day two

• The development of theory and methodology in language learning-the genesis of CLIL.
• What is CLIL? Key concepts, definitions and types of CLIL. Sample CLIL geography lesson.
• Visit to an educational bookshop and sourcing of materials.

Day three

• Lesson planning and CLIL-key features of a CLIL lesson.
• Sample CLIL Irish history lesson.
• National Museum. Relating fieldwork to class work and sourcing authentic materials.

Day four

• Teaching subjects through English-looking at the necessary classroom language.
• Using reading texts in CLIL-integrating language skills and developing content, communicative, cognitive and cultural skills.
• Guinness Storehouse-describing industrial processes. Sourcing authentic materials for workshop.

Day five

• Designing materials using web tools.
• Workshop: Designing a CLIL science lesson using web tools and collected materials.
• National Print Museum-planning field trips for projects.

Day six

• Using listening texts in CLIL-integrating language skills and developing content, communicative, cognitive and cultural skills.
• Using newspaper reports for CLIL. Reports for content. Language analysis of reports.
• Dublin Writers’ Museum. Sourcing materials.

Day seven

• ICT and CLIL-using wikis and blogs.
• Workshop-designing a CLIL lesson using wikis and blogs.
• National Gallery. Sourcing materials for developing speaking skills.

Day eight

• AM: CLIL art lesson-using art to develop speaking skills.
• Learner autonomy and CLIL. The relevance of CLIL to the development of Learner Autonomy, the CEFR, the European Portfolio for Language Learners.
• PM: The Irish experience-CLIL and the Irish language.

Day nine

• AM: Developing the writing skill-project work and process writing in the CLIL context.
• Film in the classroom-practical applications for CLIL.
• PM: Science Gallery. Sourcing materials for developing reading and speaking skills

Day ten

• AM: Presentations of participants’ projects.
• Course review and evaluation. Implications for future practice. Establishment of base and guidelines for future contact and networking.