Content and Language Integrated Learning

Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) is a concept that has gained attention in modern educational settings. This concept refers to a learning approach in which students learn a second language and a subject simultaneously. The use of this approach to learning is geared towards the successful integration of language and content. As a result, CLIL does not necessarily focus on simplifying content relating to a new language. Given the increased attention on this concept, CLIL has been the subject of numerous studies conducted in the field of education in recent years. This paper reviews a recent study conducted on this concept with a view of examining the applicability of its contents in modern classrooms.

Summary

Li et al. (2020) conducted a study in which they explored curriculum development in light of the CLIL concept. The study was conducted on the backdrop that this concept is a thriving innovation in many educational settings as shown in its wide application across the globe. Schools across the globe as increasingly adopting the CLIL approach to promote teaching and learning of content and a second language. While this approach is increasingly adopted in the classroom, there is a lack of systematic curricular for CLIL. Many teachers are implementing this approach without the support of appropriate resource banks or published literature. The study sought to examine curriculum development in this approach to teaching and learning. The significance of this study was to propose a holistic model for CLIL curriculum development that would support its continued application in educational settings.

A total of 281 studies published between 2009 and 2019 were reviewed systematically and used to propose a model for CLIL curriculum development. Through the review, the researchers developed a stakeholders and integrate elements of each stage. Additionally, the proposed framework involves the establishment of a holistic learning philosophy, identification of holistic learning goals, design of holistic plans, multi-focused implementation of the approach,...

…Harrop (2012), one of the shortcomings of this model is the lack of suitable model to promote its development and increased implementation. This article helps to address this limitation by proposing a model for CLIL curriculum development.

Application

Despite some of the weaknesses surrounding this study, it provides significant insights regarding CLIL curriculum development. Insights derived from the article are applicable in a classroom school-based or educational context as they provide supportive evidence for the implementation of CLIL in the classroom. Based on insights obtained from this article, the application of CLIL in a classroom school-based or educational context would involve establishing holistic learning philosophy, goals, and plans. The philosophy, goals, and plans would be utilized as the premise for CLIL curriculum development. Using these three components, language and content learning strategies will be formulated to help make language learning easy and support specific content learning. The lack of a holistic philosophy, goals, and plans has affected the implementation of CLIL and resulted in poor outcomes. Therefore, implementing these components will help improve the implementation…