PROFILING EUROPEAN CLIL CLASSROOMS

The Language Dimension
LANTIX
Improve Overall Target Language Competence
This is one of the most common reasons, both historically and more recently, for the
introduction of CLIL. This focus stresses language competence in general and therefore
includes reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
Key CLIL Features
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Target language competence may be improved to a very high level of fluency
through high exposure to CLIL and other forms of language learning
Low exposure can be used to improve overall competence particularly if the CLIL
experience serves to convert existing knowledge of the language into skill by giving
the learner further opportunities for practice
This focus can be successfully realized through integration of language and nonlanguage
teaching
Although the main focus is on improving overall competence, a programme may
concentrate on certain language skills more than others
High or medium exposure to CLIL may be linked to preparing learners for further
study in the target language at home or abroad
Medium to high exposure that seeks to improve overall competence in a target
language should be sensitive to development of the first language (or majority language
of the environment)
Examples
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A school for young learners which provides high exposure to CLIL over a period of
years, which introduces native models of language use of the target language, and
which is sensitive to development of the first language (majority language)
A school for older learners which specializes in providing education through CLIL
in two languages because, for example, it is likely that learners will go onto higher
education in one of those languages
A programme introduced into the curriculum for learners who have spent some years
studying the target language who benefit from opportunities to use the language
whilst studying non-language content
Children are designed to pick up language just as birds are designed to learn
how to fly, to migrate or to sing, and spiders are designed to spin webs (InterTalk)
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