FIRST STEPS IN CLIL

After reading the texts: “A window on CLIL” and “The CLIL Guide Book”, complete the following chart.

CLIL is an educational approach in which various language-supportive

methodologies are used which lead to a dual-focused form of instruction
where attention is given both to the language and the content. CLIL is an
approach which is neither language learning nor subject learning. CLIL
is a construction composed of the use of language and the teaching of a
What is CLIL?
certain knowledge or content through a flexible methodological approach
in which both processes are solidified simultaneously, without having a
defined approach for language teaching or the development of cognitive
competencies, but rather, a gradual cognitive process that allows the
acquisition of language while the learning process takes place.

CLIL is not only relevant nowadays, but it represents a desperate need

and big challenge for modern education. I would like to expand on the
relevance of CLIL by pointing out three main ideas:
First, teaching using CLIL methodologies ensures the democratization of
knowledge and education as most of today’s research papers, articles,
books and essays from many different languages are translated in
Why is CLIL relevant
English; second, CLIL is an opportunity to prepare students to integrate
today?
successfully in the job market, not only in our country, but in any other
country; and third, CLIL represents an important chance to create
citizens of the world, considering around 1.5 billion people speak English
all around the globe, CLIL appears as an opportunity to connect
students with different cultures and experiences otherwise
unapproachable to them.
1. Competences. (The resources that the teacher uses to explain the
topic).

2. Communication. (The way to integrate the language through the

content, it means, the communication strategies to develop the topic).
What are the five Cs?
3. Cognition. (Thinking skills).

4. Community. (Real content. It means, knowledge in context).

5. Content. (Topic to learn).

Bloom's taxonomy is a hierarchical organization that is based on
educational objectives that allow tracing a gradual route concerning the
What is Bloom's cognitive processes of students in terms of the complexity of what is
 being demanded in the objective that, as a teacher, I want my students
taxonomy? to achieve. In addition, it is important to recognize that this taxonomy is
made up of six levels, which are the following: remember, understand,
apply, analyze, evaluate, and create.

Scaffolding is the structure that supports anything. It’s the base, the
infrastructure that holds together everything that is needed to ensure the
What is scaffolding? production of knowledge. In other words, for me, scaffolding is the
connection that exists between all the elements in knowledge-building
giving as a result the integration between processes.

Designed by Rubén Cano / 19