1. What is CLIL?
CLIL is the acronym of Content and Language Integrated Learning.
In recent years it has become an umbrella term describing learning another subject through the medium
of a foreign language and learning a foreign language by studying a content-based subject
With the expansion of the European Union and with bigger contacts between European countries, there is
an increased need for communicative skills in a second or even a third European language and for this
reason diversity of language and the need for communication are seen as central issues.
CLIL is based on the idea that content subjects are taught and learnt in a language which is other from
the mother tongue of the learners. This way language is integrated into the broad curriculum, learning is
enhanced through increased motivation and the study of languages seen in context and in real-life
situations in which students can acquire the language, with a good development of their fluency in the
second language, by using it to communicate for a variety of purposes
Which are the advantages of CLIL?
CLIL:
1. Introduces the wider cultural context;
2. Helps the internationalisation;
3. Gives access to International Certifications and enhances the school profile;
4. Improves both overall and specific language competences;
5. Prepares for future studies and / or working life;
6. Develops multilingual interests and attitudes;
7. Diversifies methods and forms of classroom teaching and learning;
8. Increases learners’ motivation.
CLIL has advantages in terms of both achieving bilingualism and and improving intercultural
understanding.
CLIL builds intercultural knowledge and understanding by developing intercultural communication skills
while learning about other countries.
Linguistically, CLIL doesn’t only improve overall target language competences, but also raises awareness
of both the mother tongue and the target language while encouraging learners to develop plurilingual
interests and attitudes.
CLIL also offers opportunities to study content through different perspectives, to access subject-specific
target language terminology and for this reason it prepares for future studies and/or working life.
Educationally, CLIL increases learners’ range of learning strategies while adding diversity and flexibility to
existing methods and forms of classroom practice.