CLIL Ideas

CLIL methodology is a new strategy of learning based in a double work where subjects are taught trought a foreing language wich let students learn about the contentent and learn a foreing language at the same time.

A foreing language is used as a tool in the learning of a non-language subject.

Not only CLIL is a dynamic and flexible concept but also is a way to provide value-added to educational outcomes for the widest posible range of learners. So, the major concern is Education and not multilingualism.

The essential elements we have to take for aplying in our classes are mainly speaking slowly, to use an appropriate level of language, to use mime, gestures or visual aids, to repeat frequently, to connect the content with student's life and to use appropriate the 4 language skills depending on the age (speaking, writing, reading and listening)

An important idea about CLIL it could be that this methodology upgrade social and cognitive developement of students. Therefore we can talk about five CLIL dimensions wich help us to understand this process:

1. The Culture Dimension
2. The Environment Dimension
3. The Language Dimension
4. The Content Dimension
5. The Learning Dimension

So, we have to take into account some points about CLIL methodology: it takes 5-7 years for students to become academically procicient in English, language acquisition is not a linear process, learners acquire best when they create, discover and costruct their own meanings, language is a means not an end, and when learners are interested in a topic, they will be motivated to acquire language to communicate and errors are a natural part of language learning.

In conclusión,  learning at the same time a foreing language is the added value. Learners develop fluency in English by using English.