CLIL in the primary school context

• Type: Chapter or Part of a Book
• Date: 2018

Authors

Ellison, Maria (Author) FLUP

Book

Title: The Routledge handbook of teaching english to young learners

Pages: 247-268

ISBN: 9781138643772

Electronic ISBN: 9781315623672

Publisher: Routledge

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Humanities > language sciences > Languages

Other information

DOI: 10.4324/9781315623672-17

Abstract (EN): It is a widely held belief that children best acquire language when they are immersed in contexts where there is natural exposure and opportunities for authentic use of it for other learning, rather than when it is taught as a separate and sometimes `isolated¿ subject. This brings into question the role of a foreign language in primary education and is one of the reasons why Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) could be considered suitable, not only for enhancing the development of foreign languages in such contexts, but of fulfiling broader, more far-reaching educational goals. This chapter presents the main principles and theories of learning underlying CLIL and its unique methodology which fuses the knowledge bases of foreign language and content teaching. Key issues in CLIL for young learners aged 6¿10 years are addressed, namely language development and cognitive maturity, scaffolding learning and assessment. It outlines essential prerequisites for implementation in primary schools and teacher competences, and suggestions on how to plan CLIL lessons. The chapter thus combines a strong theoretical basis with clear guidelines for practice supported by teachers¿ perspectives.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific