Enhancing Content and Language Integrated Learning in the classroom

In a world that is becoming ever more interconnected, language learning is essential for fostering communication and understanding between cultures. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) has emerged as an effective approach that blends language learning with subject-specific education. By learning to integrate ICT, game-based tools, multimedia content development, and engaging hands-on activities, participants are better prepared to encourage linguistic diversity in education and equip students for their roles as active European citizens.

A new edition of the course “Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) course for teachers” took place in Tenerife from 09/03/2025 to 15/03/2025. The participants came from all across Europe, with Tatjana Knjaz from Djecji vrtic Petar Pan in Croatia, Dagbjort Lauritz Agnarsdottir from Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri in Iceland, Giorgio Jansen and Luigi Pezzotta from ISIS Mamoli, Bergamo in Italy, Agnese Lorence and Anna Krasko-Krastiņa from Riga Secondary School No. 49 in Latvia.
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The CLIL course kicked off with an energetic brainstorming session, encouraging participants to discuss their current practices and prior knowledge of CLIL. This collaborative activity set the stage for a lively exchange of ideas and exploration. The course then moved into a theoretical investigation of CLIL principles, focusing on the importance of delivering content through a second language. Emphasis was placed on the critical role teachers play in facilitating language integration, cultivating a learning atmosphere that supports both subject knowledge and language development.

The course also covered effective lesson planning within the CLIL framework. Participants were introduced to useful strategies and techniques for designing engaging and intentional CLIL lessons. Through resource sharing and exchanging experiences, they began drafting their own lesson plans, which would serve as the basis for future tasks.

Further, the course explored how to incorporate engaging texts and videos into CLIL classrooms, harnessing multimedia resources creatively. Participants examined common ICT tools in education, with a focus on those most relevant to their needs and interests. They had the opportunity to use these tools to create educational games and interactive presentations, effectively incorporating them into their lesson plans.

The course also included experiential learning activities that enhanced CLIL lessons. Participants discovered strategies to foster collaboration and peer learning in the classroom, promoting language communication around the subject matter. Through hands-on experiences, they gained valuable insights into creating an interactive and immersive learning environment.
In the final stage, participants presented their completed lesson plans, which integrated the new strategies and activities they had developed throughout the week, demonstrating their preparedness to design engaging, language-enriched CLIL classrooms.
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More info on this course here.