Content and Language Integrated Learning
Content and Language Integrated Learning is effective and helps students acquire speciality related language.
Please describe the case in detailIn particular please consider (a)Objectives of the intervention; (b) Tools used to achieve the project goals; (c) Methodologies applied;
Upon carrying out the study process, we focus on cooperation between lecturers (e.g. Content and Language Integrated Learning, hereinafter CLIL), the practicality of the study process, case-based learning and the coherence of subjects (incl. internship).
In a CLIL lesson, there is more than one lecturer (excl. written tasks), one of them focuses on teaching a foreign language, the other teaches speciality. Lecturers compile syllabi and learning materials, they plan and coordinate the learning process with other lecturers. CLIL started with a project Integrating Language with Speciality Subjects in 2012, in the course of which language was integrated into nine speciality subjects (English and Russian on the levels of professional higher education and vocational education). At the moment English and Russian have been integrated into 11 subjects, either separately or together, and Estonian has been integrated into 5 different subjects. Since 2015 the Language Centre of the Academy has been coordinating a Nordplus project ILTICS (Integrated Language Teaching in the Field of Cross-border Security), whose aim is to create and develop a CLIL network in order to ensure cross-border security and to exchange and develop theoretical and practical experience related with CLIL-teacher training and the integration of language learning. Project partners are Vilnius University from Lithuania and Finnish Coast and Border Guard Academy from Finland. In their feedback, the students claim the methodology is very effective, it helps them acquire speciality related language more efficiently and in more authentic situations.
What resources are required for the case?Consider human resources, financial resources, infrastructure, in-kind resources and any other type required.
CLIL requires first and foremost good will and energy to cooperate with other lecturers and do more than expected. Sometimes it requires also some extra money (extra contact hours, longer preparation time).
What are the enabling factors making this case successful?Consider institutional support, environmental/social/political factors, etc.
Lecturers cooperation and good will. Also positive feedback and support from management to initiative process.
Why do you consider this case to be good/best practice?Please consider that a best practice must (a) have a clearly defined objective to increase the connection with the World of Work, (b) address the target groups of the project, (c) be replicable and sustainable, (d) have clearly demonstrated evidence of effectiveness in increasing the connection with the World of Work
CLIL helps students acquire speciality related language more efficiently and in more authentic situations and encourages cooperation between lecturers.