Exploring the potential of Content and Language Integrated Learning in an Irish Secondary School Context

Topic(s) addressed

• Learning together – staff members through mobility and cross-curricular CLIL work, students learning language and content together. 

• Sustainability – encouraging participation among staff focusing on Sustainable Development in CLIL modules.

Target groups

• 2 teachers & Deputy Principal travelled & reported to the wider staff. 

• 60 students of the CLIL module.

Methodologies

• Including the observation of CLIL practices and collaboration with French partners in the planning and delivery of CLIL lessons. 

• Looking at innovative and creative ways to address concerns about standards among language learners, while presenting them with opportunities to study a wide range of subjects. 

• Integrating aspects of Maths, Geography, History, Politics, European Studies & Civics to present fresh modules to TY students, all through the medium of French, with further collaboration already underway in other areas.

Environments

Sustainability as a key element of the project:

• building an in-school programme involving many staff members (& thus will be sustainable into the future)

• focusing on Sustainable Development Goals in modules taught & being planned 

Helping to make CLIL a viable & sustainable approach on a national level:

• project co-ordinator’s work with Post-Primary Languages Ireland

• designing & implementing teaching resources

• supporting MFL teachers as they learn about CLIL

Teachers

• Learning to learn as a particularly important competence identified for this project

• Introducing a completely new methodology into the school 

• It is essential for potential CLIL programme teachers to be open to learning how to learn languages (and content at the same time) in the new approach.

• Task-related preparation was offered by the project coordinator to all participants. 

• Sharing knowledge and prior experience of collaboration and job-shadowing to help new participants and teachers from the partner school

Impact

• Sharing experiences of working with European colleagues through the involvement in the National Pilot Project for CLIL. 

• CLIL was specifically mentioned in the Languages Connect– Ireland's Strategy for Foreign Lanugages in Education 2017-2026, as introduced by the Department of Education and Skills in December 2017, 

• This pilot project intends to reach MFL Departments nationwide. 

• The experience from this and previous projects will be shared and hopefully, have a positive impact on future national CLIL initiatives.