Bridging the Gap between Content and Language Content and Language - Integrated Learning (CLIL) in Schools

Status: Seminar is CONFIRMED and open for further applications.

Resilience in the Classroom - Empowering Educators, Strengthening Learners: Tools and Strategies for Well-being in the school cosmos

More information and seminar program as PDF

Using CLIL strategies and techniques to create meaningful and engaging lessons that will integrate both content and second language acquisition while fostering an environment that is not only bilingual but bicultural.

In today's multilingual educational landscape, the power of learning a language through content is undeniable. CLIL as a methodology holds the key to engaging students in a dynamic and collaborative way.

This workshop is designed to give participants a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of CLIL, from lesson planning to assessment, from strategical techniques to sociocultural development, ensuring students are well equipped with 21st century skills for their future lives and careers. It is designed for teachers and education staff, both starting out in CLIL and for those who are already teaching through a second language.

What is CLIL and why do I need it?

CLIL, Content and Language Integrated Learning, is an approach to teaching where subjects are taught in a language that is not the students' first language. For example, science or history might be taught in English to students whose first language is not English. As a teacher, CLIL can be a valuable tool for several reasons:

Language Development:  CLIL provides an immersive language learning environment where students are exposed to the target language in a meaningful context. This can greatly enhance their language skills, including vocabulary acquisition, fluency, and comprehension.

Content Learning:  By teaching subjects in a second language, students are not only learning language skills but also gaining knowledge in other academic areas. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to develop a deeper understanding of both the subject matter and the language.

Cultural Awareness:  CLIL encourages students to engage with different cultures and perspectives, as they explore subjects from a global standpoint. This can foster cultural awareness and empathy, important skills in our interconnected world.

Cognitive Skills:  Engaging with content in a second language challenges students cognitively, leading to improved problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and academic resilience.

Preparation for Global Citizenship: 

In today's globalized world, proficiency in more than one language is increasingly valuable. CLIL equips students with the language skills and cultural competence they need to communicate and collaborate effectively across borders.

As a teacher, implementing CLIL can enrich your teaching practice by offering a dynamic and interactive approach to language and content instruction. It allows you to cater to diverse learners and create an inclusive classroom environment where students can thrive academically and linguistically.

The course will cover the following aspects:

CLIL Principles and Background We will explore the opportunities and challenges of bilingual education in Europe. Understanding of the four C’s of CLIL and what they mean for the teacher and the learner.

Practical and Creative examples of a CLIL approach Making learning authentic and meaningful while creating a sense of space and autonomy for students to unleash their creativity within an interactive and collaborative environment.

Strategies and Techniques in CLIL Master the fundamentals of Task-Based Learning (TBL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL) in CLIL and other instructional approaches such as Flipped Learning.

Collaborative and Reflective Teaching Delve into one of the key aspects of CLIL, which is collaboration, not only at a learner level but also among educators and the wider educational community and making time for feedback and reflection.

Scaffolding A dive into different scaffolding techniques such as Language Showers, Visual / ICT aids, Making Connections, Show and Tell, Graphic Organizers but also a practical look at how to overcome the challenges of scaffolding.

The inclusive classroom   We will learn about the importance of paying attention to diversity in the classroom and how inclusion can be achieved.

ICT and CLIL Integrating technology and fostering an environment where participants will gain skills in ICT enhanced collaborative activities.

Formative Assessment and CLIL We will explore how formative assessment is such an essential process in the CLIL classroom and look at the ways it can be carried out.

How you will expand your knowledge:

As educators this workshop will provide you with an informative, collaborative and creative environment in which we can continue to support and learn from each other in our shared mission to shape the future of education.Through meaningful inputyou will learn, as your students can learn, what it means to not only teach in a CLIL approach but also to learn in a CLIL approach.

The strategies and insights gained here will inspire you to continue growing as educators and create enriching learning experiences for your students.

Benefits of CLIL in Bilingual Education:

Integrating content and language provides students with meaningful and relevant ways of acquiring a second language and it creates motivating and engaging ways of learning while crossing borders and cultures and while developing students’ communicative and cognitive skills.

CLIL is also considered as a way of making language learning accessible to all learners, regardless of socio economic status, rather it provides them with the opportunity to learn additional languages in a meaningful way.

The seminar lasts 48 hours and consists of theoretical and practical units, as well as a constant exchange of specialist knowledge. In addition to plenary sessions, discussions in small groups and joint workshops, individual working groups will develop and present their own  projects. You will also have plenty of free time outside of the seminar program to enjoy the benefits of the Algarve.

Become part of the europeanseminars experience!

As part of our concept, seminar participants are always accommodated together in a four-star hotel and can also exchange ideas outside the official program during meals and coffee breaks. Your physical well-being is taken care of with full catering with delicacies that are always of a local character. We also invite you to dine outside the hotel in an exclusive and typical way - a unique culinary experience.

We are deeply rooted in the Algarve and enable you to immerse yourself in the culture of Portugal by showing you our very personal treasures of the region on two cultural excursions, taking you to our favorite places and bringing you into contact with the country and its people - intercultural understanding with a personal touch and lots of fun.

The seminar will take place at the 4-star Hotel AGUA RIVERSIDE LAGOA Quinta Do Parchal (Algarve) in Portugal (subject to change).  The course fees are 580€, the cost for the stay in a single room with full board is 896€. The total cost is usually fully subsidized by the EU.

More information and seminar program as PDF

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About your Trainer Moira Allen:

My name is Moira and I am originally from the west of Ireland but I have been living in Spain since 2003 with my husband and two sons.

I have a BA degree in English and Sociology and a Master's degree with distinction in Bilingual Education. One of the main focuses of this Masters was on CLIL methodologies and their application in the classroom.

I have over 10 years’ experience of working in an international bilingual school where we followed a CLIL methodology and also the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. In addition I have a background in English Language Teaching (ELT), with a CELTA and YL certificate from Cambridge and over 15 years’ experience working in all aspects of English language teaching, all levels and age groups. I currently teach online and run teacher training webinars and workshops for school teachers and teacher trainers in Spain and Ireland. My areas of expertise are in CLIL methodologies and English language training and I have spoken at the TESOL Spain conference on these topics.

I have always taken an active interest in continuous professional development throughout my career which began in HR & Training, and then later in ELT and in mainstream teaching and have found it wise to update my skills and knowledge through online courses, in-house training and even just peer observation, to keep up with the ever changing world of technology and education. As a teacher trainer I find it particularly valuable to put myself in the shoes of a student, if only to see education from the other side. I also love to share the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years.

I speak Spanish at an advanced level and in my free time I love painting and most things creative.