CLIL Methodology Course for Teachers at Easy School of Languages.

Hey there, fellow educators!

If you’ve been curious about CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and are looking to dive deeper into this approach, you’re in the right place. Here at Easy School of Languages, we offer a comprehensive CLIL methodology course for teachers, designed to help you integrate language learning into your subject teaching. Whether you’re teaching science, history, geography, or any other subject, CLIL can open up a whole new world of learning for your students.

A Little About Me – Mariana, Your CLIL Course Guide

Hi, I’m Mariana! I’ve been teaching English since 2002 and joined the amazing team at Easy School of Languages in 2023. With more than 22 years of experience in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) and a decade spent implementing CLIL in the classroom, I’m excited to share my knowledge with you in this course. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that combining language and subject learning can have on students—and I’m passionate about helping other teachers bring this approach to life in their classrooms.

As part of the CLIL course, I’ll be guiding you through key strategies and techniques that make CLIL work effectively. Whether you’re new to CLIL or looking to refine your skills, I’m here to help you every step of the way.

5 Reasons Subject Teachers Find It Difficult to Implement CLIL

It’s not always easy to introduce CLIL into the classroom. Subject teachers often face a few challenges when trying to integrate both content and language. Here are five common reasons why teachers find it difficult:

Have you ever felt hesitant or nervous when speaking English?

A lot of teachers might not feel totally comfortable using English to teach content subjects. For instance, imagine a math teacher who has to explain complex calculus concepts in English, but their first language is Spanish. They might worry about making language mistakes or not being understood, which can make them anxious about teaching the class. You can always work collaboratively with a language teacher from your school. Thus, the benefits will be reciprocal.

Have you ever wondered about how to set language goals apart from the ones of your subject?

Setting language goals alongside subject goals can be a bit tricky, but it's definitely doable. Have you ever thought about breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps?

For instance, if you're teaching a history lesson in English to students who are nonnative speakers, you could set a language goal like "students will be able to use past tense verbs correctly when discussing historical events." This way, you're focusing on a specific language skill that complements the subject matter.

How am I supposed to fit in all my syllabi and teach English too?

Teachers often think that planning a CLIL lesson is time-consuming. It is, indeed, but what they don’t know is that they don’t have to cover all their syllabi in English. Teaching a class or devoting only 40 minutes to English once a week is enough.

How do you handle a classroom where students have different levels of language proficiency?

In a typical classroom, students have different levels of language proficiency. This makes it difficult for teachers to find the right level of challenge for all students while still delivering the content in a way they can understand. That’s why SCAFFOLDING is key when using CLIL. Students can construct their next level of understanding and knowledge little by little and once they feel confident in applying the new content, the scaffold is taken out like when you finish a building block, and the scaffold is no longer needed.

But, how about finding the right materials?

Finding the right materials that mix both content and language can be a real challenge. A lot of textbooks or resources don't fully blend both aspects, making it tougher to teach subjects in a foreign language. For example, a science textbook might have great content but use complex language that's hard for non-native speakers to understand. Or a language learning book might focus on grammar and vocabulary but lack engaging subject matter.

How can we help you?

At Easy School of Languages, we’re here to help teachers overcome these challenges and make the most out of the CLIL approach. Here’s how we, as English teachers, can lend a hand:

Supporting Teachers with Language Skills

We know exactly how language is best acquired. In our course, we’ll teach you how to break down complex language and make it accessible to your students. You’ll learn how to scaffold lessons so that students build both their content knowledge and language proficiency simultaneously.

Creating Interactive, Creative Resources

One of the most fun and effective parts of CLIL is creating materials that engage students with both language and content. Thanks to our weekly teacher training, we’ll show you how to design creative and interactive resources, from interactive visual aids and games to role-plays and project-based learning activities. These materials will help make the learning process exciting for your students while also reinforcing key content concepts.

Assessing Students in Both Language and Content

Assessment in a CLIL classroom can feel tricky because you’re evaluating students on both their language skills and their subject knowledge. We’ll guide you on how to create balanced assessments that consider both aspects—using rubrics that focus on language fluency and accuracy, while also assessing content comprehension.

Promoting Student Engagement

Language learning thrives when students are engaged. We’ll teach you how to create an immersive classroom environment where students actively participate, communicate, and collaborate with each other—helping them feel more confident in using the foreign language to explore and discuss subject topics.

Practical Strategies You Can Implement Right Away

The best way to learn is by doing! Throughout the course, we’ll focus on practical strategies you can immediately apply in your classroom. From adapting your lesson plans to developing interactive activities, you’ll leave each session with hands-on tools you can use right away.

We believe the best way to master CLIL is through practice and experimentation—and that’s exactly what you’ll get in our course. Learning by doing is the key to success!

So, if you’re ready to take your teaching to the next level, join us at Easy School of Languages for our CLIL methodology course. Let’s make learning content and language an exciting, dynamic experience for you and your students.

Can’t wait to see you in class! Best,

Mariana