Course Overview
Content and Language Integrated Learning, or CLIL, is a teaching approach that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in the field of language education. The method involves teaching a subject in a second language, usually English, while also ensuring that students acquire language skills alongside subject-specific knowledge.
CLIL offers a fast, fun, and effective way of teaching English, as it takes advantage of students’ natural curiosity and interest in the subject matter. This approach allows students to learn English in a meaningful and engaging way, by exploring content that is relevant and interesting to them.
Who is this course for?
The CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is an intensive professional training course for primary and secondary school teachers who have little or no CLIL experience, but who want to know more and are aiming to teach subjects such as history, economics or science through English in the future.
Format
This CLIL course can be organised as either a one-week or two-week course and consists of 20 classroom-based sessions per week, plus an extensive cultural and social programme led by your teacher trainers.
Course Dates
| Spring 2024 | Summer 2024 | Autumn & Winter 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th March – 6th April | 15th July – 27th July | 21st October – 2nd November |
| 12th August – 24th August | 9th December – 20th December |
Course Aims
By attending this CLIL course you will:
- Explore techniques for scaffolding language and content
- Gain a better understanding of how to plan lessons with language in mind
- Become more efficient and more competent in designing CLIL teaching materials
- Be more confident in delivering CLIL lessons
- Develop your own English language skills.
- Gain awareness of Irish culture and society through topical, interactive lessons.
- Establish contacts between teachers from a variety of education systems and facilitate future networking.
Methodology
This is a practical course which uses real teaching and learning examples. Teachers completing the course will return home with immediate, practical ideas to implement in their own teaching practice.
- Participants are expected to actively participate in the workshops, reflecting on their own beliefs and practice, and sharing thoughts, ideas and expertise in pair work, small groups and with the class as a whole.
- During the course participants will also take part in a range of afternoon activities where they will be encouraged to develop their language skills in a more informal environment outside the classroom and further enhance their knowledge of contemporary Ireland.
Course Programme & Sample Timetable
| Week One (Sample) |
Session One 9am to 10.40am |
Session Two 11:10am to 12.50pm |
Afternoon Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Course Orientation.
CLIL Fundamentals: Learning Principles, Teachers’ Roles, European Dimension. |
Dublin’s Parks, Squares and Public Spaces | Orientation Tour around Dublin |
| Tuesday | Lesson Frameworks and Planning for CLIL | Analysing a CLIL Lesson and Sharing Effective Teaching Practices 1: What Makes the Sun Shine – the Nature and Composition of the Sun | Trinity College and the Book of Kells |
| Wednesday | Guiding Input: Adapting and Exploiting Texts | Ireland – Brexit, The Border and a Border Poll | The Liberties Walk and Talk Tour with teacher |
| Thursday | Teaching and Dealing with Vocabulary in the CLIL Classroom | Changing Ireland: Women in Irish Society | Visit to Kilmainham Gaol |
| Friday | Creating Visual Language Resources – Using ChatGPT and Other Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to Support Learning. | Reflection on learning. Developing your Personal Learning Network (PLN) Looking ahead. End of course Irish Coffee | Free afternoon
(Option: join our Film and Fluency Club) |
| Saturday | Full day excursion to Howth |
Follow up
Participants on the course are encouraged to keep in contact, sharing materials and experiences when back in your own classrooms. Follow-up contact is made with the participants three months after completion of the course to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the classroom activities presented and on how your teaching practice has been developed. The course trainers are available for follow-up advice and support at all times.
Price List
1 - week training course
- Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
- Additional Fee: Residential Accommodation: €375 for one week in residence (single ensuite room, self-catering) + €65 placement fee + EUR30 ( summer supplement for accommodation bookings 17th Jun – 10th Sept)
2 - week training course
- Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
- Additional Fee: Residential Accommodation: €750 for two weeks in residence (single ensuite room, self-catering) + €65 placement fee + EUR30 ( summer supplement for accommodation bookings 17th Jun – 10th Sept)