What is Content and Language Integrated Learning?

Joanna Wiseman
A teacher sat at a table with young students working together
Reading time: 4 minutes

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is an approach where students learn a subject and a second language at the same time. A science course, for example, can be taught to students in English and they will not only learn about science, but they will also gain relevant vocabulary and language skills.

It’s important to note that CLIL is not a means of simplifying content or reteaching something students already know in a new language. CLIL courses should truly integrate the language and content in order to be successful – and success is determined when both the subject matter and language is learned.

Who is CLIL for?

CLIL can work for students of any age, all the way from primary level to university and beyond. So long as the course content and language aims are designed with the students’ needs in mind, there is no limit as to who can benefit from this teaching approach. However, it is most commonly found in primary and secondary school contexts.

What are the main benefits of CLIL?

Many teachers see CLIL as a more natural way to learn a language; when a subject is taught in that language there is a concrete reason to learn both at the same time. And as students have a real context to learn the language in, they are often more motivated to do so, as they can only get the most of the content if they understand the language around it.

Moreover, being content focused, CLIL classes add an extra dimension to the class and engage students, which is especially advantageous in situations where students are unenthusiastic about learning a language.

CLIL also promotes a deeper level of assimilation, as students are repeatedly exposed to similar language and language functions, and they need to produce and recall information in their second language.

Furthermore, it has the advantage that multiple subjects can be taught in English, so that students’ exposure to the language is increased and their language acquisition is faster.

CLIL also encourages students to develop 21st century skills, including the ability to think critically, be creative, communicate and collaborate.

What are the challenges of CLIL?

As CLIL is subject-focused, language teachers may also have to develop their own knowledge of new subjects in order to teach effectively.

They must also structure classes carefully so that the students understand the content of the lesson, as well as the language through which the information is being conveyed.

And when it comes to classroom management, educators need to be very aware of individual student understanding and progress.

It’s therefore important to consistently concept check and scaffold the materials to be sure both the language and content are being learned.

How can you apply CLIL to your class?

It’s important to have a strategy in place when applying CLIL in your courses. One of the key things to remember is that the language and subject content are given equal weight and that it shouldn’t be treated as a language class nor a subject class simply taught in a foreign language.

According to Coyle’s 4Cs curriculum (1999), a successful CLIL class should include the following four elements:

  • Content – Progression in knowledge, skills and understanding related to specific elements of a defined curriculum
  • Communication – Using language to learn whilst learning to use language
  • Cognition – Developing thinking skills which link concept formation (abstract and concrete), understanding and language
  • Culture – Exposure to alternative perspectives and shared understandings, which deepen awareness of otherness and self

Using a number of frameworks can help you prepare your lessons and make sure activities are challenging yet achievable for your learners.

Bloom’s Taxonomy, for example, classifies learning objectives in education and puts skills in a hierarchy, from Lower Order Thinking Skills (LOTS) to Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS).

In the diagram below, you can see the levels increasing in complexity from the base up to the triangle’s peak.

The framework shows how different tasks relate to different levels of assimilation. It’s fairly intuitive, but applying this information to your lesson preparation is not always so straightforward.

That’s where the helpful Blooming Verbs list comes in. The following chart shows you how different verbs can correlate to the different stages in the taxonomy, allowing you to formulate questions and design activities that develop your CLIL classes in a logical way.

By using the verbs in the first column you’ll see how much they remember about a topic you have covered previously. Examples might include:

  • Can you name three different types of jungle animal?
  • Can you tell me how often a python eats food?
  • Can you describe what it’s like in the rainforest?

You can then do the same for the subsequent stages of the taxonomy.

The verb chart can also help you design a class project or series of activities that follow a logical sequence using the “Students will be able to…” (SWBAT) framework. This will help you set clear objectives and check progress towards the end of a class, series of classes or course.

Here’s an example of how you can develop a set of objectives using the verb columns to help you navigate Bloom’s Taxonomy:

  1. SWBAT name 10 different animals that live in the rainforest
  2. SWBAT predict what animals eat
  3. SWBAT complete a simple food chain
  4. SWBAT categorize animals into different classifications (mammal, reptile, fish etc.)
  5. SWBAT recommend ways to protect an endangered species
  6. SWBAT create a new habitat for an endangered species of their choice

In this way you will be able to scaffold your materials to ensure that your students are supported step by step while learning subject matter and achieving language learning objectives.

Read our posts 'Talking technology: Teaching 21st century communication strategies' and '21st-century skills and the English language classroom'.

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    You may have heard the term learning management system (LMS) at work or perhaps during your time in education. For many, this throws out images of clunky, outdated systems that clumsily distribute course materials and are tough to use.But that is no longer the case. Modern LMS's are far more user-friendly, and it's time to relearn what you thought you knew about these tools.

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    is a digital platform or (SaaS) solution that is used to create, organize and distribute online courses.

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    This can help facilitate a range of training, studying and skills development, as well as assessments, exams and certification management.

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    • Employee onboarding - Those starting a new job may be given training via an LMS; this can make the onboarding process much quicker and simpler

    • Compliance training - Lots of roles require compliance training, for example health and safety training, and this is a great way for businesses to stay up to date and ensure everyone complies with regulations

    • Customer support - Some businesses use learning management systems to onboard customers or clients. This might include sharing user manuals and product guides. Plus, sales professionals might also use them to train new partners or clients in using their services or platforms.

    • Classroom learning - Lecturers and teachers can create and share course materials and align content and tests from one place. These can also be used to put a twist on traditional classroom learning.

    • Blended learning - Schools, colleges and universities may use these for online lessons and blended learning, particularly for remote students

    • Volunteer training - Charities and non-profits may also use an LMS to educate volunteers and keep them motivated about the cause

    Of course, these platforms can and will be used in other ways, but these are some of the most common and beneficial uses for LMS's.

    Who has access to LMS's?

    In most cases, learning management systems will have two primary user groups: administrators and learners.

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    On the other hand, learners are the professionals or students who will use these platforms to train, study and gain new skills. Many modern LMS's allow multiple learners to train or access materials at the same time.

    However, there is a third and final group that we have yet to mention: the parents of students using LMS's, particularly outside of school hours. In some cases, parents may have access to these systems to support students, track their progress or look at feedback from the teacher.

    Key features in modern LMS's

    There are a variety of learning management systems out there and some are more advanced than others. That being said, many modern platforms will share similar features to ensure they stay competitive. Some of these key features may include:

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    • Access to subject matter experts who can contribute to learning and development activities

    • Automated workflows that allow for the creation of personalized learning journeys

    • A resources library that holds all relevant learning materials, such as guides, video clips and courses

    • Quizzes and surveys for a more fun and engaging way to assess learners

    • Compliance features, such as automatic reminders that notify learners when it is time to retrain

    • Certificates and diplomas that give learners recognition as they study and meet their targets

    • Insights and analysis for individual progress and results, allowing administrators to identify gaps or areas where support is needed

    • Compatibility with mobile devices for studying on the go

    • Integrations with other internal systems and software

    This is by no means a complete list and different platforms will have different functionality. However, these are some of the most common and beneficial features of many modern LMSs.

    The benefits of using learning management systems

    Saving time and money

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    Of course there is an initial investment in the platform, but training can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly if it must take place in a location outside of the workplace.Therefore, this can be the more cost-effective solution. Not to mention, the materials are quick to access and can save time and effort.

    Ensuring compliance training is completed

    These platforms are an excellent way to ensure that all mandatory training is completed on time and to the highest standard. For example, industry-specific training such as fire safety or cybersecurity training.

    Provide accurate data

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    Improves the learning experience

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    Simplifying communication

    Finally, an LMS can make communication between students, teachers, employees and employers far simpler. For example, automated reminders keep everyone in the loop and ensure all training is completed on time.But more than that, there is one central place to communicate, review feedback and access the same materials.