CLIL in Practice: Focus on Canary Island Culture

Description

Concept by Petra Candida Mundy

This engaging and fun course uses the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) as content and aims at developing academic and language teachers’ knowledge of planning, preparing, and implementing reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities for non-native speakers of a language in their classrooms.

It also takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding CLIL (or content-based) methodology and introduces course participants to how the theory of teaching language and specific course content (academic or otherwise) can relate to their own classroom practice.

This course includes lots of activity planning, CLIL resources, and aids in the preparation of creative and engaging materials for second or foreign-language learners of any language.

By the end of the course, participants will learn the key principles of material development and how to integrate attractive content into effective second-language teaching. Participants will become more aware of how to create appropriate activities that are also motivating and engaging to non-native speakers of a language.

Both academic content and language teachers will feel more confident and inspired to teach their subjects. Participants will also leave Tenerife having learned more about the history, nature, people, culture, and places that have made the Canary Islands a very unique location.

Suggested English Proficiency Level: ADVANCED

Learning outcomes

• Understand CLIL principles and its practical applications;
• Develop teachers’ academic and language knowledge of planning, preparing, and implementing reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities for non-native speakers of a language;
• Become knowledgeable about using English in the classroom while engaging learners in collaborative and communicative activities;
• Integrate the four skills of English or any foreign language into the classroom and any school curriculum;
• Implement CLIL methodology in classes successfully;
• Refresh and broaden communicative skills in the English language.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Introduction to CLIL

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Context and description of our location;
• An Introduction to CLIL.

Day 2 – Museum excursion

• Preparation of Museum Excursion with Learner Activities (ideas to prepare your own outings with your students);
• Museum Excursion and visit to the local market and art center.

Day 3 – Idiosyncrasy and culture of the Canary Islands

• Life in the overseas territory of the European Union;
• CLIL Theories and Practice;
• Popular CLIL Activities;
• Comparison of the different EU school systems.

Day 4 – Art and nature in the education

• Canaries Writers & Artists;
• Excursion to Anaga Natural Park and outdoor class.

Day 5 – Presentation of participants’ projects

• Application of course contents to participants’ context and circumstances.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.