Embedding - CLIL

Children learn best when they can make sense of their learning. Embedding language learning into school life brings benefits on many levels. It helps children to realise that there are many languages in the world (and in their school) and that speaking another language is normal, natural and valuable.

Experiencing language every day helps children to memorise new words and structures, giving children the confidence to respond to what they hear and to use the new language for real purposes. Integrating language learning into the school day makes best use of the time available and provides coherent links between different subjects of the curriculum.

Introducing Kandinsky

These children are studying the painter Kandinsky in art. A French specialist teacher is working with the class teacher to teach the art syllabus through the medium of French. This approach is called Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). Here the teacher talks about Kandinsky’s work, referring to colour pictures of his paintings on the interactive whiteboard.