The book as a start, not as a goal.. As a Maths teacher, I always use my book as a source for the problems my students have to do. It is simply too much of a task to come up with all of the problems myself. Yet, instead of just…
Why is CLIL always about second language learning?
CLIL and Second Language Learning: A must? Whenever CLIL is discussed within any content, the main topic is always: second language acquisition. This makes sense, because CLIL is all about learning a second language while learning a subject at the same time. Or is it? The role of language within…
From image to text: How to encourage pupils to think creatively
Images as a source for language Guest post by Peter Sansom, Part I of the “Practical CLIL ideas” series As an art teacher in my lessons I make use of a great deal of images. Paintings and sculpture from art history, films, drawings and photographs all have a part to play.…
The return of the CLIL blog!
It has been a while… You might have noticed it has been a while since I last published something on the CLIL blog. The birth of my son as well as changing jobs forced me to prioritize a little, but: I am back! To make it even easier for you…
CLIL Magazine Fall 2017 Published
It’s been a while since I last update my blog, but don’t worry: I will start writing more in the near future. But first things first: The latest CLIL Magazine has been published! I know, I know. It is no longer Fall. It’s not even 2017 anymore. Publication was a…
CLIL Magazine Spring 2017 Published!
It’s official: the latest issue of CLIL Magazine is finished and has just been published! I’m really proud of this ninth (!!) edition of the magazine, as many both recurring and new authors have contributed to this issue. The authors originate from over 5 different countries, making CLIL Magazine an…
CLIL Magazine Fall 2016 Published!
It is that time of the year again! As an early Christmas gift I present to you: CLIL Magazine Fall 2016! Opinionated pieces Janet Streeter shares her ideas on the purpose of competitions in a lesson and the reason this might be a great way to motivate students. Phil Ball…
CLIL and mathematics: 3 ways to improve this combination
CLIL and mathematics. By many considered to be challenging at best, maybe even impossible to implement. Don’t worry thought, I am here to help! And believe me, after teaching mathematics in English for almost ten years, I can assure you both CLIL and mathematics can be integrated use as easily…
KS what? The key stages clarified
When looking for interesting new authentic material to use in my lesson, I often encounter the fact that the different education orientated materials found on the web are categorised in different key stages. That’s fine, it is a matter of simply linking the correct key stage to my target age…
Three ideas for differentiation in a CLIL lesson
I have always had the up most respect for primary school teachers, for various reasons. One of the most important things a primary school teacher does is facilitate differentiation: allowing each and every student to receive instruction and work on his or her own level. At secondary schools, differentiation is still…
The essential skill of note-taking
The school year has started again after summer. Or at least in my part of the world. Students get ready for school, enter your classroom, do their work. And take notes ferociously. Or do they? In my experience, students have to take a lot of notes. (Remember, it’s ‘taking notes’,…
What is CLIL again?
Wait, I already wrote a post on the definition of CLIL before right? Yes I did, however, I feel I should write something regarding the use of CLIL again, as still many different ways of working with CLIL still exist. The problem with CLIL is that it is a methodology…
Tests created by students: CLIL at its finest
For some time now, I have asked students to create activities for each other. According to Bloom, creating is a high level thinking skill, so asking this of students could be quite a challenge. Another reason for doing this activity is to help students remember things better. After all, you…
CLIL Magazine Spring 2016 Published
After the disappointment last year of not being able to publish a CLIL Magazine, I am happy to be able to announce the latest issue is finished and ready to be read! New design The first thing you might notice is the change in the design. Colours of the website have…
How to get your students to design their own CLIL activity
A couple of years ago Peeter Mehisto (co-author of “Uncovering CLIL”) observed one of my lessons and commented I could think about tasks I could give to students. Tasks I would normally do myself. I even went a little further than that. I tried to get my students to create their own…
How to use lesson objectives effectively
I like running. Twice a week I’ll run a distance somewhere between 5K and 10K. Or at least I try to. Yet I find that I don’t do it when it’s raining it’s cold outside I feel tired Motivation is a thing here. I recently signed up for a run in…
How to design a great CLIL activity
A lot has been written about CLIL activities. The very good book “CLIL Activities” by Liz Dale and Rosie Tanner, but also “CLIL Skills” and “The TKT Course CLIL Module” are very interesting reads if you want to find inspiration for your own CLIL activity. However, I still hear teachers say…
Five of the best CLIL resources online
In the posts on this website I usually share my opinion on CLIL as well as share some ideas of others. This time however, I would like to share CLIL resources that I think are really worth your time and can be used to advance both your knowledge of CLIL…
Language and subject: A balancing act
If I would have to name the single biggest question most (new) CLIL teachers have with CLIL it would be: How do you balance language and subject in a CLIL lesson? They might even think the subject content of their lesson would become less important. That is simply NOT true. Let…
Optimise your teaching competences, a book review
CLIL Magazine Spring Edition won’t be published for another three months, but I do want to share with you a resource I think is worth sharing. Therefore, you can already read the book review for the next issue of CLIL Magazine below. Have fun reading! Optimise your teaching competences: new…
“But I don’t have the time!”
This week I have four tests planned and a project and a small test are still waiting to be checked. Resting in a pile right next to my keyboard, I hope to find the motivation and time to really start with it today. Not to mention the lengthy meeting I…
Last but not least: How to reflect at the end of your lesson
Lesson stages Beginning of the lesson | Discussing homework | Instruct students | Individual work | Group work | Lesson Reflection Why so often forgotten? Every teacher gives instruction. Most teachers discuss homework. Quite a few activate prior knowledge. But when it comes to reflection activities in a lesson, you have to start looking…
Merry Christmas and a happy 2016
Just a quick post to let everyone know December has been really, really busy. Hence the somewhat silence on my part. No worries though, the articles for January are lined up and ready to go for next year. For now, I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and…
5 Common mistakes in Classroom English (and how to avoid them)
Some phrases are used by teachers all over the world. Sentences that have nothing to do with the subject but are vital for classroom. Thousands of teachers say the same things … and make the same mistakes in classroom English. Obviously, this is not the case for native speakers. But if…
The steps to take in the first CLIL lesson
They enter your classroom, looking around. Some might be noisy, most of them are silently waiting for the new experiences that await them at the new school. A select few has already read through the books and think they know what to expect. The students sit down, you start the first…
Different types of language learning explained
During a recent workshop I received the question regarding the difference between CLIL and immersion. Also, some other people used CLBT and CLIL as different phrases for the same type of language learning. To make matters worse, some teachers argued EFL is a lot like CLIL. EFL, immersion, CLBT and CLIL.…
How to make group work work
Lesson stages Beginning of the lesson | Discussing homework | Instruct students | Individual work | Group work | Lesson Reflection CLIL is all about simulating language output (among other things of course) and the best way to simulate output is by motivate students to talk. Sounds simple enough right? As discussed before, individual…
A Personal Challenge!
Last week I was invited to give a workshop at a CLIL Conference in Belgium. Apart from the fact I thought this was a great honor, I was even more surprised to hear that bilingual education has only just started in Belgium. To be allowed to help out fellow teachers…
Why working individually is also CLIL
Facebook live recording on “Silence in a CLIL Lesson” Lesson stage: Individual workLesson stages Beginning of the lesson | Discussing homework | Instruct students | Individual work | Group work | Lesson Reflection CLIL is all about creating language output and engaging students. That leaves no room for individual, silent work. Right? I don’t…
Discussing a test: The CLIL way
There is (at least) one thing every teacher does at every school. Worldwide. Discussing a test. But how can you do this in a way that is CLIL? In other words, by activating the language and engaging the students? Let me tell you how I do this, and feel free…