Cross-curricular CLIL projects in Swedish middle school

  • Eva Olsson University of Gothenburg
  • Liss Kerstin Sylvén University of Gothenburg
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46364/njltl.v11i2.1181
Keywords: cross-curricular CLIL; middle school; home economics; English

Abstract

In this article, we report and discuss findings from a case-study of cross-curricular CLIL implementation involving English and home economics at a Swedish middle school. The objective was to study teaching strategies for supporting students’ integrated development of content and language knowledge in practical school subjects and to explore the role of the majority language in the CLIL classroom. The study is theoretically grounded in the perspective of languages as being socially constructed (Lantolf, 2000; Lantolf & Thorne, 2006). The focus of the analysis is the role of scaffolding (Walqui, 2006) in CLIL. Data consist of field notes and teaching materials from lesson observations as well as teachers’ plans and evaluations of the CLIL theme. Findings show that practical subjects, such as home economics, offer ample opportunities for visual scaffolding, and that the content is concrete and often close to students’ everyday life. Further, the content of the English lessons becomes highly relevant for the students as it will be used in an authentic situation, i.e. in home economics class. With careful planning, including strategies for scaffolding, and cooperation among teachers, cross-curricular CLIL themesinvolving a practical subject seem highly suitable for CLIL among young learners. 

Author Biographies

Eva Olsson, University of Gothenburg

Eva Olsson has a PhD in Language Education and is assistant professor of Pedagogy at the University of Gothenburg. Her research interests include content and language integrated teaching and learning (CLIL), language assessment, students’ development of L2 vocabulary and L2 writing proficiency, and language learning outside school through spare time activities.

Liss Kerstin Sylvén, University of Gothenburg

LK Sylvén is Professor of Language Education at the University of Gothenburg. With a PhD in English linguistics, her research interests include various perspectives of content and language integrated learning (CLIL), computer assisted language learning (CALL), L2 vocabulary acquisition, motivation, individual differences and extramural English. Recently, she has focused on informal learning of L2 English among very young children.

Published
2024-01-28
Issue
Vol. 11 No. 3 (2023): Thematic issue on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in the Nordic countries and beyond
Section
Main section

Copyright (c) 2023 Eva Olsson, Liss Kerstin Sylvén

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