Exploring CLIL
Università La Sapienza
March 10th 2025
Prof: Marina Morbiducci
Lecturer: Esterina La Torre
What can you see in these images?
"What do you think these shapes are?"
"Are they natural or man-made?"
"Where can we find letters or numbers like these?"
"What do you notice about these pictures?"
"Do you think these patterns are real?"
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key words — patterns, symmetry, discovery, perseveranceThe "Alphabet in Nature" lesson takes students on a journey
inspired by a real story. The idea for this lesson comes from an article read
on People, it is the fascinating story of Kjell
Sandved, a Norwegian nature photographer and researcher who spent over twenty years searching for the entire alphabet hidden in nature, specifically
on the wings of butterflies. His
discovery began in the 1960s at the Smithsonian Institution when he stumbled
upon a butterfly with a perfect letter
"F" on its wing inside an old cigar box. This inspired him to
travel the world in search of all 26 letters, beautifully formed in nature. This
lesson will guide students through a
journey of discovery, reinforcing observation skills, storytelling, and discussion in English, while
also touching on themes of patience,
perseverance, and curiosity.
"Why did Sandved begin his search for letters in nature?"
"How long did it take him to find the full alphabet?"
"What personal qualities helped him succeed?"
"If you could spend years searching for something in nature, what would it be? Why?"
"What natural discoveries have amazed you before?"
"What inspired you most about Sandved’s story?"
"How does his journey relate to patience and perseverance?"
"What new English words did you learn today?"
2. Create a poster on Canva with images illustrating the story
3. Create a podcast about the "ButterflyAlphabet"
4. Create butterflies with different types and shapes of leaves
5. Create a "Wall exhibition" showing the artworks
Q&A
What is CLIL? CLIL is an educational approach in which a foreign language (not the students' native language) is used as a medium for teaching and learning non-linguistic content, integrating content and language.
When was the term CLIL first used? The term CLIL was first used in 1994 to refer to a variety of approaches, including immersion.
What are the "4 Cs" of CLIL? The 4 Cs of CLIL are: Content (progression in knowledge), Communication (use of language to learn and learn to use language), Cognition (development of thinking skills) and Culture (understanding of self and others).
How is language used in a CLIL context? In a CLIL context, language is used both for communication and learning, with content being the determining factor for the language needed.
What is one of the main benefits of CLIL for students? CLIL can accelerate learning, as students have a real need and desire to use the English language in meaningful contexts.
What does scaffolding mean in a CLIL context? Scaffolding refers to the structured support provided to students to help them understand and achieve learning objectives.
Why is collaboration between teachers important in CLIL? Close collaboration between teachers is important to ensure that content and language are integrated effectively and that students receive consistent support.
What is a lexical rather than grammatical approach? A lexical rather than grammatical approach means focusing on collocations, semi-fixed expressions, set phrases and subject-specific vocabulary, rather than traditional grammatical progression.
What focus is on thinking skills? In CLIL, there is a focus on thinking skills that link concept formation (abstract and concrete), comprehension and language.
What is authenticity in a CLIL context? Authenticity refers to the use of authentic materials and communication, i.e. materials that reflect real-life language use.
Glossary of Key Terms
CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning): A teaching approach in which a foreign language is used as a medium to teach a school subject.
Scaffolding: The support provided to students to help them to successful approach the topic/ theme.
The 4 Cs: Content, Communication, Cognition, Culture; key elements of CLIL.
Authenticity: Use of materials and tasks that reflect real-life language use.
Lexical Approach: A method of teaching language that focuses on vocabulary and set expressions rather than isolated grammar.
Collocations: Combinations of words that frequently occur together.
Linguistic Competence: The ability to use language effectively to communicate.
Multidisciplinary: Involvement of different academic disciplines.
Interdisciplinary: Integration of different academic disciplines.
Grammatical Approach: The grammatical approach focuses on teaching grammatical rules.
ACRONYMS in CLIL
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/22194-tkt-clil-glossary-document.pdf
