Universidad Austral de Chile
Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades
Escuela de Pedagogía en Comunicación en Lengua Inglesa
Lead advisor:
Mg. Maritza Ortega Pérez
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom:
The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest
Seminario de Tesis para optar al Título de Profesor en Comunicación
en Lengua Inglesa y al Grado de Licenciado en Educación
César Maximiliano Czischke Álvarez
Valdivia, Chile
2013
Acknowledgements
To God, my family, friends, and teachers, especially Maritza, Amalia and
Juanita.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...1
1. Theoretical framework
1.1 Introduction: State of the Art………………………………………………...3
1.2 Content and Language Integrated Learning.
1.2.1
Theoretical basis……………………………………………………..7
1.2.2
Language learning……………………………………………………8
1.2.3
Content learning…………………………………………………….10
1.2.4
Cultural awareness and intercultural understanding………………..12
1.2.5
Integration of content learning and language learning……………...14
1.2.6
Krashen’s Second Language Acquisition Theory…………………..16
1.3 EFL learning and acquisition……………………………………………….19
1.3.1
Communicative Language Teaching……………………………….19
1.3.2
Natural Approach…………………………………………………...21
1.3.3
Cooperative learning………………………………………………..23
1.3.4
Language learning and language acquisition within CLIL…………25
1.4 The Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest.
1.4.1
History and geographical location………………………………….27
1.4.2
The Aztec society………………………………….………………..28
1.4.3
Art and religious traits………………………………………………29
1.4.4
Spanish conquest……………………………………………………31
2. Didactic unit.
2.1 Fundamental Objectives……………………………………………………32
2.2 Transversal Fundamental Objectives……………………………………….35
2.3 Activities……………………………………………………………………36
2.4 Discussion: Advantages and disadvantages of CLIL……………………….55
2.5 CLIL and its application in Chilean EFL classrooms………………………56
Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………….58
References……………………………………………………………………………...60
Appendixes……………………………………………………………………………..63
Abstract.
In response to the Chilean students’ low results on English proficiency tests, this
work offers a 6-class didactic unit which takes CLIL as its core functional element; its
main objective is to develop students’ communicative competence through the learning
of a subject. This subject is the Aztecs and the Spanish conquest, which fosters the
learning and acquisition of vocabulary related to antique cultures, artistic manifestations
and religious traditions, as well as lexicon and cognitive abilities associated with
deduction making, giving explanations and arguing ideas. In terms of grammar, this unit
is focused mainly on the past simple and past perfect of verbs.
Key words: CLIL, Natural Approach, CLT, Second Language Acquisition Theory,
Cooperative learning, Subject Based Instruction, History, Aztecs and Spanish
Colonialism.
1
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Introduction
Recent studies concerning the Chilean students’ level of English proficiency
have shown the urgent need of more efficient pedagogical strategies in the teaching of
this language; most of the students barely know how to read in English, or understand
comprehensively if they are exposed to the language. Bearing this in mind, and as a
response to this issue, a didactic unit is presented to promote a relatively novel teaching
strategy that aims to enhance the effective teaching of English and a determined subject
in the EFL classroom; The Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach.
While the term CLIL may result unknown to the Chilean academic community,
its basics are well-known and have been proven effective for ends of language learning
and acquisition. Based on this assertion, and knowing the benefits of the
Communicative Language Teaching approach, the Second Language Acquisition
theory, and other pillars of the CLIL methodology, this didactic unit offers a guideline
to implement CLIL on the Chilean EFL classrooms.
The subject chosen for this didactic unit is the Aztecs and the Spanish conquest,
since the language that will be acquired by the students is strongly connected to the use
of the past tense of verbs as well as vocabulary to draw conclusions, deducting
information, giving reasons and explaining causes.
This work has been divided into two main chapters; Theoretical framework and
didactic unit. The first chapter is composed by 3 sections. The first one deals with the
current situation of Chilean students regarding English, and a theoretical frame that
gives shape to the CLIL method, its application in terms of content and language
learning-acquisition and the way they interact in the learning process. This section also
2
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
includes a brief explanation of the Language Acquisition Theory, which functions as a
guideline to the application of CLIL in terms of language teaching.
The second section provides a description of the teaching methodologies that
will be used throughout this didactic unit, these being the Communicative Language
Teaching, the Natural Approach, and the Cooperative Learning methodology. This
section also offers a key explanation that seeks to explain the difference between
language learning and language acquisition within CLIL and its practical use.
Finally, the third section exposes the subject that will be taught in the didactic
unit, this being the Aztecs and the main traits of their culture, including their religion,
social hierarchy, artistic manifestations and finally the Spanish colonization of their
territory.
The second chapter of this paper presents the objectives of this didactic unit as
well as the lesson plans and all the materials that have to be used to its implementation.
3
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1. Theoretical framework
1.1
Introduction: State of the Art
The teaching of English as a foreign language in Chile is a compulsory subject
taught from fifth grade to the twelfth grade, in high school. Although the Ministry of
Education dictates a minimum of three hours in elementary school and four in high
school – plus three hours in the Elective Subjects in eleventh and twelfth grades – the
amount of hours English is taught can be increased according to the particular programs
and needs of the educational institutions, especially in private and subsidized
elementary schools and high schools. The EFL programs designed by the Chilean
Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) cover the four basic skills of any language:
Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. It is necessary to point out, though, that the
first two skills are preponderant along the entire EFL syllabuses, as claimed by McKay
(2003), which in turn, denotes the goals that MINEDUC is aiming for: the development
of receptive skills for their instrumental usage.
While it is clear that the students of the Chilean compulsory education are taught
in order to be prepared to understand written and oral English - over producing language
- the MINEDUC declares that students do need to develop skills which will allow them
to express themselves in specific contexts (English opens doors). This idea builds upon
the new challenge within the teaching of English as a foreign language, which is to
enhance student’s communicative ability in the target language.
As demonstrated by Curinao and González (2008) there is no connection
between the EFL programs proposed by MINEDUC and CLT approaches, but instead,
4
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
the English syllabus suggests, mainly, activities related to language abilities, such as
reading, listening and grammar-based drills.
Bearing this in mind, it is needed to know how, when and where a CLIL strategy
can be put into practice for the aforementioned development of the Chilean students’
communicative ability in a foreign language. In order to have a clear picture of the
actual situation of Chilean students regarding English learning, we can examine the
results of the English SIMCE test that all eleventh grade students from public,
subsidized and private schools took in 2010.
The standard test used in this evaluation was the TOEIC Bridge Exam which, in
this case, assesses students’ reading and listening skills. The test consisted of fifty
questions on reading and fifty on listening. The students who obtained over 134 points
(a minimum of 64 in Listening comprehension and 70 in reading comprehension) were
considered to have a basic level of English which is defined as:
Listening comprehension: The student is capable of understanding short phrases and
expressions related to everyday issues, such as: short messages, advertisements or
instructions.
Reading comprehension: The student is capable of understanding simple, short texts
containing frequently-used vocabulary, such as: advertisements, menus, timetables,
public signs, letters, catalogs, short newspaper articles.
The results were as follows,
5
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Figure 1. English test results
Source: http://www.educarchile.cl/UserFiles/P0001/File/CR_Articulos/simce_ingles_2010.pps
Figure. 2 English test results
Source: http://www.educarchile.cl/UserFiles/P0001/File/CR_Articulos/simce_ingles_2010.pps
6
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
On the one hand, “Con Certificación” refers to the students who were able to obtain 134
points or more, “Sin Certificación”, on the other, invokes those who obtained less than
134 points.
Figure 3. English test results
Source:http://www.educarchile.cl/UserFiles/P0001/File/CR_Articulos/simce_ingles_2010.pps
7
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.2
Content and Language Integrated Learning
1.2.1 Theoretical basis
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) as defined by Coyle, Hood
and Marsh (2010) is “a dual-focused educational approach in which an additional
language is used for learning and teaching both content and language” (p.1). Therefore,
CLIL is a teaching approach that mingles language education as well as content
education within its own theoretical basis. While the focus on content or language may
vary depending on the situation and context where CLIL methodologies are
implemented, there are theoretical and practical precepts that must be borne in mind
when applying this type of CBI approach.
8
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.2.2
Language learning
CLIL rises as a teaching proposal that covers the necessity of people to develop
effective language skills in a globalized world, where the need to communicate
themselves in a foreign language supersedes the students’ passive knowledge of
English, thus, transforming the way in which teachers and educational entities in
general must see language education. Having this idea in mind, the leading principle of
CLIL, which has to do with language, is the need to communicate efficiently, to use the
target language as a tool to express real messages and ideas, and not language itself as
an end of the teaching process.
As it has been stated before, a fundamental element of CLIL is the teaching of
the target language for its future use by the students in real life situations. In order to
reach this goal, teachers must work to develop the students’ communicative
competence, which is defined by Canale and Swain (1980) under the following
parameters: First, Grammatical competence, which is knowledge of lexical items, rules
of morphology, and phonology. Second, Sociolinguistic Competence, which encloses
knowledge of the relation of language use in its non-linguistic context (Sociocultural
competence) and the knowledge of rules of cohesion and coherence (Discourse
competence). Finally, Strategic Competence, which encompasses strategies of verbal
and non-verbal communication that take place when the speaker needs to compensate
insufficient linguistic competence.
In order to achieve communicative competence on students it is important to pay
attention to both, form and meaning. Bearing this in mind, Clegg (2003) (as cited by
Coyle et al., 2010), suggests that there are two alternative approaches to CLIL, one that
9
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
focuses on language development using certain subjects and another which focuses on
subjects overlaying explicit language teaching. Choosing one or the other depends
solely on the context of each setting where CLIL will take place.
10
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.2.3
Content learning
As CLIL functions on the basis of content and language working together, it is
important to establish what has been said about content learning and the appropriate
methods that educators have dealt with. When it comes to CLIL praxis, the content in
use can be adapted to the necessities of the educational institution where this CBI
approach is going to take place, and it can range from cross-curricular topics, thematic
issues, or subjects proposed by the national syllabus ( Coyle et al., 2010). Knowing
what to teach does not imply knowing how to teach it, so it must be taken into
consideration what is known about effective pedagogy in terms of content teaching. The
debate on the effective teaching of content is not a new issue; in fact, it has been
discussed for decades by specialists on the subject. One of the main and dominant
conceptions known about content learning has a teacher-led and teacher-controlled
model where the educator deposits information on the learner, what is known as the
‘banking model’ (Freire, 1972).
As Cummins states (2005), nowadays, tendencies aim to student-centered
approaches, where the relevance of the student’s experience with learning and how they
interact with what is being taught are emphasized, rather than a mere reception of
knowledge (as cited by Coyle et al., 2010). Vygotsky (1978) has introduced the term
‘zone of proximal development’ (ZPD) in order to describe “the kind of learning which
is always challenging yet potentially within reach of individual learners on condition
that appropriate support, scaffolding and guidance are provided” (as cited by Coyle et
al., 2010), this is, keeping a cognitive challenge for learners as well as support (scaffold)
that is appropriate to the learner’s progress (ibid).
11
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
The argument stated in the previous paragraph demonstrates the educator’s
necessity to plan activities, strategies and resources under the conception of a cognitivechallenging method so as to make the students the protagonist of their own learning. In
order to achieve this goal, the teacher must create activities that demand the student’s
capability to solve problems, analyze information, and summarize contents, among
other activities related to higher-order thinking.
Proofs of the effectiveness of this philosophy can be found in many studies
carried out by specialists on the matter all over the world. One example is the
Queensland School Reform Longitudinal Study (1998-2000) which demonstrated that to
enhance achievement levels, students must “be intellectually challenged in order to
transform information and ideas, to solve problems, to gain understanding and to
discover new meaning” (Department of Education, Queensland, 2002:1, as cited by
Coyle et al., 2010).
Teaching in accordance to the principles stated above will grant the learner the
tools to develop successfully in the area of advanced cognitive skills (creative thinking,
problem solving, reflecting on their own learning, etc.) which is paramount in the
correct implementation and praxis of CLIL.
12
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.2.4
Cultural awareness and intercultural understanding
As presented by Geertz in his book Local Knowledge (1983) there is no such
thing as human nature independent of culture. This stance relates directly to language
teaching, as in how Brown (1980, p. 138) defines culture in relation to language (as
cited by Doyle et al., 2010):
“Cultural patterns, customs and ways of life are expressed in language: culture
specific world views are reflected in language… Language and culture interact so
that world views among cultures differ, and that language used to express that
world view may be relative and specific to that view.”
Halliday (1970) describes language development as a “social event, a semiotic
encounter through which meanings that constitute the social system are exchanged” (as
cited by Doyle et al., 2010). In this definition, language functions as a vehicle for
culture interaction; therefore, there is, necessarily, a cultural interchange within the
CLIL classroom. Having this idea in mind, it raises the necessity to put into practice a
meaningful implementation of culture teaching by CLIL educators. One key factor to
achieve this goal is to propitiate interaction between peers, teacher-student-interaction
and the use of specific materials and texts, all in the second language being taught.
The exposure to a foreign language and its correlative interaction entails using
skills to mediate between one’s own and others’ culture, raising awareness about the
culture of oneself, including attitudes and behaviors that are culturally learned. (Doyle
13
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
et al., 2010). This interaction also develops the student’s cultural knowledge and
capacity to critically apply and analyze social processes and outcomes (ibid). Thus, the
contribution of CLIL to the learners’ intercultural understanding is found in the
development of:
“…an ability to see and manage the relationship between themselves and their
own cultural beliefs, behaviors and meanings, as expressed in a foreign language, and
those of their interlocutors, expressed in the same language – or even a combination of
languages.” (Byram, 1997, p. 12)
14
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.2.5
Integration of content learning and language learning
The integration of content learning and language learning in a teaching situation
represents a fundamental aspect in the development of an effective CLIL strategy. As
presented by Candall (as cited by Coyle et al., 2010, p.41):
“Students cannot develop academic knowledge and skills without access to the
language in which that knowledge is embedded, discussed, constructed, or
evaluated. Nor can they acquire academic language skills in a context devoid of
content"
Coyle et al. (2010) state the effective CLIL method occurs when content;
communication and culture are integrated simultaneously. To reach this goal the teacher
must:
-
Assist the student in the learning of new contents and cognitive-related
skills.
-
Develop the learners’ abilities related to second language appropriately.
-
Strengthen the intercultural awareness for students to relate the concepts of
self and the other.
As it can be seen, the CLIL method implies the effective learning and
acquisition of both content and language, acknowledging the cultural interaction that
rises from the teaching in a second language. It is also important to highlight that the
preponderance of any of these concepts over the others depends solely on the context in
which CLIL takes place. (Coyle et al., 2010).
15
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
For the correct put-into-practice of the already mentioned content-language
integration within the CLIL method, it is necessary to stick to the following principles
(Coyle et al., 2010)
-
The learners must create their own learning and develop their skills
accordingly. (Personalized learning)
-
Content learning must be subordinate to the students’ linguistic capabilities
and development.
-
Language has to be learned, it cannot be used as a mere mean to learning a
specific content.
-
The teacher-learner and learner-learner interactions are fundamental in a
CLIL setting, since communication and interaction are indispensable to
reach effective learning.
-
Intercultural awareness cannot be left aside in the CLIL classroom, knowing
that languages are a cultural phenomenon and not just a mere set of
grammatical rules and vocabulary.
16
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.2.6
Krashen’s Second Language Acquisition Theory
One of the leading principles of the language learning process within a CLIL
setting is the effective learning of a second language for its usage in real life situations,
being the Communicative Approach, one resource for attaining this objective.
The philosophy behind the methodology of the Communicative Approach takes
form from the Second Language Acquisition Theory (hereafter SLAT) developed by
Krashen in the early 80s. Krashen (1985) claims that the SLAT is based on five
hypotheses, which are:
1. The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
Krashen remarks the difference between language learning and language
acquisition, the first one being “knowing about the language” (p.1) and the latter being
the subconscious process of acquiring a language, in the same way children do when
acquiring their first language. Needless to say, acquisition being the main focus of the
most recent second language teaching approaches.
2. The Natural Order Hypothesis
The Natural Order Hypothesis states that language and grammatical rules are
developed in a specific and predictable order, both by children acquiring their first
17
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
language as well as learners acquiring a second language. The orders in which these
rules and skills are developed are not determined by the language taught in classes, but
rather, by the exposure to comprehensible input that the acquirer has had.
3. The Monitor Hypothesis.
The Monitor Hypothesis asserts the way learned and acquired language function
in the creation of meaning. While what is spontaneously produced comes from what is
acquired subconsciously, conscious knowledge of language serves only as a tool for
making corrections of what is produced. These corrections, according to Krashen
(1985), occur both, before and after the utterance: before, for editing and correcting the
output to meet grammatical, and overall, linguistic accuracy; and after, for the sake of
self-correction. For the Monitor process to happen, two conditions need to be met: the
learner has to be concerned with grammatical correctness, and they also need to be
acquainted with the rule.
4. The Input Hypothesis.
“Input”, as defined by Krashen (1985) is the comprehensible message which
allows the individual to acquire new language. The Input Hypothesis declares that the
only way to acquire a language is through understanding messages and being exposed to
a sufficient amount of this new language. The way in which this process occurs is by
comprehending messages, usually with unacquired grammar, with the help of extra-
18
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
linguistic information. After the exposure to this “input”, speech will emerge naturally
with the new grammar already acquired.
5. The Affective Filter Hypothesis.
Krashen (1985) proposes that acquisition effectively occurs when the learner is
“open to the input” (p. 3), meaning that they are motivated, confident, and wellsupported by the teacher. If the acquirer happens to be stressed, disoriented, anxious, or
under other negative conditions; when the filter is “up”, as reported by Krashen, the
input will hardly become part of the performer’s second language development, since
what is being spoken might be understood, but not necessarily be in reach of the LAD
(Chomsky’s Language Acquisition Device).
19
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.3
EFL learning and acquisition
English as a foreign language, also known as EFL, refers to the teaching of
English in a region where this language is not naturally spoken or does not constitute a
native language. EFL, in contrast with ESL, which is the teaching of English where this
language is widely spoken, poses a challenge for educators to teach a language, which
in practice, is not used in an every-day basis by acquirers. For this purpose, many
pedagogical approaches and methodologies have been created. Those that are more
commonly used in a CLIL setting, and that are going to be employed in this didactic
unit, will be described below.
1.3.1
Communicative Language Teaching
Communicative Language Teaching (or CLT), as defined by Richards (2006) is
a “set of principles about the goals of language teaching” (p. 2), goals that are centered
on the students’ development of communicative competence. The principles that led to
the rise of CLT came about through the discussions of what second language teaching
should involve; while the classic methods for teaching a foreign language, such as
Grammar Translation Method, or the Direct Method, were intended to master
grammatical competence, the idea of developing communicative competence through
formal instruction became a solid guideline in the creation of new strategies and
methods for effective teaching. In its turn, communicative competence, as it may be
inferred, is related to the students’ ability to communicate with others by making use of
their linguistic competence and their knowledge of social implications of words and
language forms. (Littlewood, 1981)
20
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
As the concept of effective language learning has changed, so the methodologies
employed in the classroom have. Most grammar-based methodologies consisted of
grammar drills and the use of fixed dialogs, putting a special focus on grammatical and
phonological accuracy (Richards, 2006). These activities had precarious results on what
was understood by linguists and psychologists as effective learning (Skehan, 1996). As
a result, classroom activities changed towards what CLT had brought: using the
language for communicative purposes, focus on specific communicative situations, role
play activities, etc.
21
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.3.2
Natural Approach
The Natural Approach (NA) is a method of language teaching proposed and
developed by the teacher Tracy Terrel and the linguist Stephen Krashen in the last part
of the seventies. The theoretical background of the NA is based on the studies carried
out by Krashen on the field of language acquisition and the experience of Terrel
working as a Spanish teacher in California (Richards & Rodgers, 1987). Both scholars
propose that a second language is acquired in the same manner that speakers acquired
their first language (Krashen, 1985). In order to apply the theory of SLAT into the
classrooms, the NA takes forms as a model of set rules which will lead the students to
develop their communicative competence in order to use their acquired language
effectively.
As Krashen and Terrel state (1985), learning a language only ensures the
student’s knowledge of grammatical rules, which in turn, come in handy only when
editing what is produced, either in self-correction, after the utterance, or prior the
utterance, thus, leading to grammatical accuracy but a lack of fluency. Following the
goals of NA, and putting emphasis on the students’ ability to communicate themselves
efficiently, Krashen and Terrel (1985) set the principles of the Natural Approach being:
-
Comprehension preceding production The genuine production of
messages cannot precede acquisition. Students, as well as children learning their
native language, need to understand messages before creating their own
utterances. As Petretic and Tweney (1977) described, children at an early age
are fully prepared to comprehend more complex adult speech. Using this
advantage, along non-verbal communication, the teacher can use the target
22
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
language to convey messages. The messages must be centered on topics of
interest for the acquirer, and the instructor must appeal to all resources needed
to get across their message.
-
Production emerges in stages
The messages produced by acquirers evolve as they are progressively exposed to
comprehensible input (Krashen and Terrel, 1985). These stages commonly are
(ordered by sequence of occurrence): (a) nonverbal responses, (b), single-word
responses, (c) two to three words combinations, (d) phrases, (e) sentences, and,
lastly, (f) more complex utterances.
-
Error correction and the production stage
It is strongly suggested that the instructor has to allow the students to produce
meaning only when they are ready to do so, forcing the acquirers to generate any
output before mastering the first stage should be avoided. As Littlewood (1981)
points out, errors have to be corrected only when they interfere with
communication, so overly strict speech corrections have to be evaded. The
comprehensible input will develop the students’ communicative competence,
leading into gradual grammatical progression.
-
Classroom objectives and the syllabus design
The activities done in the classroom cannot be focused on grammar related
subjects; instead, they must be focused on communication topics, such as
functions, communicative situations, contextualized scenarios, etc (Krashen and
Terrel, 1985).
-
Affective filter
The affective filter of the students has to be low to ensure acquisition. The
instructor must create an environment of confidence and respect within the
23
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
classroom. They can also encourage the students to get involved with the
activities by using topics that are interesting to them (Krashen and Terrel, 1985).
1.3.3
Cooperative learning
Although Cooperative learning (CL) has been defined and redefined numerous
times by different authors, it could be described as a teaching methodology where
students work in small groups with a common goal, sharing team and individual
responsibilities and tasks. (Pastor, 2011). The rebirth of CL, as a teaching methodology,
resides in a response to the strong individualism and competitiveness environment bred
in the classrooms in the first half of the twentieth century (Johnson and Johnson, 1999);
traditional methods, as Aronson and Patnoe argued (1997), encouraged students to
strive for personal success and individualistic goals (as cited by Bawn, 2007).
Cooperative learning, instead, “promotes interaction” and the “development of
cognitive and personal growth” (Casal, 2006) (as cited by Pistorio, 2010) within
classroom activities designed and fixed by the teacher, who, in turn, has to ensure the
development of the students’ skills of leadership, decision-making, negotiation, and
communication, among others (Pistorio, 2010).
In practical terms, the CL activities designed by the teacher must possess five
basic characteristics in order to reach success. These features are
(http://www.humboldt.edu):
-
Positive interdependence: Students depend on each other to get the
activities done. Task-assignment and role-taking can be used to fulfill this
goal.
24
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
-
Face to face interaction: It consists of students supporting and teaching
each other about concepts, skills and subjects that need to work in
conjunction to get a task done.
-
Individual accountability: As the realization of the assignment depends on
all the parts of the group, each member has the responsibility to do their part
in a group activity.
-
Social skills: Cooperative activities function as a practice of social skills
taught by the educator. Some of these skills have been listed above.
-
Group processing: Students assess the functional issues of their group
work. How they learned what they learned; how it could be improved; what
was needed to arrive to a solution, etc.
25
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.3.4
Language learning and language acquisition within CLIL
The language learning versus language acquisition discussion is not extraneous
to the CLIL classroom. As Krashen and Terrel (1985) express, learning a language is
knowing about it, while acquiring a language is knowing how to use it. From this
distinction emerges the “meaning versus form” dilemma which has led to the creation of
different teaching methodologies and approaches. In the case of CLIL, as it has already
been stated, the focus on meaning (communication) or form (grammar) will depend
solely on the context of the setting in which CLIL will take place, as well as the
demands of the content being taught ( Coyle et al., 2010). For this purpose, the authors
previously mentioned, propose three interrelated perspectives to understand, teach and
use language: language of learning, language for learning and language through
learning.
Language of learning refers to the language required for students to access
vocabulary and skills related to the topic of study, applying to both, grammar and
vocabulary. In the case of grammar, it is presented to support and provide the student
with correct grammatical structures that are going to be used in learning new content.
Language for learning is the language that will be used to operate in the
classroom, to interact with the teacher and peers, in other words, to communicate
themselves. It is important to note that this language has to be provided by the educator,
so it will help the students with the tasks of discussing ideas, asking questions, giving
answers, sharing knowledge, drawing conclusions, etc. (Coyle et al., 2010)
Language through learning has relation to the emerging new learning that the
student develops in, and outside, formal classroom activities and the need to
26
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
conceptualize those ideas in the target language. As Coyle et al. (2010) describe it, this
meaning (language) needs to “be captured, recycled and developed strategically by
teachers and learners” (p. 37), so it has been proven (Met, 1998) that the strengthening
of the interrelation of concepts, pre-existing knowledge and new knowledge, improve
learning and retention.
27
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.4
The Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest
1.4.1 History and geographical location
The Aztecs, or as they called themselves, Mexicas, were a tribe which was
originally from what is today the north of Mexico. According to Mexican legends, the
tribe originally comes from the caves of Chicomoztoc, located in the land called Aztlan.
In the year 1168 AD they arrived at the valley of Anahuac and after around 150 years
wandering around that area, they founded Tenochtitlan, a city located in an island in the
Lake Texcoco. In the late XIV century and early XV century (around 1376 and 1427)
the Aztec rulers had a vassalage agreement with the Tepanec people, residents of
Azcapotzalco. In the year 1427, after Tepanec agents assassinated Chimalpopoca,
tlaotani (ruler) of the city-state of Tenochtitlan, the three tributary provinces of
Texcoco, Tlacopan and Tenochtitlan formed what is called today as the Triple Alliance,
and started a war against Azcapotzalco, which in the end, was defeated.
Within the following 100 years, the city-state of Tenochtitlan became dominant
within the Triple Alliance, and came to dominate the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific
shores.
28
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.4.2
The Aztec Society
The social order and composition of the Aztec Empire was stratified and highly
complex. The family was the central nucleus of the Aztec society, where maternal, and
preferably paternal lineage, determined ones status and place the social stratum. The
three basic divisions in the Aztec society were the nobles, commoners and the slaves.
The first had reserved privileges, such as receiving tributary payments from the
commoners, occupying highly-ranked military positions, and the right to choose the
tlaotani. The commoners were free people (in the most part) who worked as farmers,
warriors, traders and artisans. While they could keep their production, the lands were
collectively owned by the calpulli (organized groups of commoners). Some commoners,
though, were attached to the land they worked to, being owned by the novelty; still, they
had the right to keep part of the harvest. Within the commoners there were sub-groups
with distinct responsibilities and concessions. Merchants and soldiers were highly
considered, having benefits and privileges most Aztecs did not have.
Slaves in the Aztec Empire could have different origins; they could be war
captives, punished criminals, or people who could not pay their debts. In distinction to
African slaves held by Europeans, Aztecs slaves could obtain their freedom easily,
whether by means of good conduct, by buying their freedom, or by death of their
masters, among other reasons; they could also have their own property, or even, their
own slaves.
29
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.4.3
Art and religious traits
Artistic manifestations were common and varied in the Aztec Empire. Poetry,
which was known as “flower and song”, was an oral tradition rich in religious and
nature imagery, with a strong use of repetition and parallelism. Its most common
themes were the myths and legends, war, beauty, nature, life, etc.
Music was highly related to poetry, it consisted of hymns commemorating the
deeds of deities, musical pleas asking for gods’ favor, or chants sung in ceremonial
sacrifices. Music also was played for more mundane purposes, songs of love,
friendship, etc. Among the instruments used by the Aztecs, there were rattles, drums,
flutes, and horns made from snail shells.
Painting, for the most part, consisted of hieroglyphs and representation of
mythological and divine scenes, the different colors used represented symbols, ideas or
cardinal points. Among plastic arts, feather and jewelry crafting, and pottery, were
highly advanced, used for ornamental and religious purposes. It was common the use of
gold, silver, jade, turquoise, quetzal and xiuhtototl feathers. Mayor sculpturing was
reserved for deities and kings, but minor figures were destined to represent animals and
common objects.
The Aztecs were polytheistic, believing that each phenomenon of nature was
ruled by a god, as well as human activities, the sky, the earth, and the underworld.
Aztecs believed in rebirth, as an eternal cycle of life and death; the sun, mankind, and
even crops, were also subject of this cyclical regime. The supreme authority of the
religious activities were carried out by the tlatoani, however, there also existed
autonomous high priests were in charge of pilgrimage centers. The rest of the religious
30
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
personnel was divided into monks, priests, priestess, among others. The religious
practices consisted of sacrificial rituals, dances, songs, and the offering of goods.
31
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
1.4.4
Spanish conquest
In the year 1519, on April the twenty-first, a group of 600 Spanish
Conquistadores, led by Hernán Cortés, dropped anchor in the beach of Chalchihuecan,
in the Gulf of Mexico. By the year 1519, the ruler of the Aztecs was Moctezuma, a
leader who, once he heard of the strangers in the east coast, related the appearance of
Cortés with Quetzalcoatl, a deity who was expected to return to earth in the form of a
red-haired man, with light skin and eyes. After hostilities begun, with losses to both
sides and having the Spaniards the alliance to the city-state of Tlaxcala, the invading
force started the siege of Tenochtitlan. Even with Cortés having a smaller army, the
power of the fire weapons, the fear inducing horses and cannons, and the diseases
affecting the aborigines, the Spaniards defeated the Aztecs and gained control of the
city in the year 1521. As most of the buildings of Tenochtitlan were destroyed, so it
happened with the Aztec Empire, the Spanish conquest of Mexico had finished.
32
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
2. Didactic unit
The following chapter presents the description, objectives, goals, resources and
lesson plans that constitute the CLIL-based didactic unit of this work. This unit is
intended to second year students of secondary level. However, it is important to note,
that observing the nature of CLIL and the very essence of this didactic unit, these
lessons could be implemented either in the compulsory first year English class – where
the past tense is taught -, or in unrestricted classes on a bilingual school, as a support for
both, English and History.
This unit, called The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest, consists of six lessons
with a total of twelve pedagogical hours, each class lasting 90 minutes.
2.1
Fundamental Objectives
The fundamental objectives (FO) set by the Chilean ministry of education that
will be attained through the unit “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest” are:
English

First FO: The students are able to communicate themselves orally on
situations related to the topic of the unit (The Aztecs and the Spanish
conquest) using fixed expressions, idioms, and short, simple sentences.
(Programas de Estudio de Inglés, primero medio)
33
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom

Second FO: The students have the capability of reading and
understanding specific information of simple texts, deducing the main ideas
of it. (Programas de Estudio de Inglés, primero medio)

Third FO: The students have the capability of writing comprehensible
narrative and descriptive texts using connectors. (Programas de Estudio de
Inglés, primero medio)

Forth FO: The students have the capability of listening and
distinguishing the main points of an oral text. (Programas de Estudio de
Inglés, primero medio)
History
First of all, it must be clarified that the subject of the Mesoamerican
Civilizations has been removed from the Chilean curricular programs for the secondary
level of education. Nonetheless, history teachers partially cover the Mesoamerican
civilizations in the second year of the secondary level.
The fundamental objectives that will be attained through the unit “The Aztecs
and the Spanish conquest” are:

First FO: The students recognize the cultural and social legacy of the
Aztecs in the contemporary world.

Second FO: The students know the Aztecs and their cultural and social
traits.
34
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom

Third FO: The students link the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire
and the relation with the Spanish Colonial period in Latin America
These seven fundamental objectives are the guidelines that will be followed by
the classroom activities developed in this didactic unit. As to the more specific contents
and objectives, they will be described in detail in each lesson plan.
In a CLIL setting, the focus on either the language or the subject depends on the
needs of the educational institution in which the classes take place. In the case of this
particular didactic unit, the class will focused on language; therefore, the goals and
objectives are geared towards language-related learning. As the Aztecs subject is not
present in the Chilean educational curriculum of the secondary level, it will function
primarily as a topic for developing language skills, and secondly, as a support for
History classes.
35
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
2.2
Transversal Fundamental Objectives
The Transversal Fundamental Objectives (TFO) are a part of the Chilean
curriculum that addresses objectives related to the students’ development of social,
intellectual, ethic and personal skills. The actual Chilean curriculum encompasses these
skills and abilities within: growth and self-confidence, thinking development, ethical
formation, people and their environment, and information and communication
technologies. (Programas de Estudio de Inglés, primero medio)
36
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
2.3
Activities
Lesson plan I
Name of the unit: “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest”.
Name of the class: “Knowing the Aztecs”.
Objectives: Students will know general aspects of the Aztec civilization (geographical
location, time span of existence and general aspects of their lifestyle) to contextualize
future learning. In terms of language, students will acquire and practice vocabulary
related to description, deduction, as well as the use of the past tense.
Skills: Reading comprehension, listening and speaking.
Methodology: CLIL, Communicative Language Teaching, Natural Approach.
Time: 90 minutes.
Instructions:
In order to introduce the unit, the teacher will show the students a segment of
the documentary “The Aztec Empire” (Until minute 21:30) (see appendix 1) after
giving them a set of questions asking: “What was the capital of the Aztec Empire?”,
“What was the purpose of human sacrifices in the Aztec religion?”, “What was the
sign the Aztecs sought to found their city?”, “How did Aztecs view art? How
37
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
important was it?”. After watching the documentary, the teacher will form
heterogeneous groups of four members who will discuss the questions and then
answer them in their copybooks. Subsequently, the teacher will pick one random
student from each group to give a brief summary of what they answered.
Secondly, the teacher will show the students pictures related to the Aztec
civilization (see appendix 2) such as: an Aztec calendar and their pyramids, a map of
Mexico and Central America, a picture of the Zócalo (main plaza of Mexico City), a
panoramic picture of Mexico City.
Afterwards, the 4-member groups will brainstorm the meaning of each item and
the connection between them. Once the students are finished with the brainstorming,
each member of the group will provide an account of the meaning and relation of
one picture according to what was discussed with the rest of the group, and so will
do a different member of the group, describing one picture each.
Finally, the teacher will pin the set of pictures on a map in the spot
corresponding to Mexico, and draw a timeline with the period of time in which the
Aztecs, as a civilization and empire, existed.
Contents
Learning
Activities
Resources Time
Assessment
A data
show, a
computer
and
speakers.
The teacher
monitors the
students’
participation
on their
groups.
outcomes
Language
contents:
Language of
learning
(LOL): Past
tense,
connectors,
Historical and
spatial
contextualization
Discussion and
deduction skills
and vocabulary.
Students watch
a segment of
the
documentary
“The Aztec
Empire” and,
in groups of
four; they
answer
questions
40
min.
38
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
verb to be.
Language for
learning
(LFL):
Vocabulary
related to
descriptions,
present
simple.
History
contents:
General
aspects of the
Aztecs related
to religion
and their
lifestyle.
Geographical
location and
time period of
the Aztecs.
The use of past
tense.
previously
given to them
by the teacher.
After the
questions have
been answered
in their
copybooks, one
student from
each group is
picked by the
teacher to
briefly answer
the questions.
Students
observe four
pictures related
to the Aztec
empire and
their location.
In the already
formed groups,
the students
brainstorm the
meaning and
relation of the
pictures shown
by the teacher.
After that, the
students
describe the
meaning and
relation found
on the pictures.
Pictures
5
min.
15
min.
20
min.
39
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
The teacher, in
conjunction
with the
students,
locates the
pictures in the
zone
corresponding
to the Aztec
empire. And
also places
them within a
timeline
A map of
Mexico
and
Central
America.
A timeline
between
the years
1000 and
2013.
10
min.
Note: The teacher, if necessary, must provide the students with the vocabulary needed for the LFL.
40
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Lesson plan II
Name of the unit: “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest”.
Name of the class: “History of the Aztecs”.
Objectives: Students will know the historical evolution of the Aztec empire. Also, they
will acquire and practice vocabulary such as connectors of sequence and the simple past
of determined verbs.
Skills: Listening, reading comprehension and speaking.
Methodology: CLIL, Communicative Language Teaching, Natural Approach,
Cooperative learning.
Time: 90 minutes.
Instructions:
In order to present the history of the Aztecs, the teacher will review, along with
the students, what was taught in the previous session.
The next activity will consist of the teacher showing the students a brief
PowerPoint presentation with assorted images (see appendix 3) of scenes depicting
activities performed by the Aztecs. These images will show different milestones of
the Aztec Empire; these being: the migration from the caves of Chicomoztoc to the
41
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
valley of Anahuac; the Aztecs finding of an eagle on a cactus; the construction of
Tenochtitlan; battles with neighboring tribes; the landing of Hernán Cortés in the
Yucatán peninsula; the Aztecs-Spaniards encounter; the Aztecs fighting the
Spaniards; and the fall of Tenochtitlan. The students will openly guess the meaning
of each scene.
Once the students have seen the pictures, they will group in teams of four
members chosen randomly by the teacher. Each group will be given, a printed copy
of each picture, having the task of researching on what is happening in the depicted
scenes.
After the research, the groups will place themselves in front of the class with
each member holding two pictures, standing next to each other according to the
occurrence of the events in a chronological order. Every student explains the scene
in the picture being held by them.
After all the groups have presented their conclusions, the teacher will place the
images on a timeline with the dates corresponding to each event.
Contents
Learning
Activities
Resources
Time
Assessment
5
min.
The teacher
monitors the
students’
participation
on their
groups.
outcomes
Language
contents:
LOL: Past
tense,
connectors of
sequence.
LFL:
Use the past
tense and
connectors of
sequence to
give account of
a historical
progression.
Comprehend
the history of
Students review
what was seen
in the previous
session.
The students
observe pictures
depicting
important
events of the
Pictures, a
data show
and a
computer.
10
min.
42
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Vocabulary
related to
description,
explanations,
and modals of
possibility.
History
contents:
Main events of
the history of
the Aztecs.
the Aztecs.
Know how to
make
predictions or
deductions
using
may/could.
Aztec history.
They deduct the
meaning of
them.
After that, the
students form
groups of four
and do research
on the scenes
given by the
teacher.
Computers. 30
(One or
min.
two for
each
group).
After their
research, the
students
describe the
scenes and the
chronological
order in which
the events take
place.
The students,
with assistance
of the teacher,
place the
images in a
timeline and
link the events
in order of
occurrence.
35
min.
A timeline.
10
min
43
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Lesson plan III
Name of the unit: “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest”.
Name of the class: “The Aztec society”.
Objectives: Students will know the social hierarchies within the Aztec society, how
they lived and the differences between them. The students will also acquire and practice
the use of the present simple tense and vocabulary related to routines, social and
economic activities.
Skills: Listening, speaking and reading comprehension.
Methodology: CLIL, Communicative Language Teaching, Natural Approach.
Time: 90 minutes.
Instructions:
At the beginning of the class the teacher will give each student a folded piece of
paper with typical jobs and social positions of the Aztec empire written on them.
These occupations and social positions are: merchant, scribe, noble, warrior,
peasant, slave and astronomer. The students are told to keep their papers folded.
Secondly, the teacher will give a brief introduction on the topic, explaining the
different social strata that composed the Aztec empire.
44
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
After that, the students will unfold their papers and will do research on the labor
and social status of their corresponding occupation. Once the students are finished
with their research, they will create a routine account and self-description based on
the jobs they had. Taking turns, each student will present their text to the rest of the
class orally, for two minutes.
Finally, the teacher will set the jobs in a socially stratified pyramid cardboard
glued in the whiteboard, making all the corrections needed.
Contents
Learning
Activities
Resources
Time
Assessment
Cards.
5
min.
The teacher
monitors the
students’
work,
supporting
them with
vocabulary if
needed.
outcomes
Language
contents:
LOL: Present
simple,
vocabulary of
routines,
social,
economic and
work-related
activities.
LFL:
Vocabulary
related to
descriptions
and
explanations.
History
contents:
Use the present
tense to talk
about routines
and
occupations.
Acquire and
use vocabulary
related to jobs
and workrelated
activities.
Know the
social
differences
between castes
in the Aztec
empire.
Know the
different jobs
The students
receive a piece
of paper with
typical Aztec
occupations
written on
them. They are
instructed not
to open them.
The students
are given a
brief
description of
the social strata
in the times of
the Aztec
empire.
Subsequently,
they are
ordered to
unfold their
papers.
10
min.
The teacher
assesses and
corrects the
historical part
of the
students’
presentations.
45
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
The social
stratification
of the Aztecs.
Common
Aztec jobs.
and
occupations
the Aztecs had,
thus, knowing
their cultural
and
technological
progress.
Once the
students know
what their
occupations
consist of, they
research on
their activities
individually
with the
instruction of
creating a daily
routine and
description of
their labor.
Computers. 35
min.
30
min.
The students
present their
routine and
job’s
description
orally.
Finally, after
the
corresponding
answering of
the students’
questions, the
teacher, with
the help of the
students, will
stick the
occupations in
their
corresponding
stratum within
a “social
pyramid” stuck
on the
A
cardboard
with an
Aztec
pyramid
drawn on
it.
10
min.
46
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
whiteboard.
47
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Lesson plan IV
Name of the unit: “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest”.
Name of the class: “The Aztec religion and art”.
Objectives: Students will know the main characteristics of the Aztec religion (Creation
and rites) and artistic manifestations. They also acquire and practice language related to
deities, myths, jewelry and plastic arts; as well as the practice of the past tense of the
verb “to be”.
Skills: Speaking, writing and reading comprehension.
Methodology: CLIL, Communicative Language Teaching, Natural Approach.
Time: 90 minutes.
Instructions:
At the beginning of the class the teacher will give the students a text about the
Aztecs’ Creation myth and a description of their main gods. (See appendix 4).
After the reading, the students will compare the Aztec religion (Creation and
deities) with Christianity (as the predominant western religion) completing a table of
comparison (God or gods, account for the creation of the world, phenomenon of
nature, etc.). Thereon, the students discuss the similarities and differences found.
48
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Next, the students will be shown pictures of artistic manifestations of the Aztec
civilization, these being: a mask, a pyramid, feather adornments, paintings, and
sculptures (see appendix 5). After observing the pictures, the students will create a
brief story describing (10 lines maximum) the creation of one of the pieces
presented. Finally, the teacher will get the students to tell their stories.
Contents
Learning
Activities
Resources Time
Assessment
Texts.
The teacher
monitors the
class work
and the
students’
participation
in the given
activities.
outcomes
Language
contents:
LOL: Past
simple of the
verb “to be”,
vocabulary of
religion and art
LFL:
Vocabulary
related to
making
comparisons
and
storytelling.
History
contents:
The Aztec
religious
creation myths,
gods and
Use language to The students
tell brief
read a short
stories.
text provided
by the teacher,
Use language to about the
make
Aztec religion.
comparisons.
The students
Get to know,
make a table of
and respect,
comparison
religions and
contrasting the
ancient
ancient Aztec
traditions.
religion to
Christianity.
The teacher
chooses
Know antique
randomly a
art and their
couple of
historical
students to tell
relevance,
whether in their the main
similarities and
time as artistic
pieces, or in our differences
found.
contemporary
time as
conveyors of
Pictures.
culture and
The students
traditions.
get to see
pictures of
15
min.
20
min.
30
min.
49
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
rituals.
Aztec artistic
manifestations.
artistic creation
from the Aztec
period. After
that, they
create a short
story
explaining the
origin and
function of a
chosen piece
of art.
To conclude,
the students
tell their
stories to the
rest of the
class.
25
min.
50
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Lesson plan V
Name of the unit: “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest”.
Name of the class: “The Spanish invasion”.
Objectives: Students will know how and why the Spanish conquered the Aztec empire
and the immediate and long-term consequences. In terms of language, the students will
acquire and practice the use of past tense, connectors of sequence, and vocabulary for
stating cause-consequence.
Skills: Listening and speaking.
Methodology: CLIL, Communicative Language Teaching, Natural Approach.
Time: 90 minutes.
Instructions:
At the beginning of the class the students will watch the documentary
“Conquistadors, The Fall of the Aztecs” (see appendix 6) After watching the
documentary, the students will form teams of two members who will discuss the
long-term advantages and disadvantages of the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish
conquerors.
51
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Subsequently, the teacher will pick random students (a total of 6) to give
account of their conclusions on the matter.
Contents
Learning
Activities
Resources
Time
Assessment
A data
show, a
computer
and
speakers.
60
min.
The teacher
monitors the
class work
and the
students’
participation
in the
activities
given.
outcomes
Language
contents:
Use language
to give
reasons and
providing
accounts of
causes.
The students
watch the
documentary
“Conquistadors,
The Fall of the
Aztecs”
LOL: Past
simple of the
verb “to be”,
To use
vocabulary
language to
related to
After watching
give
opinions.
giving reasons
the
and explaining
documentary,
causes.
the students
Know the
discuss the
process of
different
conquering
advantages and
LFL:
carried out by disadvantages of
Vocabulary
the Spanish,
the conquest of
related to
its causes and Mexico by the
making
the motives
Spaniards.
comparisons
they had.
and
15
min.
.
storytelling.
History
contents:
The Spanish
conquest of
the Aztec
Finally, the
Get to know, teacher picks
the cultural
random students
impact of two to share with the
civilizations
class the
interacting for conclusions they
the first time. have come to.
15min.
52
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
empire.
Cultural
consequences
of the Spanish
conquest
53
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Lesson plan VI
Name of the unit: “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest”.
Name of the class: “The Aztecs and the Spanish conquest: Evaluation”.
Objectives: The students will show their knowledge of the topic of the unit by means of
an oral test.
Skills: Listening and speaking.
Methodology: CLIL, Communicative Language Teaching, Natural Approach.
Time: 90 minutes.
Instructions:
The students are going to be tested by means of an oral test. The oral test will
consist of a student picking two questions (see appendix 7) from a bowl containing
10 questions. Each student will have 5 minutes to answer the questions. In order to
avoid the leaking of questions, the students will await for their turn outside the
classroom. Once they are finished, they will wait within the classroom remaining
silent.
54
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Contents
Learning
Activities
Resources
Time
Assessment
90
min.
Summative
evaluation.
(See
appendix 8)
outcomes
The students take
Questions
the oral test
printed.
following the order
of the attendance
list.
55
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
2.4
Discussion: Advantages and disadvantages of CLIL
The CLIL approach, as a complex pedagogical construction that it is, has met
both disadvantages and advantages in its practical use. One of the main advantages is
that through CLIL, teachers can put into practice efficient teaching strategies and
approaches related to the learning of a second language; reinforcing the communicative
competence and the proper acquisition of a new tongue. (http://ec.europa.eu). In a more
specific note, CLIL increases the exposure to meaningful messages in the target
language (Dalton-Puffer, 2007); it broadens the vocabulary learned related to the subject
taught (LOL) and the academic activities required to achieve substantial subject
learning (LFL), a vocabulary that might be hard to grasp outside a learning context; and
it might trigger the students’ interest in other cultures through the use of a target
language, among other benefits. (Maza, 2012)
Among the disadvantages, Maza (2012) remarks the current lack of language
teachers mastering the subject being taught, as well as subject teachers mastering the
target language, with its corresponding implications. The author also states that the
effectiveness of CLIL depends on the needs of each educational system that wishes to
implement CLIL; this teaching approach cannot be applied by merely copying its
features from one educational system to another, it has to be adapted to the reality of
each academic institution or educational system; creating their own procedures, goals
and materials. Maza (2012) also explains the difficulty of knowing how efficient a
student can be when transferring the subject knowledge learned in a second language
into their mother tongue, in terms of making the connections between ideas and words
correctly.
56
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
2.5
CLIL and its application in Chilean EFL classrooms
As it has been stated*, the Chilean reality in terms of English proficiency is
rather poor among third year students from secondary level. This fact poses a challenge
to the application of CLIL in public schools, where the students have the lowest level of
proficiency according to the SIMCE test of English. Nevertheless, it is important to
point out that this is not the only inconvenience faced with a hypothetic implementation
of CLIL in a Chilean public school. It should also be considered the need to have
teachers capable of teaching subjects, other than English, in the target language.
Additionally, it is important to get students to be familiarized with a teaching approach
that is based on student-centered activities in the target language, and not traditional
teacher-centered approaches, where educators “pour” knowledge into them. Finally, it is
of fundamental importance to count with availability of resources and time (within the
curriculum) to teach English focused on language contents that may not be related to
those corresponding to the syllabus.
On the other hand, the reality in private and subsidized schools is different since
their backgrounds allow a successful application of CLIL in the classroom. The
students’ proficiency in English, within the private system, is better compared to those
from public schools. As the “SIMCE Inglés 2010” test demonstrated, students from the
private system had higher results in the reading and listening comprehension tests; in
fact, a 64% of the students that surpassed the threshold of basic comprehension of
simple texts, come from private schools (www.cedus.cl). In general, in private schools
the teaching of the second language starts earlier in life, when learners are 6 years old
* Note: See the State of the Art section for further detail.
57
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
(or even younger) in their first year of school of first level, thus, facilitating the
acclimatization of the students to CLIL.
58
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Conclusion
Nowadays, English has changed from being just another subject at school to a
tool for communicating with others and expanding ourselves into labor, intellectual and
social spheres. In order to reach this goal, the present didactic unit intends to provide the
teacher with an innovative and effective way to teach English in a manner that meets the
requirements of the Chilean Ministry of education and the modern society in general.
In terms of language learning, this didactic unit offers the teacher the
possibility to implement a methodology that enhances the development of the students’
skill related to actual communication (and not mere memorization of grammar) and
language acquisition, being functional not only in academic contexts, but also in a dailylife basis. For this purpose, the pedagogical approach chosen was the Content and
Language Integrated Learning methodology, which encompasses the teaching of
language and a specific subject in conjunction, aiming for the effective learning of both.
The language learning and acquisition that result from the application of CLIL in the
classroom, ought to be seen as a splendid chance for teachers to prepare their students
for their future academic and labor performance in a fashion that allows them to not
only speak fluently and confidently, but also, with an open view on cultural differences
that naturally appear when interacting in another language.
Content wise, the topic chosen poses the opportunity to review a subject with
wide possibilities for the students to understand the events that shaped America as it is
nowadays, the cultural and social evolution resulting from the colonization carried out
by the Spaniards, and the consequences these events had in our lives today.
At a cognitive level, the analysis of the Aztecs and the Spanish conquest of
Mexico and the way the subject is approached, allows the students to develop higher
59
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
order skills, such as critical thinking, conclusion taking, reasoning, and argumentative
skills, among others. The acquisition and practice of these capabilities facilitate the
personal and constructive learning of the subject at hand, and will also serve the student
in future academic contexts.
The Content and Language Integrated Learning approach takes the learning of
the subject and acquisition of a language and melds them together in a manner that
enhances the effective learning of both, synergizing perfectly with one another. The
CLIL methodology fosters the acquisition of the target language via the using of it as a
means of communication and meaning making, whereas engaging students in
cognitively challenging situations, so as to giving them the opportunity to create their
own learning.
To conclude, the fundamental mainstays of CLIL point towards the
constructive learning of a subject and the learning and acquisition of the target
language. Both these areas are lacking in most of the current Chilean schools and high
schools, the majority of the Chilean students cannot perform well in English tests and
are deficient in the application of higher order cognitive skills in their academic
activities. While it is clear that CLIL may not suit all educational systems, it is a
formidable teaching methodology that can help solving these two serious issues,
providing the teacher (and the academic community in general) with an effective tool
that can adequately supply the means needed to fulfill the increasingly demanding needs
of today’s society, forming students with proper communicative and cognitive abilities
that will allow them to develop themselves in a more complete fashion.
60
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
References
Bawn, S. (2007). The Effects of Cooperative Learning on Learning and Engagement.
(Master's thesis), Available from Archives and Special Collections. Retrieved from
http://archives.evergreen.edu/masterstheses/Accession89-10MIT/Bawn_S
MITthesis 2007.pdf
Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence.
United Kingdom: Multilingual Matters.
Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical Bases of Communicative Approaches to
Second Language Teaching and Testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Center for Excelence in Learning & Teaching. (2009, April 13). Cooperative Learning The 5 Basic Elements. Retrieved from
http://www.humboldt.edu/celt/tips/cooperative_learning_-_the_5_basic_elements/
Coyle, D., Hood, P., & Marsh, D. (2010). CLIL: Content and Language Integrated
Learning. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Curinao, L. A., & González, Y. C. (2008).Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in the
Chilean Curriculum Framework of English for Elementary Levels . (Licentiate’s
thesis), Available from Cybertesis UACh. Retrieved from
http://cybertesis.uach.cl/tesis/uach/2008/ffc975c/doc/ffc975c.pdf
Dalton-Puffer, C. (2007). Discourse in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)
classrooms. United States: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
ELT journal 57: 139 – 148
61
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
European Comission. (2013.). Content and Language Integrated Learning. Retrieved from
http://ec.europa.eu/languages/language-teaching/content-and-language-integratedlearning_en.htm
Freire, P. (1972). Cultural Action for Freedom. United States: Harvard Education
Publishing Group.
Johnson, R., & Johnson, D. (1999). Learning Together and Alone: Cooperative,
Competitive, and Individualistic Learning. United States: Allyn and Bacon.
Krashen, S. (1985). The Input Hypothesis: Issues and Implications. New York: Longman.
Krashen, S., & Terrell, T. (1985). The Natural Approach: Language Acquisition in the
Classroom. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Littlewood, W. (1981). Communicative language teaching. United Kingdom: Cambridge
University Press.
Maza, M. A. (n.d.). Content and language integrated learning.Tlatemoani, Retrieved from
http://www.eumed.net/rev/tlatemoani/09/mamc.html
McKay, S. (2003) Teaching English as an International Language: the Chilean context.
MINEDUC. (2011). Programa de Estudio Inglés 1° medio. Retrieved from
http://curriculumenlinea.mineduc.cl/descargar.php?id_doc=201112051652470
MINEDUC. (2011). Resultados Simce Inglés 2010. Retrieved from
http://www.cedus.cl/files/Resultados SIMCE INGLÉS 2010 - Marzo 2011.pdf
MINEDUC. (2011, March 25). Resultados Simce Inglés 2010. Retrieved from
http://www.educarchile.cl/UserFiles/P0001/File/CR_Articulos/simce_ingles_2010.p
ps
62
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Pastor, M. (2011). Clil and cooperative learning.Encuentro, 20, 109−118. Retrieved from
http://www.encuentrojournal.org/textqos/Pastor-1.pdf
Petretic, P., & Tweney, R. (1977). Does comprehension precede production? the
development of children's responses to telegraphic sentences of varying grammatical
adequacy. Journal of Child Language, 4(02), 201-209. Retrieved from
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=176637
6
Pistorio, M. (2010). A Blend of Clil and Cooperative Learning Creates a Socially
Constructed Learning Environment.Latin American Journal of Content & Language
Integrated Learning, 3(1), Retrieved from
http://laclil.unisabana.edu.co/index.php/LACLIL/article/view/2642/2778
Richards, J. & Rodgers, T. (1987). The Natural Approach. In Approaches and Methods in
Language Teaching (pp. 128-141). United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Richards, J. (2006). Communicative Language Teaching Today. United Kingdom:
Cambridge University Press.
Skehan, P. (1996). Second language acquisition research and task-based instruction. In J.
Willis & D. Willis (Eds.) (1996). Challenge and Change in Language Teaching.
Oxford: Heinemann.
ThinkQuest. (2003). Aztec Creation Myth. Retrieved from
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00875/text/AztecC.htm
63
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Appendixes
The following resources are the materials that will be used in the development of
the lessons designed for this didactic unit.
Appendix 1: Documentary: The Aztec Empire, 2005:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yih0qWmz-QI
Appendix 2: Images used in the first class presenting the topic of the Aztecs.
Aztec calendar.
Aztec pyramid.
Aztec pyramid.
Map of Mexico and Central
America
64
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
The Zócalo.
Mexico City.
Appendix 3: Images used in the PowerPoint presentation:
The migration from the caves of Chicomoztoc.
The encounter with the sign of the eagle eating a snake.
65
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Construction of Tenochtitlan.
A battle between the Aztecs and enemies.
Hernán Cortés’s arrival.
66
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
The Spaniards meet the Aztecs.
The Aztecs in battle against the Spaniards.
The fall of Tenochtitlan.
67
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Appendix 4: The Aztec myth of creation and their main gods.
The Aztec myth of creation:
The Aztecs believed that in the beginning of the world, there was nothing
but darkness. On great god named Ometeotl watched over this darkness in
complete solitude. However, one day, Ometeotl gave birth to four other
gods. These gods created the world, filling it with giants.
The god named Tezcatlipoca the Jaguar made himself into the sun. He ruled
the world. But then, the god Quetzalcoatl knocked Tezcatlipoca into the
ocean with a club. Quetzalcoatl turned himself into the sun. He appointed
himself ruler of the world and created people with which to populate the
earth. Tezcatlipoca returned and knocked Quetzalcoatl out of the sky. A
great wind tore across the world, destroying everything except for a few
people, who were turned into monkey.
Next, the god Tlaloc became the sun. He repopulated the earth with another
group of people. However, in an attempt to regain his throne, Quetzalcoatl
sent a rain of fire down upon the earth, killing all of Tlaloc’s people except
the few that became birds. Then, the goddess Chalchiuhtlicue became the
sun. However, during this war between the gods Tezcatlipoca caused great
floods to cover the earth. All of the people drowned except for those who
68
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
turned into fish.
Due to Tezcatlipoca’s actions, the entire earth was covered with water, with
no land in sight. Finally, Tezcatlopoca and Quetzalcoatl stopped their quarrel
and lifted the waters off of the earth. Then, Quetzalcoatl went to the land of
the dead where the bones of the people lay. He tricked the god of the
underworld, Mictlantechutli, into letting him take back the bones of the
people back into the world. Quetzalcoatl then dripped his own blood onto the
bones. The bones transformed into living, breathing people, the Aztecs.
(http://library.thinkquest.org)
The main Aztec gods:
Huitzilopochtli: Patron god of the Aztec religion. He directed the Aztecs to the eagle on
a cactus eating a snake, signal of the homeland of the Aztecs. He is the patron of war
and sacrifices.
Tlaloc: Ancient god of the rain, also associated with fertility and agriculture. The Aztecs
believed that the tears of toddlers were sacred, so they sacrificed newborn children in
his name.
69
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Tezcatlipoca: His name means “Smoking mirror”. Patron of the night and the north. He
was considered an evil power, opposite of Quetzalcoatl.
Chalchiuhtlicue: Goddess of the water and aquatic elements, sister of Tlaloc and
patroness of childbirth.
Quetzalcoatl: God of knowledge and learning. He was the counterpart of Tezcatlipoca.
Appendix 5: Artistic manifestations of the Aztecs.
Aztec pyramid.
Aztec mask.
Aztec sculpture of Coaticlue.
Aztec painting.
70
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Aztec feather headdress.
Appendix 6: “Conquistadors, The Fall of the Aztecs”
http://studythepast.com/376_spring10/conquest_of_mexico/index.htm
Appendix 7: The following are the questions the students will have to answer in their
oral test.
1. Name two reasons why Hernán Cortés invaded the Aztecs.
2. Why did the Aztecs do human sacrifices?
3. Who was Huitzilopochtli?
4. According to the Aztecs, what was the meaning of an eagle eating a snake?
71
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
5. Name two advantages and two disadvantages of the Spanish conquest of
Mexico.
6. Explain briefly the difference of an Aztec noble and a peasant.
7. How did the city of Tenochtitlan look like?
8. Name at least 3 differences between the Aztec religion and Christianity.
9. Being superior in number, how did the Aztecs lose against the Spanish
conquerors? Give 2 reasons.
10. Describe 3 artistic objects or constructions created by the Aztecs.
72
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
Appendix 8: Oral presentation checklist.
Name:
Total points:
Grade:
Language
The student speaks in
a fluent manner
avoiding lags of
silence between
words and sentences.
The student’s
production of speech
sounds is clear and
intelligible.
The student is able to
understand the
questions asked
without the need to
use Spanish.
The student uses the
past tense in an
appropriate manner;
both the
pronunciation of the
“ed” suffix and its
grammatical use.
The student is able to
communicate
himself/herself
efficiently, being
clear with what
she/he wants to
express.
Yes
Partially
No
2 points
1 point
0 points
73
CLIL in the Chilean EFL classroom
History
The student shows
knowledge of the
topic at he/she is
being asked.
The student is able to
make conclusions
according to what
he/she has learned