Possibilities and Limits of CLIL Use in Chemistry Education: Action Research by Implementation of Chemistry Contents in German Language Lessons
Abstract
Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) represent any dual-focused educational context in which the addi-tional language is used as a medium in the teaching and learning of non-language content. It is dual-focused because attention may be predominant on either subject-specific content or language [1].
Dissertation project using the case study approach [2] is focused on the integration of chemistry and German language teaching. For this combination of school subjects there is only a limited number of teaching materials available.
Therefore, we are devoting ourselves to creating, validating and optimizing suitable CLIL materials and activities according to design-based research [3] met-hods. The materials and activities will be optimized based on their usability in practice and on teachers preferences.Dissertation project is in a phase of evaluating and interpreting the results of an action research [4], which was focused on the implementation of science- (mainly chemistry-) oriented experiments into German language teaching in the 9thclass of the lower secondary school.
The action research was focused on changes in popularity of foreign languages (especially German) and science subjects (physics, chemistry and biology) among learners after the inclusion of CLIL elements in the teaching. It took the form of a cross- arrangement of the pedagogical experiment in two language groups.
The popularity of mentioned subjects was mainly investigated by repeated questionnaire surveys and analysis of learners portfolios.During the action research, it turned out that pupils found the implementation of chemical experiments and other chemistry-oriented topics in German language teaching interesting. The results showed a positive change in popularity of German language among pupils.
However, other factors may also have affected this change. This experience of integrating CLIL elements into teaching is a good starting point for our next steps.