Could content-based instruction help students
learn English?
Kathleen Wade-CorralesUniversidad del Norte
• Is it necessary learn English?
• Are students motivated to learn English?
• Do you have enough time to teach English?
• In practice, do the other school subjects help in learning English and vice-versa? (interdisciplinary projects)
So, what do we do?
“[It] is most beautiful learning English with this material.”—KR
Agenda
What is CBI? Why use CBI? How can I use CBI?
What is CBI?
Definition of CBI“The concurrent study of language and subject matter, with the form and sequence of language presentation dictated by content material…”
Brinton, Snow, & Wesche (1989)
Definition of CBI“The concurrent study of language and subject matter , with the form and sequence of language presentation dictated by content material…”Brinton, Snow, & Wesche (1989)
Students do not focus on learning about English --
they learn through English.
Features of CBI1. Curriculum is based on content
• Science• Social Studies• Literature (language arts)
Features of CBI
Content Language
2. Dual objective: content & language mastery
Features of CBI
3. Use of authentic language, texts & tasks
Features of CBI
4. Meets students needs
5. Language teaching focuses on communicating meaning—not structure
Models of CBI• Sheltered • Adjunct• Theme-based• Language-Content-Task (LCT)• Skills-based
Sheltered Model
Definition Subject matter courses with an integration of language
Teachers Subject-matter teachers
Special Features
•Focus on learning content•Possible team-teaching with language professional•Used in Bilingual schools
Theme-based Model
Definition Based on topics or themes
Teachers Language teachers
Special Features
•Focus on language & content•Easily adapt to needs of learners•Easily integrated into course•Widely used in EFL
Role of Teachers• Knowledgeable about language• “Knowledgeable” about the target
content area
Educators must teach language in a way that is different from the method they would use for general English courses
What did I learn?
What do I think?
Why use CBI?
What can using CBI do for my students?
• Language gains
• Gains in subject-matter knowledge
• Increase in learner motivation
• Improvement in students’ self-confidence
• Higher self-assessment of own skills
• Positive influence on attitude towards language
• Motivates• Raises self-confidence / lower anxiety• Matches students’ interests and needs
with interesting and meaningful content • Provides real “input” and opportunities for
“output” • Facilitates content-language interaction• Activates prior knowledge
Why does CBI help learning?
And the standards?• Standards discuss using topics from other content
areas in reading from grade 6-7: – “Comprendo textos literarios, académicos y de interés
general, escritos con un lenguaje sencillo” (p. 22)
• In writing and speaking from grade 8-11:– “Produzco textos sencillos…sobre temas personales y
relacionados con otras asignaturas” (p. 25/27).– Hago exposiciones…sobre algún tema académico de mi
interés” (p 25).– Hago presentaciones orales sobre temas…relacionados con
el currículo escolar” (p. 27)
And the standards? (cont.)
• “Relacionar los contenidos temáticos de inglés con los de otras áreas” (p. 32).
• “Al leer y revisar en grupo los estándares de inglés, confirmamos que…teníamos toda la autonomía para elegir nuestros propios temas de acuerdo con el contexto…” (p.33)
What did I learn?
What do I think?
How can I use CBI?
• Is it necessary learn English? --YES
• Are students motivated to learn English? –No, but CBI can help
• Do you have enough time to teach English? – No, but working with content from other subjects can help/ interdisciplinary projects
Integrating language & content
Content-obligatory language
Content-compatible language
Content area
curriculum
Learners needs
Language curriculum
Adapted from Snow, Met & Genesse (1989)
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Implications
• Collaboration with other teachers• Interdisciplinary projects• Different way of organizing structures
– No longer “traditional order” (from simple to complex) – present tense & conditionals together???
• Curriculum must be well planned
Why would CBI be effective in Barranquilla?
• Highly efficient both lang. & content
• Helps meet the needs of the students & goals of “Colombia Bilingüe”
• Students find it more interesting, relevant, and challenging
• Teachers find it interesting to teach
• English Standards suggest it.
?
Is CBI a possibility for your school?
How can you implement CBI into your program?
Thank you!
Bibliography
• Brinton, D., Snow, M.A., Wesche, M.B. (1989). Content-based Second Language Instruction. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.
• Formar en lenguas extranjeras: Ingles. (2006). Ministerio de Educación Nacional.
• Short, D.J. (1994). Expanding Middle School Horizons: Integrating Language, Culture, and Social Studies TESOL Quarterly, 28(3).
• Snow, M.A., Met, M. & Genesee, F. (1989). A conceptual Framework for the Integration of language and content in second/foreign language instruction. TESOL Quarterly, 23 (2).
Content-obligatory Language
= language required to develop, master & communicate about a content
– Structural aspects (structures, vocabulary, rhetorical devices)
– Functional aspects (study skills/language functions)
Content-compatible Language
= ask: What other language skills are compatible with the concept?
Social studies Science
• Discovery of the Americas—past tense; conditional “If Columbus were from France…”
• Science experiments—cause/effect—because; if…then clauses