Published on 07/05/2020
Supporting schools
  • Free online content and language learning (CLIL) for language teachers and trainee language teachers delivered by internationally renowned trainers

Aston University in Birmingham is offering free online continuing professional development (CPD) training for language teachers and trainee language teachers in May as part of its efforts to support schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University’s Centre for Language Research (CLaRA) is offering free training in content and language integrated learning (CLIL) – teaching subjects such as science, history and geography in a foreign language to students at all levels from nursery to tertiary education.

CLaRA is working in partnership with Learning Through Languages UK, a network coordinated by Aston University, which aims to increase the uptake in languages and raise achievement levels across all subjects in schools through bilingual education.

The 10-hour course will be delivered online by internationally renowned CLIL trainers Dr Peeter Mehisto from UCL and Tuula Asikainen, CLILedu - Summer University of Lapland, between 25 and 29 May.

It is being made available free of charge thanks to the generous support of the Association for French Language Studies, the Association for the Study of Modern and Contemporary France, the Institute for Modern Language Research, the Society for French Studies and the University Council of Modern Languages.

Dr Emmanuelle Labeau, senior lecturer in French at Aston University and the course coordinator, said:

“In CLIL lessons, the foreign language becomes the means of learning content. Students feel more motivated to learn the language, because the focus is on using language to explore and discuss concrete topics rather memorizing lists of words. Thanks to careful ‘scaffolding’ of language acts, CLIL leads to more natural and sophisticated communicative skills over time.

“This five-day interactive course aims to provide participants with an overview of the essential features of content and language integrated learning and to provide them with practical tools for implementing CLIL.” More information is available at http://learningthroughlanguages.org.uk/cpd-and-training/ or via email to the course coordinator e.labeau@aston.ac.uk. The deadline for expressions of interest is 12 May 2020.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Professor Alec Cameron is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive.

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on 07557 745416 or email r.hume@aston.ac.uk

 

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