Tapping into the intellectual capital at the University

Abstract

Abstract Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is as full of challenges as it is of possibilities. We will explore the challenges while seeking realistic solutions as eight Computer Science professors teach their subjects through English for the first time. We hope to gain insights into the bilingual classroom at the university level where teacher training can aid in professional development. Kevin Haines (2017) has posed the question about policies, principles and practice in bilingual settings, suggesting that we still need to address the challenging question: “who will support the teachers?”. In this paper we will observe problems and solutions to bilingual teaching from the ethnographic point of view of action research. This is a collaborative project that brings CLIL methodology into the content classroom and assesses teacher performance in order for university professors to see CLIL in practice. This article is an overview of CLIL practicum where teachers move from theory to practice in a purposeful intent to improve instruction in a second language. In this project the interaction is based on the multiple perspectives of computer science professors, a CLIL specialist as well as opinions from students. It is with these multiple perspectives that we have put our in-service training into action. Many university professors outside foreign language areas need more in-service training to face the challenges underlying teaching through a second language. Our motivation leads us to these three proposals action research, teacher training and qualitative assessment of the CLIL experience. We hold that research in education must make the move toward a more qualitative assessment. As researchers, perhaps we need to describe less and do more by putting our research into action.