Developing children’s intercultural competence through

Erasmus+ in a CLIL context

Enrique Ruiz Cano

International co-ordinator
 CLIL
•CLIL is a tool for the teaching and learning of Content AND Language. The
essence of CLIL is integration.

•Pupils are likely to learn more if they are not simply learning language for
language’s sake but using language to learn new content.

•The CLIL approach also develops learning and thinking skills

 Hard Soft

1. ‘Hard’ CLIL (content-led) – subject

teachers teaching through English

2. ‘Soft’ CLIL (language-led) – language

syllabus incorporating more conceptual
content

3. The distinction, however, is beginning to

blur
Do Coyle´s theory
How do we prioritise content
but still work with
language??
Think of CLIL in 3 dimensions (Ball,
P.)
 The ‘single focus’ of CLIL

Conceptual and Linguistic knowledge

Procedural knowledge (competences)

 PPP =– Presentation, Practice, Production

In language teaching, we used to think that

we had to Present and Practise, before really
Producing.
 CLIL = Production, Practice, Presentation
• CLIL turns PPP on its head

• CLIL turns PPP on its head

 Theoretical framework
The different functions of classroom language

LOE
Children perceive reality in a holistic way
CLIL
BICS CALP
Throw them in at the deep end!
Throw them in at the deep end! English

I’m CLIL-ing!
 Communication? It’s a fair deal. Here’s English

some language to be going

Ok! Give me on with!
some content!

Don’t forget the other

one!
 OUR PROJECT 
https://vimeo.com/263033442
Song
What do we want to assess by the end of
the project as far as children are
concerned?
- To what extent Erasmus+ favours children´s
sociocultural competenece
- To what extent Erasmus+ favours children´s linguistic
competence
What have we found out so far?
SOCIOCULTURAL AWARENESS
- Children working within an European schools network
are more aware of “themselves and others” and
differences more significant with those who have travelled.
Erasmus+ children are considerably more broad-minded.

LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE IN THE TARGET LANGUAGE

- Erasmus+ students get higher results than non-
Erasmus+ students, especially when it comes to speaking
and listening skills.
Thank you for coming! 

Enrique Ruiz Cano

enrique.ruiz.cano@hotmail.com