Imagine, for a moment, taking a cooking class in a language you didn’t know – it could be Japanese, Greek, Russian. It would be challenging, right?

But after a while, by following actions and examples, you would begin to understand certain things. Eventually you would be able to ask and answer simple questions. Not only would you learn how to cook, but you would learn the language at the same time.

Similarly, taking a class in a school subject like science, history, maths (or even something practical like dancing, cooking or photography) in English is an excellent and motivating way of learning a new language.

Called Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), it builds your child’s knowledge of a specific subject and increases their second language ability at the same time.

Here are some of the benefits of a CLIL-focused immersion English course.

Faster Acquisition

How long would it take you to learn the the Japanese phrase, Atsuidesu! Te o furenaide kudasai! (“It’s hot! Don’t touch”)? The chances are – even if you memorised it – you would forget it very soon.

Put yourself in that Japanese cooking class, however, and you would certainly learn what it means quickly, because it’s essential language.

The same goes for key classroom language. Learners quickly improve listening comprehension, general speaking, and subject-specific vocabulary in English because they need it to function on a day-to day basis.

Deeper Learning

When a young learner or teenager really engages with a subject they enjoy through English, they are more likely to recall and use the language later on, because they have connected with the meaning more deeply.

What’s more, research suggests that CLIL students perform equally well as their monolingual classmates, so students benefit from learning the subject and the language equally.

Less Stress

While learning a subject in English is clearly challenging, it also allows the student to focus on the content. This means they use English more freely, without worrying too much about making mistakes. In turn, this helps with fluency, confidence and general well-being in the classroom.

The teacher will make corrections and guide the students through topic language and the subject material, helping to create a relaxed learning-oriented environment.

21 Century Skills

Learning different subjects in English also introduces your children to some essential 21st century skills.

By working with other students, they will develop focused communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills in English and will also learn to be creative in another language. These things not only come in handy in the classroom but will also help your children in the real world when they go to university or start working.

More Motivation

As your child gets older, they’ll either embrace English as a favourite subject…or decide it’s not much fun.

Unfortunately, if your son or daughter has lost his or her motivation, it’s very hard to get back. Telling them it’s useful for their future, it will help them travel, get good international jobs is all very well, but that won’t change their mind.

However, if English becomes the language through which they learn all their other subjects, it suddenly become more practical and more motivating. There’s no more boring grammar exercises; the class is all about the content, vocabulary and the subject itself.

By learning something they are interested in through English, your child immediately has real reason to improve their second language.

Oxford House Kids and Teens Summer Club

Over the Summer, 25th June until 27th July, we will be running two fun, dynamic immersion courses, covering lots of interesting topics from art and music to history and sports – all in English, of course!

Timetables are flexible:

The Kids Summer Club is aimed at for 9 to 11-year-olds who love creativity, exploration and making new friends. Check out the programme here!

The Teens Summer Club which is for 12 to 17 year olds, will capture their imaginations, give them a real reason to learn and use English, and they’ll have a great time doing it. Check out the programme here!

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Immersion (n): to be completely involved in something.

Memorise (v): to practise something until you remember it.

Recall (v): to remember something.

Subject (n): a class you take at school or university; maths, science, or geography, for example.

Well-being (n): your general health and safety.

Come in handy (exp): be useful.

Key

n = noun

v = verb

adj = adjective

exp = expression