From Research to Development on Virtual Language, Content and Intercultural Learning across European Schools

This paper presents an overview of the research conducted within a funded Comenius project which aims at developing a virtual European CLIL Resource Centre for Web 2.0 Education. E-CLIL focuses on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), creativity and multiculturalism through digital resources. In this sense, our prior research on CLIL programmes across Europe revealed the need to equip teachers with relevant methodological strategies and appropriate materials. We also detected the need of specific guidelines for implementation together with specific resources which should guarantee excellence in language learning (Ramírez-Verdugo, 2010). To reduce the identified shortcomings, an interdisciplinary group of scholars have developed a resource centre for Web 2.0 Education which aims at increasing children's exposure to European languages and to improve the quality of teaching and learning through the implementation of CLIL. E-CLIL has a three-folded objective. First, it intends to provide support to current and future CLIL educative programmes all over Europe and beyond. Accordingly, E-CLIL is currently disseminating high quality and proven materials and resources for content and language learning. Second, E-CLIL material design and the guideline for teachers are founded on sound language and content learning principles. Third, E-CLIL attempts to enrich teachers' and children's knowledge of other European cultures. The paper shows the results from the pilot study and initial experiences at E-CLIL school network across Europe. [For the complete volume, see ED574893.]