The Impact of Observing Good Teaching Practice on Early CLIL Teachers: A European Project: A European Project

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to underline the importance of the observation of authentic lessons for the professional development of trainee teachers. This is especially important with innovative methodologies, such as CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). In Slovakia, since the new educational reforms in 2008, there has been a huge shortage of professional teachers able to teach English to young learners. Another challenge has been presented by the difficulties of implementing this innovative methodology in school practice. Of course, one of the most effective ways is trying to include as many hours of direct observation of CLIL lessons as possible during teacher training. To address the shortage of professional teachers trained in CLIL, in 2013 and 2014 Matej Bel University (UMB) invited Prof. Kovács, an expert from ELTE, Budapest to provide students, teacher trainers and methodologists, with opportunities to observe practical CLIL lessons (project of the European Social Fund No. 26110230082). Feedback from the participants showed the value of seeing CLIL demonstrated in real life. They reported feeling encouraged, motivated and enabled to implement CLIL methodology later in their schools in Slovakia.