Book Launch Seminar: Language Across the Curriculum & CLIL in English as an Additional Language (EAL) Contexts

Abstract

Paper 1: Building Language Support in an EMI Chemistry Classroom: An Exploratory Study by a Science Teacher

Abstract:

Writing in science plays a crucial part in assessment. However, not many science teachers spend time on cultivating students’ skills in communicating science effectively through English. In this presentation, I share my journey of developing a CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and LAC (Language Across the Curriculum) approach to the teaching of senior secondary school Chemistry and address the following research questions:

1. To what extent is students’ content and language awareness raised by increasing language support?
2. To what extent do teachers and students accept the LAC and CLIL approach?

Findings and implications of my exploration study will be discussed.

Paper 2: Thematic Patterns as CLIL Strategies: ‘Concept+Language Mapping’ in Science and Geography Classes

Abstract:

In this presentation, we introduce the ‘Concept+Language Mapping’ method, which we have developed based on Lemke’s theory of thematic patterns to integrate language support into content learning. Preliminary findings from our project schools will be shared showing how students learn both academic content and language and gain confidence in presenting and writing Science and Geography topics using this innovative approach to Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL).

Speaker

About the Speaker

Mr. Michael Kai Yip TSANG is a former Mathematics and Liberal Studies teacher. He currently teaches Integrated Science, Physics and Chemistry in the Yuen Long Merchants Association Secondary School. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in 2009 and Postgraduate Diploma of Education from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012, and Master of Science in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2011. In 2016, he finished his Master of Education in Language Across the Curriculum at the University of Hong Kong, and has been developing LAC and CLIL approaches to the teaching of Science.

Dr. Angel Lin is Professor and Head of the Division of English Language Education at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). She is also Director of the Consortium for Research on Language Policy and Practice (CRLPP).

Dr. Emily Peichang HE is Senior Research Associate in the same Division. Both are members of the LAC & CLIL research team at HKU.

 

Date

14 March 2017 (Tuesday)

Time

12:30 – 2:00pm

Location

Room MW408A-10A, Meng Wah Complex, HKU

 

Media