Teaching English Through Subject Matter: An Overview of Content-Based Instruction

 Are you tired of teaching English grammar in a vacuum? Do you want to create a more meaningful learning experience for your students? Consider using Content-Based Instruction (CBI), an approach to teaching English that integrates language learning with subject matter instruction.


CBI involves teaching English through the instruction of a particular subject matter. The focus is not on teaching grammar rules, but on using the language as a tool for acquiring other information. The belief behind CBI is that students learn a second language more successfully if they are using the language as a means for acquiring other knowledge. Learning English becomes a means rather than the end of instruction.


CBI is used in a variety of contexts, including immersion education, bilingual education, immigrant-on-arrival programs, English for Specific Purposes (ESP), academic English, and programs for students with limited proficiency. For example, universities often provide engineering classes in English for foreign students. The material presented to the students is the same as that presented to native English-speaking students, except that the pace is adjusted and the information is more explicit.


Content-based instruction evolved from communicative language teaching programs. Students are encouraged to use the language as a tool for communication rather than to study the structure of the language itself. These classes reflect the needs of the students more than other programs do. Students become more proficient in the jargon of the particular subject area and become self-motivated to acquire the skills to make themselves proficient in that particular subject area.


There are various strategies that can be implemented in the content-based English language classroom. At advanced levels, strategies could include theme-based language instruction, sheltered content instruction, adjunct language instruction, team-teaching instruction, and skills-based instruction. At elementary school levels, the theme-based approach is predominant, though variations of the above course options are becoming more available.


In bilingual language programs, the first language of the students is maintained, and the vocabulary and grammar development are in line with the development of English vocabulary and grammar. Teachers in these programs are expected to be fluent in both languages.


In conclusion, Content-Based Instruction is a powerful approach to teaching English. By integrating language learning with subject matter instruction, students become more motivated to learn, and the language becomes a tool for communication rather than a set of rules to be memorized. Consider incorporating CBI into your language teaching to create a more meaningful and engaging learning experience for your students.

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