Examining a French Program In Saudi Arabia for Evidence of CLIL Practices

Abstract

This study is an examination of existing practices of integrating the teaching of content and language in the Saudi Arabian context. It is an exploratory study into the French program offered at King Abdul Aziz University (KAU) in Saudi Arabia. This program does not call itself a content and language integrated program. The aim was, therefore, to observe existing practices to see if they contain content and language integration similar to what can be observed in the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach. There was also a focus on discovering professors’ attitudes towards the possible adaptation of this specific approach, and their openness to employ more strategies that attend to a continuing language development in the content-oriented courses. The findings of this study suggest that although professors of the courses in question were not already following the CLIL approach per se, there was some evidence of their integration of content and language. Similarities in the objectives and instructional teaching practices between CLIL and the observed courses also suggest that CLIL can be applicable in this KAU French program. Recommendations are offered for further adaptation of effective teaching strategies, and the implementation of elements of CLIL that would be applicable to this specific program, taking into account the professors’ views and opinions.