The University of St. Martin kicked off its spring 2013 semester lecture series with a lecture on "Content and language Integrated Learning (CLIL)" presented by Mr. Wim De Visser, General Director of Sundial and MPC schools . Content language learning is best described as a form of education in which the content of what students learn is fully integrated in the language used in class. This means the second language is used to teach certain subjects in the curriculum other than the language lessons. Therefore, while the subject is being taught, language instruction will also take place.
Bilingual curricular instruction gained much support in Europe with the introduction of the language policy of the European Union which requires every EU citizen to speak at least two languages in addition to his native tongue. Though St. Maarten has no formal language policy, there is an expectation that students should have a good command of both English and Dutch languages.
For De Visser, it is important to take into account the linguistic reality of St. Maarten, In order to master both languages academically and education needs to be bilingual". The lecture will aim to ask the broader questions of:
What motivates students and teachers in education and how do we learn best? What makes learning and teaching in St. Maarten so specific? How do we learn the content of subjects in our multi cultural and lingual community?
The lecture took place on Wednesday, March 6th 2013 at 6:30 pm in the USM lecture room.
