Developing Literacy and Languages in a science context 

The 24^th annual national conference for teachers of English was held in Sorrento at the Hilton Sorrento Palace on 3-5 March 2005. The conference themes covered English language teaching at all levels in the education system and represented broad area of interest. The Science Across the World (SAW) project was presented under the theme: ELT and the curriculum: citizenship education, the intercultural dimension, CLIL. The title of the presentation was: “Developing literacy and languages in a science context”.

The presentation abstract: Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is growing in our schools in Europe. An ideal basis for CLIL. teaching and learning materials and networking can be found in the Science Across the World (SAW) project. SAW topics and website are used increasingly as curricular content by science teachers in a bilingual context and foreign language teachers perhaps working with their science colleagues. Science Across the World has also been recognised by the European Commission with a European Award for Languages in 2004

The presentation  pointed out how the teachers can use the programme for developing communication in the CLIL classroom; in particular, how they can use a topic and arise an informed debate  in the classroom around the various issues, how they can use the database for communication among students across the world.

 The speakers were Luisa Viglietta, right (SAW Italian Delegate) and Marinù Guida, left (SAW expert teacher).

The main features of Science Across the World were presented (using a Power Point ) and a visit to the web site were made (using the demo CD). In the meanwhile, the audience was involved in a discussion about some of the materials presented. In particular, the experiment of the measure of reaction time- as taken from the “Road Safety” topic- was performed by the participants in couples. Some sheets with instructions about other experiments were also handed out for comments. The experiment about cosmetics was much appreciated as shown using Lida Schoen’s (SAW Dutch team member) videoclips and sheets. Exchange forms prepared by Marinù’s students were also handed out as examples and were discussed.

Marinù presented her own experience about creating a European Comenius project on the basis of participation to a SAW European workshop and collaborative work on a SAW topic.

The photo shows Luisa and Marinù at the British Council Conference.