Doing international development through team teaching

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with English language learning with a focus on content-based instruction (CBI) for learning academic subjects in English. CBI is generally characterised as using the target language that students are learning as the medium of instruction when teaching non-language content subjects. It can be treated as an umbrella term encompassing various programmes in different parts of the world, which may differ regarding the languages involved, teacher, student profiles and instructional practices. Nonetheless, the common underlying principle is that the integration of content and language learning facilitates second language (L2) learning through more exposure to L2 input, more opportunities for interaction and output in authentic communicative contexts and stronger motivation among students. This chapter reports a small-scale quasi-experimental study evaluating the collaboration between an English and science teacher in an English-medium secondary school in Hong Kong.