Computer Science Teachers' Views on CLIL in mainstream schools of Nur-Sultan

Abstract

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is a European approach to teaching and learning through additional languages which has been adopted by a myriad of countries around the world. In the past years, in Central Asia, Kazakhstan has led the introduction of this approach through the implementation of a trilingual policy, i.e. the use of three languages as mediums of instruction: Kazakh, Russian, and English (MES, 2017). From the academic year 2019-2020 all mainstream schools in the country have started implementing the CLIL approach. However, the Kazakhstani case shows specific characteristics as only STEM subjects (biology, chemistry, physics and computer science) are taught through English, while the other subjects are taught through Kazakh or Russian. Previous research has suggested that content teachers tend to feel ambiguous toward this initiative. For example, computer science teachers are usually in favour of teaching through English as a medium of instruction, while the other subject teachers seem to be rather uncomfortable with it. With this context in mind, the purpose of this dissertation, a single case study in several mainstream schools in Nur-Sultan city, is to both investigate computer science teachers’ views on CLIL and examine the commonalities in classroom practice. The target participants were six teachers who completed their CLIL training and implemented it in their daily pedagogy. Findings made it possible to gain an insight into the participating teachers’ views on CLIL, as they revealed that computer science teachers seem to have positive views towards CLIL and understand CLIL as a construct based on teaching through English. Conversely, findings also showed that teachers commonly face challenges due to the lack of teaching materials. The present study might be beneficial for local authorities to improve teaching materials, and for scholars in multilingual education and policymakers dealing with CLIL implementation in Kazakhstan and abroad.