"Let me introduce you to Crete”: A CLIL Project in the English as a Foreign Language Classroom

This paper presents the design and the implementation results of a CLIL project in the context of Greek primary education. CLIL approach has been practiced across Europe for the last two decades, with proven positive effects on the language skills of foreign language learners (Korosidou & Griva, 2013; Lasagabaster, 2008). The present project was piloted in a 6th grade classroom of 18 students in Rethymno, Crete. The topic of the project was "Let me introduce you to Crete". The present project was introduced to serve the aim of developing students' EFL (English as a Foreign Language) receptive and productive skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing) through a project focusing on Cretan history and culture. The thematic areas consisting the core of the project were the following: 1) Geographical features of the Cretan districts, 2) History and culture in Crete, 3) Traditional Cretan products and diet, 4) Cretan music and dance tradition and 5) Tourism in Crete. Language learning was integrated with the specific subject matters of Geography, History and culture and Art. For the evaluation of the project, the following basic tools were used: a) journals kept by the teacher and b) interviews with the students. The findings of project evaluation indicated students' improvement regarding both their receptive and productive skills in the target language, and the development of children's cultural awareness and their sensitivity and respect towards local history.