CONTENT -BASED

INSTRUCTION
Content-Based Instruction

 Concept and background

 Approach
 Theory of language / Learning
 Purpose of CBI
 Objectives / Syllabus
 Types of Learning and Teaching activities
 Learner´s role and Teacher´s role
 Skills for any CBI instructor (Stryker & Leaver)
 Material´s role
 Types of classes
 Principles of CBI
Concept

Is an effective method of combining

Method of language
language andcontentlearning instruction in which content
and language are integrated

instead of focusing on language forms,

the curriculum in this method is based
on content.
Background

Content-based instruction (CBI) is teaching

organized around the content or information that
students will acquire, and not around the linguistic
or other type of syllabus.

Content refers to the substance or subject matter

that we learn or communicate through language
content rather that the language used to convey it.
Background

CBI is built on the principles of

Communicative Language Teaching .

Classroom needs to be filled with real

and meaningful communication where
information is exchanged .
Approach
Approach
Content-based instruction is based in two assumptions:

1.-People learn a second language more

successfully when they use the language as a
means of acquiring information. This
assumption reflects one of the motivations for
CBI noted earlier that it leads to more effective
language learning.
Approach

2.- It is better to reflect learners needs for

learning a second language. Many ESL, EFL
programs focus on preparing students for
academic studies or for mainstreaming.
Theory of Language

LANGUAGE

MEANING INFORMATION

COMMUNICATED
TEXT CONSTRUCTED DISCOURSE
Theory of Learning

CBI makes an assumption that learners learn

best when they are given language in a
meaningful , contextualized form with the
primary focus on acquiring information.
Theory of Learning
People learn a second language more successfully when the
information they are acquiring is perceived as interesting , useful
and leading to a desire goal.

Language learning is more motivating when students are

focusing on something other than language , such as ideas,
issues and opinions.

Some content areas are more useful than others .

Teaching builds on the previous experiences of the learners.

CBI build on students knowledge and previous experiences.
Students bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom.
 Language is Purposeful

Language is use for a specific purpose

such as, vocational, social or recreational.
In order to make the content comprehensible, teachers
need to make adjustments and simplifications for the
students to learn.
 In CBI, the language is second to learning the content. The
•
Objectives
objectives relate to the content, not to the language.

• The syllabus comes from the content. However it is

common for a topical syllabus to be used in theme - based
Syllabus CBI.
 Types Of Learning And Teaching Activities
Stroller (1997) proposed classification categories
1. Language skills improvement
2. Vocabulary building
3. Discourse organization
4. Communicative interaction
5. Study skills
6. Synthesis of content materials and grammar
 Learner ´s Role
Become autonomous
Support each other
Willing to tolerate uncertainty
Active interpreters of input
Willing to explore alternative learning strategies and
sources of content

And have a learn by doing attitude

Teacher ´s role
A good language teacher
Knowledgeable in the subject matter
Be able to draw out that knowledge from students
 Stryker & Leaver suggest the following essential
skills for any CBI instructor

1. Varying the format of classroom instruction

2. Using group work and team -building techniques
3. Organization jigsaw arrangements
4. Defining the background knowledge and language skills required
for students success
 Role of Materials

1. Whatever facilitates subject matter of the content course.

2. Comprehensibility and authenticity are both important in CBI.

3. In addition, instructional media enriches the context.

 Types of classes

1. Sheltered content instruction

2. Adjunct language instruction

3. Team teach approach

 Principles of CBI

1. The subject matter content is used for language teaching purposes.

2. Teaching should build on students' previous experiences.
3. Learners feel motivated when they perceive the relevance of the language used.
4. The Teacher helps students to complete or build expressions when they can´t.
5. Language is learned most effectively when it is used with a real purpose.
6. Vocabulary is easier to acquire when it is used to convey meaning.
7. Language support is needed when they work with authentic subject matter.
8. Learners work with meaningful and cognitively demanding language and content.
9. Communicative competence involves more than using language conversationally.