Content-based instruction

Content-based instruction

I am wonder why in recent years content-based instruction has become increasingly popular as a means of developing linguistic ability. I want to know what is content-based instruction?, What does a content-based instruction lesson look like? And What are the advantages of content-based instruction?

Content-Based Instruction is an approach to language teaching that focuses not on the language itself, but rather on what is being taught through the language; that is, the language becomes the medium through which something new is learned. The language being learned and used is taught within the context of the content. The theory behind CBI is that when students are engaged with more content, it will promote intrinsic motivation. Students will be able to use more advanced thinking skills when learning new information and will focus less on the structure of the language. This approach is very student-centered as it depends entirely on the students’ ability to use the language.

There are many ways to approach creating a CBI lesson. This is one possible way. Preparation step, choose a subject of interest to students and find three or four suitable sources that deal with different aspects of the subject. These could be websites, reference books, audio or video of lectures or even real people. During the lesson; firstly, divide the class into small groups and assign each group a small research task and a source of information to use to help them fulfill the task. Then once they have done their research they form new groups with students that used other information sources and share and compare their information. There should then be some product as the end result of this sharing of information which could take the form of a group report or presentation of some kind.

What are the advantages of content-based instruction? It can make learning a language more interesting and motivating. Students can use the language to fulfil a real purpose, which can make students both more independent and confident. Moreover, students can also develop a much wider knowledge of the world through CBI which can feed back into improving and supporting their general educational needs. CBI is very popular among EAP (English for Academic Purposes) teachers as it helps students to develop valuable study skills such as note taking, summarising and extracting key information from texts. Taking information from different sources, re-evaluating and restructuring that information can help students to develop very valuable thinking skills that can then be transferred to other subjects. The inclusion of a group work element within the framework given above can also help students to develop their collaborative skills, which can have great social value.