What are the underlying theories about language learning in CLIL?
There is much scientific research on how we learn languages, which now gives us greater understanding of the role of ‘acquiring language’ in relation to ‘learning language’. (Marsh) Infants and young children can be very good at acquiring languages when they are used in the home, and this is one reason why people sometimes think that we learn languages best when we are very young. Older children and adults tend to be taught languages, usually in language learning classrooms or increasingly through computer-aided programs. Successful language learning can be achieved when people have the opportunity to receive instruction, and at the same time experience real-life situations in which they can acquire the language. (Marsh) Even though there may be differences in how the brain works as a child grows older and becomes an adult, a key issue in ‘picking up’ languages relates to the opportunities we have for learning languages. This is where CLIL can be of interest. One reason why very young
