The Centre of Languages and Communication would like to express its sincere thanks to the Goethe-Institut in Warsaw for its substantive and financial support in the implementation of the UNI-CLILiG project, which won the 14th edition of the European Language Label competition.
About the project
What is CLIL/CLILiG?
Content and Language Integrated Learning in German refers to integrated subject-language teaching based on the simultaneous transfer of content from the field of taught subjects and elements of a foreign language. It provides a broader view of the achievements of contemporary science around the world and at the same time develops communication skills across different cultures. In the era of economic globalization and staff mobility, CLIL teaching has become a priority in higher education in Europe and around the world.
CLILiG at the Poznań University of Technology (Content and Language Integrated Learning in German)
In the 2014/15 academic year, students of the Poznań University of Technology took part in the CLILiG project. The Centre of Languages and Communication collaborated with the Goethe-Institut on the project. Dr. Kim Haataja from the University of Tampere in Finland was the methodological supervisor of the entire project. Work on the project continued throughout the winter semester of the 2014/15 academic year in three fields of study simultaneously. It consisted of team projects and individual tasks. Students worked on three completely different topics, following common guidelines.
Final outcomes of the project
On March 12 at 2 p.m., a presentation of projects completed by students of the Poznań University of Technology as part of the UNI-CLILiG project took place. The official part was opened by the Director of CJK, Dr. Liliana Szczuka-Dorna, and the Rector, Prof. Tomasz Łodygowski, Ph.D., Eng. The assumptions and objectives of the UNI-CLILiG project were presented by the Higher Education Project Coordinator at the Goethe Institut in Poland, Ms. Ewa Ostaszewska. The guest of honor at the ceremony, Dr. Kim Haataja from the University of Tampere in Finland, emphasized the importance of CLIL teaching in the education of future engineers.
The main point of the program was the presentations by the students, who performed their tasks in a professional manner. Students from the Logistics department familiarized guests and colleagues with the process of setting up a company, fulfilling orders, inventory management, and transport planning. The project group from the Automation and Robotics department examined the comfort of living in a smart home and, using a model they had constructed themselves, explained how a smart building works. The next group, from the Mechatronics department, presented a flexible production line, analyzing its modules and showing a film they had made themselves.
During the presentations in German, both the high level of content and language skills were evident. The students' presentations were very well received and highly rated.
The participation of Poznań University of Technology students in the UNI-CLILiG pilot project is a noteworthy example of the introduction of innovative teaching methods at Poznań University of Technology, including language teaching at the Centre of Languages and Communication.
Student opinions
"Working on the CLIL project was a very interesting experience. Thanks to this project, it was possible to gain a lot of experience and consolidate knowledge about modern production line technologies. I learned about the individual elements of such a line and how it works. This additional work contributed to improving my language skills, especially in the professional field. The only problem was the difficulty in finding information that would answer all the key questions." Sylwia Cieślicka, Mechatronics
“I think that participating in the project was a very interesting experience. I learned to work effectively in a group, plan my work, and, above all, I increased my technical vocabulary. Creating something from scratch, planning, developing, and then seeing the results of your work gives you incredible satisfaction.” Marta Kierzkowska, Automation and Robotics
Participating in the project gave me the opportunity to develop both my language skills and professional knowledge. At every step, I developed soft skills such as teamwork, creativity, interpersonal skills, and dynamism. Participating in the project allowed me to gain new experiences because I found myself in situations that were challenging for me. Working in a group to prepare presentations and collaborating on the project not only with other students but also with lecturers was also a valuable experience. I also had the opportunity to test myself in new tasks. At the end, we had the opportunity to present the results of our work at an international forum in German." Alicja Wójcik, Logistics
“I was initially skeptical about the CLIL project. I thought it would take up our valuable student time without giving anything in return. With time, however, it turned out to be completely different. Despite initial difficulties, such as ”how to tackle this topic?", it turned out that this type of language learning can be particularly interesting. Thanks to the project, I realized that language skills are particularly important in the work of an engineer, because they allow you to use an incomparably larger set of information sources. I also decided that if you can learn topics from your own field of interest in a foreign language, then working abroad is an achievable challenge." Michał Siemieniewski, Mechatronics
“Participating in this project made me realize that learning German doesn't have to be monotonous. While gathering materials, I learned many new phrases related to my field of study. I think it was an interesting way to spend my time.” Maciej Ziętek, Automation and Robotics
"I believe that participating in the project allowed me and the other participants to do something extra for ourselves. Thanks to this, we had the opportunity to expand our knowledge of logistics and learn professional vocabulary related to starting a business, planning, inventory renewal, and transportation. The project also developed our soft skills, such as teamwork, analysis, and discussion skills. Each of us became good at organizing our time. I think that implementing such projects allows us to put the knowledge we gained in class to practical use." Agnieszka Olszewska, Logistics
"CLIL helped me broaden my interests in my studies. Through physical contact with modern industrial equipment, I was able to learn a lot and plan my development in this direction. CLIL also taught me how to work in a group and showed me how much patience you need to have with your partner. In addition to the advantages resulting from the technical aspects of knowledge, participation in the project allowed me to improve my language skills." Jan Jakubek, Mechatronics
"Participation in a German language project on the topic of analyzing smart buildings from an economic and social perspective was initiated by the Goethe Institute and gave me a lot. Classes took on a new form. I learned many interesting things, discovered interesting vocabulary related to new technologies, and developed my ability to work in a group. I am open to any similar proposals in the future." Szymon Pankowski, Automation and Robotics
“Thanks to this project, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge in a subject directly related to my field of study. In addition, I gained experience in public presentations and enriched my knowledge of German words and expressions with a whole range of professional phrases and terms.” Szymon Aleksy, Automation and Robotics
"I consider the project an interesting way to learn a foreign language. Given that the subject matter was consistent with my field of study and required a thorough approach, I can say that it was an interesting experience and, above all, a challenge. I had the opportunity to improve my skills in planning my activities, and I must admit that it helped me develop my communication skills. Thanks to my participation in the project, not only did I look at learning German from a different perspective, but I was also able to derive satisfaction from the results of my work and that of my colleagues." Filip Górka, Logistics