Geometria em Inglês: oportunidades para a articulação curricular no 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Abstract

In response to the latest challenges in Education, many have stressed the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to foreign language learning within a more flexible curriculum which allows for the construction of a more cohesive vision of the world within a holistic perspective crucial for early academic success. With the belief that, on the one hand, children can develop basic geometrical concepts and visual-spatial awareness through activities in English, and that on the other, such activities can help develop learners' fluency in the foreign language, an action-research project was designed which involved the implementation of a series of Geometry lessons given through English, thus adopting the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach in two classes in the first cycle of primary education. Evidence was found that the lessons given through English which incorporated highly visual material and stimulating activities inspired by teaching strategies from other curricular areas gave students greater motivation to communicate in this language. The project demonstrates that an interdisciplinary approach involving a foreign language can optimize learning, enabling the students to develop transversal skills, and providing the teachers involved with numerous opportunities for professional development.