The Potential of Content and Language Integrated Learning in Curriculum-Based Ideological and Political Education

Abstract

The innovative curriculum-based ideological and political education (CIPE) trend in China's higher education integrates ideological and political education (IPE) into curricula to develop students' citizenship skills. Foreign language teaching (FLT) has leveraged CIPE's advancement due to its rich cultural nuances. Yet, effectively implementing IPE within FLT remains complex and demands academic attention. The authors suggest content and language integrated learning (CLIL) holds significant potential for IPE-based FLT. This potential arises from the shared attributes between CLIL and IPE-based FLT, which encompass diverse language learning facets, the acquisition of content knowledge and the cultivation of cross-cultural understanding. This chapter compares CLIL and IPE-based FLT, based on which a coherent conceptual framework is introduced and justified for implementing IPE-based FLT. However, a comprehensive agenda is needed to address a multitude of issues beyond the scope of this chapter, which is pivotal in unlocking the full potential of CIPE and ensuring its enduring viability.