1.5 The Teacher’s Role in CLIL and the Power of Collaboration

Another important factor in CLIL planning is the teacher. While CLIL can be highly rewarding, it also presents specific challenges depending on your background, experience, and area of expertise.

In this chapter, we explore different teacher profiles involved in CLIL, such as subject teachers, language teachers, or external educators, and the strengths and challenges each brings to the classroom. We also highlight the importance of collaboration as a key strategy for successful CLIL practice, showing how sharing knowledge, planning together, and reflecting on lessons can support both teaching quality and professional development.

By considering all five elements — students, subject, topic, time, and teacher — you now have a solid foundation for effective CLIL planning. Building on this, the next module will focus on one of the most practical aspects of teaching: finding and adapting materials that suit your learners, your context, and your objectives.