• No se han encontrado resultados

El Procedimiento de autorización como principal elemento de distinción 385

EQUILIBRIO

II. EL MEDICAMENTO, ¿UNA SIMPLE MERCANCÍA?

3. El Procedimiento de autorización como principal elemento de distinción 385

Referring   back   to   the   2006   Eurydice   report   on   Content   and   Language   Integrated   Learning  and  the  2008  report  ‘Key  data  on  teaching  languages  at  school  in  Europe’  

published   by   the   European   Commission,   it   reports   that   in   2012   Eurydice   and   Eurostat  data  will  be  combined  and  new  information  will  be  added,  in  particular  on   CLIL   (Content   and   Language   Integrated   Learning)’   (European   Commission   2011:10).  

Stating  that  CLIL  is  a  cross-­‐cutting  priority  for  all  projects  within  the  Leonardo  da   Vinci   programme   European   Commission   2011:13),   it   also   reports   that   The   European  Language  Inspectors  Network  set  up  in  2005  following  the  Commission   Action  Plan  on  Promoting  Language  Learning  and  Linguistic  Diversity  2004-­‐2006   considers   that   Content   and   Language   Integrated   Learning   (CLIL)   is   an   aspect   of   language  teaching  that  merits  development  and  wider  application  and  is  amongst   one  of  the  core  elements  in  the  profile  of  a  European  Language  Teacher.  (European   Commission  2011:40).  

 

1.2 The   Emergent   European   Dimension   through   Actions,   Projects   and   Initiatives  1989  -­‐  2001  

 

The   1989   European   Council   decision   to   launch   the   LINGUA   unit   within   the   European   Commission   (European   Council   1989)   was   of   fundamental   significance   in   supporting   policy   and   implementation   support   for   innovation   in   language   teaching   and   learning.   At   this   time   the   Council   of   Europe   was   hosting   18   expert   workshops   (1990-­‐1996)   to   examine   teaching,   learning   and   assessment   in   foreign   languages  under  a  project  entitled  ‘Modern  Languages  Project:  Language  Learning   for   European   Citizenship’   (Council   of   Europe   1996).     Some   of   these   Workshops  

 

focused   on   ‘bilingual   education’   and   ‘teaching   non-­‐language   subjects   through   a   foreign  language’  (Council  of  Europe  Workshops  12a  /  12b  –  1993/1996).    

The  LINGUA  unit  was  in  a  position  to  co-­‐fund  European  projects,  and  interest  was   shown   in   the   potential   of   bilingual   education.     In   an   increasingly   convergent   European  socio-­‐political  context,  the  issue  of  being  able  to  mainstream  previously   successful   examples   of   bilingual   education   was   examined   with   respect   to   school   and  teacher  development.    LINGUA  was  not  mandated  to  provide  research  funding,   but   it   could   co-­‐fund   initiatives   which   were   both   cross-­‐border   and   focused   on   various   forms   of   professional   development   and   capacity-­‐building.   The   Council   of   Europe  was  also  operating  with  limited  funds  which  prevented  the  type  of  research   implemented  in  Canada  for  example  when  ‘immersion’  was  being  widely  examined,   developed,   and   implemented   during   the   1980s-­‐1990s   (Genesee,   1987).     Whereas   the   Council   of   Europe   Workshops   were   examining   the   current   situation   where   bilingual  education  was  being  operated  in  often  very  distinct  environments  such  as   in   bilingual   border   regions,   the   LINGUA   unit   was   exploring   if   and   how   such   an   approach  could  be  used  in  mainstream  schools.    

European   Commission   support   was   provided   to   a   number   of   initiatives   which   supported  a  1978  initiative  (European  Commission  1978)  to  encourage  teaching  in   schools   through   the   medium   of   more   than   one   language.     At   the   beginning   these   initiatives  were  based  on  inter-­‐disciplinary  professional  networks,  where  experts   were  brought  together  to  consider  various  dimensions  of  bilingual  education.    

In  1992,  the  proposition  was  made  that  the  term  bilingual  education  would  not  be   optimal   to   describe   schools   where   partial   teaching   through   a   foreign   language   would   be   developed.   The   European   schools,   and   other   exemplary   examples   as   found   in   bilingual   environments   and   border   regions   (see,   for   instance   Baetens  

 

Beardsmore  1993)  could  achieve  high  levels  of  bilingualism,  and  thus  the  term  was   appropriate.    But  in  the  case  of  starting  to  mainstream  the  experience  of  learning   non-­‐language   subjects   through   a   foreign   language,   bilingual   education   was   not   considered  appropriate.    From  1992  to  1993  there  was  active  discussion  between   experts,   often   facilitated   by   actions   through   the   European   Platform   for   Dutch   Education  and  the  University  of  Jyväskylä  (Finland),  to  seek  a  term  which  would  be   widely  accepted.    

In   1993   the   term   Content   and   Language   Integrated   Classrooms   (CLIC)   was   proposed   and   circulated   amongst   LINGUA   staff   and   others   across   Europe.     CLIC   denoted  the  context,  not  a  methodological  approach.    Interest  in  the  parameters  of   an  educational  approach  that  would  suit  contexts  where  students  where  learning   non-­‐language   subjects   through   a   foreign   language,   led   to   a   need   for   term   adjustment  or  replacement.    In  1994,  representatives  of  the  European  Platform  for   Dutch  Education  (Anne  Maljers)  and  the  University  of  Jyväskylä  (David  Marsh),  in   conjunction  with  other  key  stakeholders,  then  opted  for  adopting  the  term  Content   and  Language  Integrated  Learning  (CLIL).    This  term  was  tested  at  an  international   forum   in   Finland   (The   1996   Forum   for   Mainstream   Bilingual   Education,   Helsinki   20-­‐22  September),  launched  through  the  EUROCLIC  network  internet  site,  formally   agreed   by   the   coordinators   of   EUROCLIC   at   the   1996   European   Conference   on   Immersion  Programmes,  Barcelona,  Spain.  26-­‐28  September  and  introduced  to  the   European   Commission   (DGXXII)   by   David   Marsh   at   the   White   Paper   Thematic   Conference,   ‘Proficiency   in   three   community   languages’,   Brussels,   10-­‐11   October   1996.    

In   1996,   LINGUA   supported   the   European   Networks   in   Bilingual   Education   conference  (Fruhauf  et  al.  1996).    At  this  event  it  was  agreed  that  organisations  in   the  Netherlands  (European  Platform  for  Dutch  Education)  and  Finland  (University  

 

of   Jyväskylä)   would   coordinate   a   European   Commission   co-­‐funded   network.   This   was   launched   in   1996   as   EuroCLIC   (European   Content   and   Language   Integrated   Classrooms).      

Working   closely   with   LINGUA   the   European   Platform   for   Dutch   Education   and   University   of   Jyväskylä   then   launched   a   range   of   initiatives   to   provide   mainly   pioneering   teachers   and   schools   with   network   opportunities   and   resources   by   which   to   explore   means   to   integrate   the   learning   of   foreign   languages   across   the   primary,   secondary   and   vocational   curricula.     Both   countries   were   experiencing   considerable   interest   in   the   teaching   of   non-­‐language   subjects   through   a   foreign   language  which  enabled  case  studies  to  be  established  which  were  then  available  to   practitioners   and   others   in   other   European   countries   (see,   for   example,   Marsh   1996;  Marsh  &  Masih  1996;  Pohjanvirta  et  al.  1998;  Nikula  &  Marsh,  1997;  Takala,   Marsh  &  Nikula  1998;  Marsh,  Takala  &  Nikula  1997;  Marsh  1997;  Marsh  &  Masih   1996).  

Following   publication   of   the   European   Commission’s   White   Paper:   Teaching   and   Learning:  Towards  a  Learning  Society  which  stated  that  ‘school  pupils  should  study   certain   subjects   in   the   first   foreign   language   learned,   as   in   the   European   schools’  

(European   Commission   1996:67),   growing   interest   across   Europe,   facilitated   by   the   actions   of   the   European   Platform   for   Dutch   Education   and   University   of   Jyväskylä,  and  continuously  supported  by  expertise  within  the  LINGUA  unit  led  to  a   set  of  actions  and  outcomes.    

Meanwhile   the   Council   of   Europe   created   the   European   Centre   for   Modern   Languages   (ECML)   in   1994   as   an   Enlarged   Partial   Agreement   of   the   Council   of   Europe.    The  ECML  was  to  establish  a  documentation  centre  providing  specialists   and  multipliers  with  a  wide  range  of  teaching  aids  and  results  of  research.    Some  of  

 

these  were  focused  on  bilingual  education.    In  1997  it  held  the  first  Workshop  on   CLIL   ‘CLIL   in   Vocational   and   Professional   Education’   (Marsh,   Bogner,   Coyle   &  

Takala  1998).    

In   1997   a   think   tank   (CEILINK)   was   convened   with   the   support   of   the   European   Commission  to  take  stock  of  the  situation,  seek  inter-­‐disciplinary  cooperation,  and   establish  future  oriented  action  plans.    This  led  to  publication  of  ‘CLIL  Initiatives  for   the   Millennium’   (Marsh   &   Marsland   1998).     Efforts   to   disseminate   information   where   supported   by   the   European   Commission   co-­‐supporting   development   of   a   broadcast  quality  video,  InterTalk,  and  a  host  of  actions  were  subsequent  by  which   to  raise  public  awareness.    This  was  followed  by  a  range  of  publications  designed   for  parents  and  young  people  (see,  for  example  Marsh  &  Langé  2000).    In  2001  a   European   survey   was   published,   Profiling   European   CLIL   Classrooms   (Marsh,   Maljers,   Hartiala   2001),   which   reported   on   reasons   why   schools   wished   to   introduce   CLIL.   Five   dimensions   were   found,   culture;   environment;   language;  

content,  and  learning.    

From   the   late   1990-­‐2001   an   increasing   range   of   materials   were   published   to   support  CLIL.  Some  of  these  resulted  from  the  ongoing  coordination  of  activities  by   the  European  Platform  for  Dutch  Education  and  the  University  of  Jyväskylä  (see,  for   example,  Marsh  &  Marsland  1999;  Marsh  &  Langé  1999;  Marsh,  Ennser  &  Sygmund   1999;  Marsh  &  Langé  2000a;  Marsh  &  Langé  2000b;  Marsh,  Marsland  &  Stenburg   2001;  In  1998,  a  resource  base  was  established  covering  research  and  materials  in   different   European   languages   (Marsh   &   Marsland,   1998).   At   the   same   time   many   others   publications   and   resources   were   being   independently   produced   across   Europe  by  different  experts  and  entities.  

 

 

REFERENCES  

Asikainen  et  al.  (2010)  Talking  the  Future  2010  –  2020:  CCN  Foresight  Think  Tank   Report.  Languages  in  Education.  Jyvaskyla:  University  of  Jyväskylä.  

Beetsma,  D.  (2002)  Trilingual  Primary  Education  in  Europe.  Inventory  of  the   provisions  for  trilingual  primary  education  in  minority  language  communities  of  the   European  Union,  Leeuwarden:    Mercator-­‐Education:  Fryske  Akademy.  

CCN  (2008)  The  CLIL  Fusion  Communiqué,  Jyväskylä:  University  of  Jyväskylä.  

Civil  Society  Platform  on  Multilingualism  (2011)  Multilingualism  in  the  European   Union,  09  June,  Brussels.  

Council  of  Europe  (1991/1993)  Workshops  12A,  12B,  Strasbourg:  Council  of   Europe.  

Council  of  Europe  (1997)  Language  learning  for  European  citizenship  –  Final  Report   of  the  Project  Group  (Activities  1989-­‐1996),  Strasbourg:  Council  of  Europe.  

Council  of  Europe  (2009)  DG  IV  /  EDU/  LANG  2009,  A  platform  of  resources  and   references  for  plurilingual  and  intercultural  education,  Strasbourg.  

Council  of  the  European  Union  (2005)  3  May,  The  Changing  European  Classroom:  

The  potential  of  plurilingual  education,  8392/05:  Brussels.  

Education  Council,  (1976)  9  February,  Resolution,  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1983)  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1984)  4  June,  Resolution,  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1985)  27  September,  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1988)  11  February,  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1995a)  31  March,  Brussels.  

Education  Council    (1995b),  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1995c)  Resolution  31  March,  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1996)  Official  Journal  L  306,  Brussels.  

Education  Council  (1997)  Resolution  16  December,  Brussels.  

 

Education  Council  (2000)  14  December,  Brussels.  

 

Education  Council  (2002)  Resolution,  Brussels.  

 

Education  Council  (2009)  Conclusions  on  a  strategic  framework  for  European   cooperation  in  education  and  training  (ET  2020)  Official  Journal  C  119,  28/05/2009  

 

P.  0002  –  0010.  

EEC  Council  (1958)  Regulation  No.1,  June,  EEC.  

European  Commission  (1978)  Proposal  14  June,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (1996),  White  Paper,  Teaching  and  Learning:  Towards  the   Learning  Society,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (1996)  Green  Paper,  The  Obstacles  to  Transnational  Mobility   Green  Paper:  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2001)  Committee  of  Regions,  Opinion  of  the  Committee  of   the  Regions,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2003a)  The  2003  Education  &  Training  2010   Communication  by  the  European  Commission,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2003)  Promoting  Language  Learning  and  Linguistic   Diversity  2004-­‐2006,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2005)  Communication  from  the  Commission  to  the  Council,   the  European  Parliament,  The  European  economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the   Committee  of  Regions,  A  New  Framework  Strategy  for  Multilingualism,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2007)  Working  Document,  Report  on  the  implementation  of   the  Action  Plan,  Promoting  language  learning  and  linguistic  diversity,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2006)    The  Main  Pedagogical  Principles  underlying  the   Teaching  of  Languages  to  Very  Young  Learners,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2006),  Communication,  Education  &  Training  2010,  The   success  of  the  Lisbon  strategy  depends  on  urgent  reforms,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2007)  Outcomes  of  the  European  Commission’s  public   consultation  on  multilingualism,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2008)  Languages  Mean  Business:  Recommendations  from   the  Business  Forum  for  Multilingualism,  Brussels.  

European  Commission  (2008)  Communication  from  the  Commission  to  the  

European  Parliament,  The  Council,  The  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee,   and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions,  Multilingualism:  an  asset  for  Europe  and  a  shared   commitment,  Brussels.  

European  Council  (1983),  Stuttgart.  

European  Council  (1985)  Milan.  

European  Council  (1989)  Brussels.  

 

European  Council  (2000)  Lisbon.  

European  Council  (2008)  Resolution,  Brussels.  

European  Council  Resolution  (2008)  European  strategy  for  multilingualism,  Official   Journal  C  320,  Brussels.

European  Council    (2004)  Common  Position  (EC)  No.  28/2004.  

European  Parliament  (2000a)  24  January,  Decision  No  253/2000/EC,  Brussels.  

European  Parliament  (2000b)  Decision  No  508/2000/EC  Establishing  the  Culture   2000  programme,  Brussels.  

European  Parliament  (2000c)  Establishing  the  European  Year  of  Languages  2001,   Decision  No.  1934/2000/EC,  Brussels.  

European  Parliament  (1994)  Official  Journal  L  340,  29/12/1994.  0008-­‐0024.  

 

European  Parliament    (1995a)  14  March,  Decision  576/98/EC,  Brussels.  

 

European  Parliament  (1995b)  23  October,  Decision  2493/95/EC,  Brussels.  

 

European  Parliament  (2001)  The  2001  Charter  of  Fundamental  Rights  of  the   European  Union.  

 

European  Parliament,  Article  22,  Brussels.  

 

European  Parliament  (2006)  Recommendation  2006/962/EC  on  key  competences   for  lifelong  learning,  Official  Journal  L  394  of  30.12.2006,  Brussels.  

Eurydice  (2004)  Content  and  Language  Integrated  Learning  (CLIL)  at  School  in   Europe  Eurydice:  Brussels.  

Fruhauf,  G.,  Coyle  D.  &  Christ  I.  (Eds.)  (1996)  European  Models  of  

Bilingual/Immersion  Education:  European  Platform  for  Dutch  Education:  Den  Haag,   The  Netherlands.  

Genesee,  F.  (1987).  Learning  through  two  languages:  studies  of  immersion  and   bilingual  education.  Newbury  House  Publishers.  

Maastricht  Treaty,  7  February  1992:  Article  126  

 

Marsh,  D.  &  Masih  J.,  (1996)  Teaching  Content  through  a  Foreign  Language  in   Finland.  In  Fruhauf,  G.  D.  Coyle  &  I.  Christ  (eds.),  p.  45-­‐67,  European  Models  of   Bilingual/Immersion  Education:  European  Platform  for  Dutch  Education:  Den  Haag,   The  Netherlands.  

Marsh,  D  &  B.  Marsland  (eds.)  (1998)  A  Resource  Base  for  Bilingual  Educators   (Bibliographie  Bilingualismus  und  Bilingualer  Unterricht),  CEILINK,  Jyväskylä:  

University  of  Jyväskylä.  

Marsh,  D.,  Marsland,  B.  &  A.  Maljers  (eds.)  (1998)  Future  Scenarios  in  Content  and   Language  Integrated  Learning,  EuroCLIC,  den  Haag:  European  Platform  for  Dutch   Education.  

Marsh,  D.  &  Marsland,B.  (1999).  Marsh,  D  &  B.  Marsland  (eds.)  Fremdsprachlicher   Fachunterricht:  Ein  Fernkurs  zur  Lehrerfortbildung,  2,  DIESELL,  Jyväskylä:  

University  of  Jyväskylä.  

Marsh,  D.  &  G.  Langé  (eds.)  (1999)  Implementing  Content  and  Language  Integrated   Learning  –  A  research-­‐driven  foundation  course  reader.  TIE-­‐CLIL:  Milan,  Jyväskylä:  

University  of  Jyväskylä.  

Marsh,  D.,  Ennser  C.  &  Sygmund,  D.  (1999)  Pursuing  Plurilingualism,  vers  le   Plurilinguisme,  Unterrichtsziel  Mehrsprachigkeit.  DIESeLL,  Jyväskylä:  University  of   Jyväskylä.  

Marsh,  D.  &  Langé,  G.  (eds.)  (2000)  Using  Languages  to  Learn  and  Learning  to  Use   Languages:  TIE-­‐CLIL:  University  of  Jyväskylä  &  Ministero  della  Pubblica  Istruzione:  

Milan.  

Marsh,  D  &  Langé,  G.  (eds.)  (2000)  Apprendimento  Integrato  di  Lingua  e  Contenuti:  

Proposte  di  Realizzazione.  Ministero  della  Pubblica  Istruzione,  Direzione  regionale   per  la  Lombardia:  Milan.  

Marsh,  D.,  Marsland,  B.  &  Stenberg,  K.  (2001)  Integrating  Competencies  for  Working   Life.  VocTalk:  University  of  Jyväskylä  &  The  European  Platform  for  Dutch  

Education:  The  Hague.  

Marsh,  D.,  Bognar  A.,  Coyle,  D.  &  Takala,  S.  (eds.)  (1998)  Content  and  Language   Integrated  Learning  in  Vocational  &  Professional  Education.  Report  on  Workshop   20/97,  35p,  European  Centre  for  Modern  Languages,  Graz:  Council  of  Europe.  

Marsh,  D.  &  Marsland,  B.  (eds.)  (1999)  CLIL  Initiatives  for  the  Millennium.  CEILINK,   Jyväskylä:  University  of  Jyväskylä.  

Marsh,  D.,  Maljers,  A.  &  Hartiala  A-­‐K.  (eds.)  (2001)  Profiling  European  CLIL   Classrooms.    UNICOM,  Jyväskylä:  University  of  Jyväskylä  &  en  Haag:  European   Platform  for  Dutch  Education.  

Marsh,  D.  (2000)  An  introduction  to  content  and  language  integrated  learning  for  

 

Languages,  Marsh,  D.  &  Langé,  G.  (eds.)  TIE-­‐CLIL,  .  Ministero  della  Pubblica   Istruzione,  Direzione  regionale  per  la  Lombardia:  Milan.  

Marsh,  D.,  Takala.  S  &  Nikula,  T.  (1998)  Bilingual  Education,  in  Takala,  S.  &  

Sajavaara,K.  Kielikoulutus  Suomessa  (trans.  Language  Teaching  in  Finland),  p.139-­‐

170,  Jyväskylä:  University  of  Jyväskylä.  

Marsh,  D.  &  T.  Nikula,  (1998)  Terminological  Considerations  regarding  Content  and   Language  Integrated  Learning.  Bulletin  Suisse  de  Linguistique  Appliquee,  Neuchatal:  

Switzerland.  

Marsh,  D.,Takala,  S.  &  Nikula,  T.  (1997)  Teacher  Training  in  Bilingual  Education:  

Finland.  In  Teacher  Training  in  Bilingual  Education,  Language  Teacher  Training  &  

Bilingual  Education,  p.  27-­‐47,  The  European  Language  Council:  Berlin.  

Marsh,  D.  (1997)  Lifelong  Learning  of  LWULT  Languages.  New  Partnerships  in  Least   Widely  used  and  less  Taught  (LWULT)  Languages,  p.47-­‐56,  DGXXII,  Helsinki:  Centre   for  International  Mobility  &  National  Board  of  Education:  Finland.  

Marsh,  D.  &  Masih,  J.  (1996)  Teaching  Content  through  a  Foreign  Language  in   Finland.  In  Fruhauf,  G.  D.  Coyle  &  I.  Christ  (eds.),    p.  45-­‐67,  European  Models  of   Bilingual/Immersion  Education:  European  Platform  for  Dutch  Education:  Den  Haag,   The  Netherlands.    

Nikula,  T.  &  Marsh,  D.  (1997)  Vieraskielisen  Opetuksen  Tavoitteet  ja  Toteuttaminen.  

National  Board  of  Education,  Finland.  (trans.  Content  and  Language  Integrated   Learning  in  the  Primary  and  Secondary  Sectors),  Helsinki:  National  Board  of   Education,  Finland.  

Pohjanvirta,  Z.,  Blumchen,  A.,  Lindström,  A.,  Mustajoki,  A.,  Nurmimen,  E.,   Mustaparta,  A-­‐K.,  Lindroos,  K.,  Marsh,  D.,  Roman,  A.  &    Tommila,  L.  (1998)  

Vieraskielinen  Ylioppilastutkinto  (trans.  The  Matriculation  Examination  in  a  Foreign   Language)  Working  Group  Report  21:98,  23p.  Ministry  of  Education:  Finland.  

Presidency  to  Education  Committee  (1995)  6  January,  Draft  Resolution,  Brussels.  

 

 Chapter  2     Special  Educational  Needs  in  Europe:  The  Teaching  &  Learning   of   Languages.   2006.   European   Commission:   Public   Services   Contract  DG  EAC  230303,  Brussels:  European  Commission  

 

2.1 Cognitive  Engagement,  Problem-­‐solving  and  Higher-­‐order  Thinking   Development  of  Content  and  Language  Integrated  Learning  (CLIL)  methodologies   has   focused   on   cognition   for   some   years   (see,   for   example,   Coyle,   Hood   &   Marsh   2011).   This   has   been   in   terms   of   thinking   and   learning   skills,   and   in   accommodating  diverse  types  of  student,  with  often  diverse  levels  of  competence   in  the  vehicular  language.    

Diversity   can   make   teaching   contexts   more   complex.     However   diversity   has   become  a  reality  in  many  European  Union  schools  (Eurydice  2009)  and,  can  also  be   exploited   to   introduce   advantage   if   an   individualised   learning   path   approach   is   adopted.     Diversity   in   schools   is   not   only   related   to   the   impact   of   migration.   It   is   also  linked  to  the  inclusion  into  mainstream  classes  of  young  people  with  special  or   specific   needs,   which   is   commonplace   across   the   European   Union   (European   Agency  for  development  in  Special  Needs  Education  2010).  It  can  also  be  linked  to   early  childhood  lifestyle  differences  of  children  with  respect  to  use  of  technologies   (Hargreaves  1994;  Bain  &  Weston  2011;  Howard  Jones  2010,  Howard  Jones  2011a,   2011b).    

Content   and   Language   Integrated   Learning   has   involved   teaching   and   learning   practices   which   accommodate   diversity   (Alton-­‐lee,   2003).     In   so   doing   emphasis   has  been  made  on  the  issue  of  cognition,  and  how  individuals  learn.  The  correlation   between   individualized   learning   approaches   and   educational   outcomes   is   being   increasingly   examined   as   a   success   factor   in   educational   practice   (Hill   &   Russell,   1999;   OECD   2002;   OECD   2006;   Sahlberg   2011).     ‘The   dominant   model   in   many   Western  societies  has  emphasized  a  transmission  of  knowledge  where  the  expert  

 

(the  teacher)  deposits  information  and  skills  into  the  memory  bank  of  the  novice   (the  learner).  This  has  been  called  a  ‘banking  model’  (Freire,  1972)  and  tends  to  be   teacher-­‐controlled  and  teacher-­‐led.  Alternative,  social-­‐constructivist  approaches  to   learning   emphasize   ‘the   centrality   of   student   experience   and   the   importance   of   encouraging  active  student  learning  rather  than  a  passive  reception  of  knowledge’  

(Cummins,  2005:  108).    

Social-­‐constructivist   learning   in   essence   focuses   on   interactive,   mediated   and   student-­‐led   learning.   This   kind   of   scenario   requires   social   interaction   between   learners  and  teachers  and  scaffolded  (that  is,  supported)  learning  by  someone  or   something  more  ‘expert’  –  that  might  be  the  teacher,  other  learners  or  resources.    

When  learners  are  able  to  accommodate  cognitive  challenge  –  that  is,  to  deal  with   new  knowledge  –  they  are  likely  to  be  engaged  in  interacting  with  ‘expert’  others   and   peers   to   develop   their   individual   thinking.   Vygotsky   (1978)   introduced   the   term  ‘zone  of  proximal  development’  (ZPD)  to  describe  the  kind  of  learning  which   is   always   challenging   yet   potentially   within   reach   of   individual   learners   on   condition   that   appropriate   support,   scaffolding   and   guidance   is   provided.   In   settings   shaped   by   social-­‐constructivist   approaches,   the   teacher’s   role   involves   facilitating   cognitive   challenge   within   an   individual’s   ZPD.     This   involves   the   teacher   in   maintaining   a   balance   between   cognitive   challenge   for   learners   and   appropriate   and   decreasing   support   as   learners   progress’   (Coyle,   Hood   &   Marsh   2011:28-­‐29).    

In  order  for  teachers  to  respond  to  this  trend  towards  individualized  learning  and   the   challenges   posed   by   diversity,   it   is   necessary   to   link   back   to   the   notion   of   multiple  intelligences  (Gardner  1999);  cognitive  process  taxonomies    (Bloom  1956;  

Anderson  &  Krathwohl  2001;  Marzano  2000;  Hayes  et  al  2005);  and  learning  skills   (van  Lier  1996).      This  is  happening  in  an  age  of  rapid  change  where  ‘the  dialogue  

 

in   Knowledge   Age   organizations   is   not   principally   concerned   with   narrative,   exposition,   argument,   and   persuasion   (the   stand-­‐bys   of   traditional   rhetoric)   but   with   solving   problems   and   developing   new   ideas’   (Bereiter   and   Scardamalia,   2005:749-­‐750).  

It  is  argued  that  ‘the  impact  of  general  learning  theory  and  how  individuals  learn,   based   on   work   from   eminent   theorists   such   as   Bruner,   Vygotsky   and   Wood   (see   Bigge   and   Shermis,   1998,   for   an   overview)   does   not   always   directly   influence   classroom  practice’  (Coyle,  Hood  &  Marsh  2011:28)  but  when  teaching  through  a   foreign  language  it  is  often  essential  to  maximize  both  quality  and  effectiveness  of   teaching.     This   is   because   of   the   added   dimension   of   linguistic   competences,   the   link   between   language   and   thought   (REF),   and   the   impact   of   quality   teaching   on   student’s  learning  outcomes  (Laczko-­‐Kerr  &  Berliner  2002;  Wenglinsky  2002).    

Interest   in   accommodating   diversity,   and   developing   student’s   thinking   skills   in   educational  contexts  where  a  group  of  students  may  not  be  at  the  same  linguistic  or   cognitive   level,   has   presented   a   challenge   for   practitioners   and   researchers   (McGuiness  1999).    This  is  a  particular  area  of  interest  for  those  scholars  who  are   exploring  inter-­‐disciplinary  collaboration  in  seeking  to  determine  evidence-­‐based   linkage  between  thinking,  brain  and  learning  processes  (see,  for  instance,  Koizumi   1999;   OECD   2002;   Fischer   et   al.   2007;   OECD   2007;   Hinton,   Miyamoto   &   della   Chiesa  2008).      

 

2.2 Learners  with  Special  and  Specific  Needs    

Special  Educational  Needs  is  a  term  that  is  understood  in  different  ways  across  the   European   Union.   This   is   equally   true   of   the   term   Specific   Educational   Needs.    

Definitions   are   influences   by   legislative,   educational,   medical,   and   even   funding