Abstract:

CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is a dual-focused approach in which an additional language is using for the learning and teaching of both content and language. Content subjects, such as mathematics and a language, are usually taught separately. High school students achieve a good knowledge of general English. However, they do not have the opportunity to become familiar with professional mathematical terminology. These highly limits teachers and students in using educational materials, applications or videos that are available in English.

The Math4U portal, which has been developed for the fifth year in a row by an international team led by mathematicians from the Department of Applied Mathematics of the VSB -Technical University of Ostrava, offers materials and applications useful and well usable for CLIL. It is a four-language portal (English, Czech, Slovak, Polish) designed to practice high school mathematics. Soon, everything will be available in a fifth language - Spanish. The portal has four main sections - Math4Student, Math4Student Easy, Math4Teacher and Math4Class, that were in detail described in INTED 2019 in the paper Math4U - math in four languages for students and teachers.

It is difficult for math teachers to start CLIL, as most teachers do not have sufficient knowledge of the language. In our paper, we will show some ways how Math4U portal can help with CLIL all teachers, not only those who are fluent in the language. We will list activities that can be used for a revision, for the explanation of a new topic, for home practising and uplifting atmosphere in the class.

For example, in application Math4Student, pupils can switch between languages when practising at any time while working with each question. More ambitious students can practice in English and show the multiple-choice question in their native language only if they come across an unknown word. When practising with the whole class, the teacher can display any training game from the Math4Class library in English on the smartboard, discuss assignments, explain unfamiliar phrases, organize a competition in teams, etc. The teacher can also generate any interactive test or written exam (worksheets) in both the native language and English in the Math4Teacher section.

The cooperation of mathematics teachers with language teachers seems to be ideal. Math topics that the student has already mastered, such as algebraic expressions, can be included in language teaching. Students solving the maths problem will comment on the individual steps of the solution. This activity not only expands the student's vocabulary and new phrases but also repeats the math. And by loudly commenting on the solution and having to justify every step, they are broadly consolidating their knowledge. In this contribution, we will show how language teachers can use the materials of the Math4U portal, especially the Math4Class.

English has become the most widely used language for higher education. Almost all universities in Europe have accredited study programs in English and seek to attract international students, promote mobility and meet the demands of the global labour market. Enriching math lessons with English is one way to motivate students to study STEM disciplines and reduce the fear of studying abroad.

Keywords:

CLIL, mathematics, educational games, multilingualism.