A1 Journal article (refereed)
‘It has given me this kind of courage…’: the significance of CLIL in forming a positive target language self-concept (2022)

Roiha, A., & Mäntylä, K. (2022). ‘It has given me this kind of courage…’: the significance of CLIL in forming a positive target language self-concept. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 25(1), 100-116. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1636761

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Roiha, Anssi; Mäntylä, Katja

Journal or series: International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism

ISSN: 1367-0050

eISSN: 1747-7522

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 04/07/2019

Volume: 25

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 100-116

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1636761

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/66264

Abstract

This article sets out to broaden the understanding of foreign language self-concept in CLIL context. The few existing studies on self-concept in CLIL have been quantitative and provided somewhat discrepant results, highlighting the need for approaching the topic qualitatively. The data of the present study are in-depth interviews with 24 former Finnish CLIL pupils who retrospectively reflected on their CLIL experiences. The participants had received English-medium CLIL for nine years during their comprehensive school in the 1990s. The data were analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The participants generally felt that CLIL had had a significant role in contributing to their very positive English language self-concept. Most reported being highly confident language users who had not experienced any language anxiety in English. However, some participants’ self-concept had oscillated throughout the years. The participants put a lot of emphasis on social comparisons, external feedback and the early start of CLIL in forming their positive English self-concept. The participants’ self-concepts in other foreign languages seemed to be more negative. The results indicate that early and fairly moderate CLIL has potential in creating a positive target language self-concept, which encourages to adopt CLIL methodology also to mainstream language education.

Free keywords: English-medium CLIL; self-concept; foreign language; language users; interview study; Finland

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2