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Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) is generally recognised as a fruitful example of bilingual education. However, success in CLIL may not be straightforward and may require the establishment of coordination between content and language teachers. The aim of this study is to investigate if content and language teachers are able to plan a number of different types of coordination at the curricular level: between the foreign language (FL) subject and the content subjects, between the language subjects (L1 and FL) and between the content subjects. Lesson plans from 27 primary schools have been analysed paying attention to this three-level coordination to determine to what extent the objectives, contents and activities of the language and content subjects are common and, consequently, reflect these three types of coordination. Results show that teachers are aware of the potentiality of this three-level coordination, and that they easily coordinate objectives and contents but they find more difficulties in designing activities in a coordinated way. Results in this study thus suggest that teachers can plan effectively curricular organisation and provides useful recommendation on how this coordination should be made.

When analysing the main drivers for the success of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), interest has been paid to the significance of coordination between language teachers and content teachers to promote an effective integration of content and language. A decisive factor in teaching seems to be teachers’ perception of their own professional identity, pedagogical standpoints, and performance. The aim of this study is to investigate their understanding of how CLIL influences content and language teachers’ perceptions on the roles they take and on their own professional development. It endeavours to gain insight into CLIL teachers’ opinions and their understanding of the importance of establishing coordination processes. The results obtained show that teachers believe that working in a CLIL programme benefits their professional profile, and that coordination between foreign language (FL) teachers and content teachers at different levels is fundamental.

The implementation of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) means significant changes in the way in which teaching is planned, sequenced and carried out. The adoption of a new curriculum, which integrates linguistic and nonlinguistic material, as well as the linguistic and methodological needs that come with the introduction of this type of teaching, have generated feelings of concern and uncertainty. This paper reports those concerns and uncertainties in the Andalusian context, and strives for clarifying issues related to the theoretical assumptions, teaching implementation and creation of teaching units in CLIL.