Using CLIL Approach to Improve English Language in a Colombian Higher Educational Institution

In Colombia, the development of communicative skills of English as a foreign language in students of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) is considered as a priority so the professionals can face the challenges of a globalized world. This project aimed to determine the effectiveness of using CLIL approach through the academic subjects in first learning level students of a Nursing program. The research had a mixed quasi experimental design of a control group not equivalent with measurements before and after CLIL interventions, which consisted in accompanying and guidance to six teachers who instruct the seven subjects of the academic program in which the experimental group was. Along 17 applications designed from the 4C’s (Content, Cognition, Communication and Culture), and the methodology collaborative work, students showed a significant progress in using communicative and cognitive abilities according with the development performances. The used tests to evaluate students’ English level showed from the statistical data analysis, applying T-student test, that initiating the process the mean of the control group was significantly higher than the mean of the experimental group, and posteriorly to CLIL approach applications, a mean improvement of the experimental group was observed becoming statistically similar to the mean of the control group. The research results provide a pedagogical path to strengthen bilingualism processes and to contribute with graduate’s communicative competences in a foreign language.