CBLI: Embedding Language in Content Instruction

This 3-hour interactive session introduces educators to Content-Based Language Instruction (CBLI) and practical ways to embed language development into everyday content-area instruction. Participants will explore what CBLI looks like in practice, how language and content can be taught together, and how to make grade-level learning more accessible for emergent bilingual (EB) students.

Rather than treating language development as something separate from the curriculum, this session focuses on finding meaningful opportunities within existing lessons to intentionally develop students’ academic language while they engage with grade-level content.

Through hands-on activities, participants will:

• Explore what CBLI is and what it looks like in the classroom
• Identify opportunities to embed language development into existing content and curriculum
• Connect content standards with purposeful language objectives and student language use
• Explore strategies for making grade-level content more accessible to EB students
• Identify practical scaffolds and supports that promote both content learning and language development
• Examine ways to intentionally build listening, speaking, reading, and writing into content-area instruction
• Apply CBLI strategies to lesson planning and classroom activities

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of CBLI and practical strategies they can use to make content more accessible while creating meaningful opportunities for students to develop and use academic language throughout the school day.