The City of Helsinki decided to rapidly upscale bilingual programs in 2017. Largely autonomous Finnish teachers saw the need to develop higher, but realistic expectations (learning outcomes) in order to guide joint planning and cooperation within the bilingual program. Teachers sought guidance and professional development opportunities. A voluntary team of experienced bilingual program teachers took on the task over a five-year period (2018-2023). The local government arranged some release time and developed a multi-year relationship with a University College London researcher and a Finnish expert who worked with the teachers.

As a core number of intended content and language learning outcomes were agreed, it was decided that a handbook could support teachers. The handbook sought to make visible the content and language that would be taught through the L2. It moved beyond vocabulary to phraseology. It also provided scaffolding ideas and sought to connect learning with students’ lives.

Eventually, four handbooks (preschool, Grades 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6) containing intended content and language learning outcomes, and an introduction to CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) were agreed amongst the teachers. The handbooks also included yearly curriculum plans, thematic units, individual lesson plans, key words and phraseology, suggested activities, and scaffolding options such as speaking and writing frames.

By documenting the development and use of the handbooks, this paper contributes to an understanding of how, in the long-term, collective stakeholder efficacy was promoted by a local government whilst still respecting teacher autonomy in order successfully upscale a bilingual program.

Authors:
Satu Koistinen, City of Helsinki, Finland
Jenni Kohl, City of Helsinki, Finland

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Kohl is currently employed as a project manager. In this role, she is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing various educational projects and initiatives that aim to improve the quality and accessibility of education in Helsinki.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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