Venti anni di CLIL in Italia

About twenty years after the first studies on CLIL, Italy can presently count on some considerable achievements in the field, as a result of a history of research and experimentation with the vehicular use of a foreign/additional language for the teaching of a particular subject. The aim of this paper is to recall the main stages that have allowed CLIL to develop to such an extent that, in just over twenty years, it is now formally recognised as an approach in which to invest. From researchers to teachers, from ministerial round tables to school publishing companies, CLIL is one of the most debated topics among those involved in language education, and beyond. In this debate, a key role is acknowledged to Carmel Mary Coonan, a scholar who, thanks to her numerous – and often pioneering – research and experimentation initiatives, has strongly contributed to making CLIL what it represents today in our country, as this paper will explain.