Chapter 35 CLIL in Italy

After a short Introduction, the chapter presents a review of the Italian educational system, particularly focusing on the organisation of the upper secondary curriculum, in which CLIL is officially implemented based on current legislation. It then details the different stages that have characterised the implementation of CLIL in Italy, from the endorsement of CLIL within the wider European language policy in the 1990s to its designation as a compulsory methodology in Italian upper secondary schools in the 2010s, taking heed of the effects of these stages on teacher training and practice. The focus then shifts to a review of research, which has provided insights into the affordances, implementational challenges, and outcomes of CLIL in the Italian context. Informed by these findings and based on the ‘lessons learned’ in Italy, the national, regional, and global implications for CLIL research and practice conclude the chapter, together with a short list of books for further reading.