Integration of CLIL through TED Talks: An Approach to Enhance Vocabulary Acquisition among ESL Learners

Authors

  • Abirami Govindaraj

    Department of English, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil 626126, India

  • Aravind Banumathi Rajamanickam

    Department of English, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil 626126, India

  • Pradeepa Kumar

    Department of English, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore 641014, India

     

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.11418
Received: 31 July 2025 | Revised: 1 September 2025 | Accepted: 17 September 2025 | Published Online: 28 October 2025

Abstract

English as a language plays a major role in various fields like education, business, international relations and travel. As a result, English Language Teaching (ELT) has been evolving significantly with various methods to enhance learners' proficiency. Vocabulary acquisition is one of the fundamental components in ELT because it enables learners to communicate effectively. Over the years, a wide range of strategies has been employed to help the learners enrich their vocabulary level. With the rapid advancement of technology, the process of teaching and learning became more engaging, interactive and accessible. This research aims to analyse the effectiveness of integrating Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) through TED Talks to enhance the vocabulary acquisition among English as Second Language (ESL) learners. CLIL allows the learners to gain both subject knowledge and language skills simultaneously, while TED Talks is a great resource which contains videos comprising diverse topics that help in language enhancement. The study utilized quantitative research design as the methodology to evaluate how the learners efficiently learn the content along with the enrichment of vocabulary. ESL Learners were selected as the participants and they were further divided into two groups namely, the control, the experimental. Both the groups took a pre-test to assess their initial vocabulary level. After a period of intervention, a post-test was conducted to evaluate their progress. The pre-test and post-test data were analysed using SPSS software. The results revealed that infusion of CLIL with TED talks efficaciously upgrades vocabulary level compared to the traditional CLIL approach.

Keywords:

Advancement of Technology; CLIL; ESL Learners; TED Talks; Vocabulary Acquisition

References

[1] Nation, I.S.P., 2001. Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

[2] Schmitt, N., 2008. Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

[3] Webb, S., Nation, P., 2017. How vocabulary is learned, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.

[4] Cameron, L., 2001. Teaching languages to young learners. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

[5] Alqahtani, M., 2015. The importance of vocabulary in language learning and how to be taught. International Journal of Teaching and Education. 3(3), 21–34.

[6] Zhou, K., Jin, F., Li, W., et al., 2024. The design of technology-enhanced vocabulary learning: A systematic review. Education and Information Technologies. 29(12), 14875–14897. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-13027-2

[7] Zyzik, E., Bowles, M.A., 2024. The Acquisition of Spanish: A Research Overview in Multilingual Learning Contexts. Routledge: New York, NY, USA.

[8] Marsh, D., 2002. CLIL/EMILE – The European dimension: Actions, trends and foresight potential. European Commission: Brussels, Belgium.

[9] Coyle, D., 2008. CLIL – A pedagogical approach from the European perspective. In: Hornberger, N.H. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2nd ed. Springer: Boston, MA, USA. pp. 97–111.

[10] Dalton-Puffer, C., 2008. Outcomes and processes in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): current research from Europe. In: Delanoy, W., Volkmann, L. (eds.). Future Perspectives for English Language Teaching. Carl Winter: Heidelberg, Germany. pp. 139–157.

[11] Banegas, D.L., 2022. Research into practice: CLIL in South America. Language Teaching. 55(3), 379–391.

[12] Pérez-Cañado, M.L., 2012. CLIL research in Europe: Past, present, and future. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. 15(3), 315–341.

[13] Liu, S.H., Lan, Y.J., Jenkins, J.R., 2014. Technology-enhanced strategy use for second language vocabulary acquisition. Language Learning & Technology. 38(2), 105–132.

[14] Robert, G.J., 2011. Emerging technologies: Mobile apps for language learning. Language Learning and Technology. 15(2), 2–11.

[15] Wang, Y.C., 2012. An exploration of vocabulary knowledge in English short talks: A corpus-driven approach. International Journal of English Linguistics. 2(4), 33–43.

[16] Greenspon, R., 2023. Supporting teachers in designing learning-oriented assessment in a technology enhanced learning environment [Doctoral dissertation]. Vytautas Magnus University: Kaunas, Lithuania. Available from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12259/256567

[17] Nguyen, C., Boers, F., 2019. The effect of content retelling on vocabulary uptake from a TED Talk. TESOL Quarterly. 53(1), 5–29.

[18] Kurt, M., Bensen, H., 2017. Six seconds to visualize the word: Improving EFL learners’ vocabulary through VVVs. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 33(4), 334–346.

[19] Safitri, N.H., Silawati, A.M.N., Nurjannah, N., et al., 2024. Teaching vocabulary under CLIL approach in Indonesian primary schools: A literature review. Deleted Journal. 2(2).

[20] Marsh, D., Frigols, M., 2012. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): A Development Trajectory. University of Córdoba: Córdoba, Spain.

[21] Krashen, S.D., 1989. Principles and practice in second language acquisition, 2nd ed. Pergamon Press: Oxford, UK.

[22] Alshammari, S.R., 2020. EFL vocabulary learning strategies used by Saudi Arabia university students. Advanced Education. 7(16), 28–38.

[23] Ballesteros Pérez, P.R., 2019. Technology-mediated vocabulary learning strategies in engineering students. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 11(4), 897–913.

[24] Cross, R., 2016. Language and content ‘integration’: The affordances of additional languages as a tool within a single curriculum space. Journal of Curriculum Studies. 48(3), 388–408.

Downloads

How to Cite

Govindaraj, A., Rajamanickam, A. B., & Kumar, P. (2025). Integration of CLIL through TED Talks: An Approach to Enhance Vocabulary Acquisition among ESL Learners. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(11), 1416–1427. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.11418

Issue

Article Type

Article