In a Dual Language Immersion classroom, Content and Language Objectives are crucial for teaching and learning. These objectives are integrated throughout the lesson, not just mentioned at the beginning, encouraging students to use language purposefully during tasks, discussions, and assessments.
Observable Features of Content and Language Objectives
Click on the arrow on the left to explore examples of ‘Look Fors’ for Content and Language Objectives.
Content Objectives tell students what they will learn about a specific subject. These objectives are displayed and explained at the start of the lesson, so everyone knows what to focus on. The content objective is revisited during the lesson, helping students connect new information to the main goal and better understand it.
Language Objectives specify the language skills or functions that students will focus on during the lesson (e.g., describe, compare, justify, ask questions). Like content objectives, they are made visible to students and explained clearly.
Example: Subject: Science (5th Grade – Water Cycle)
- Content Objective: Analyze how the water cycle affects weather patterns.
- Language Objective: Use cause-and-effect sentence structures (e.g., “Because the sun heats the water…”) and transition words (e.g., “then,” “as a result”) to explain my ideas orally and in writing.
In order to gain clarity on expectations, students engage with the objectives in meaningful and observable ways. Here are examples of how this might look:
- Choral Reading: Students read the content and language objectives aloud together at the beginning of the lesson.
- Highlighting or Annotating: Students highlight or underline key parts of the objectives to focus on essential concepts or skills.
- Silent Reflection: Students read the objectives quietly and think about what they mean or how they relate to the lesson.
- Partner Work: In pairs, students paraphrase the objectives or discuss how they connect to prior knowledge.
- Group Discussion: The class discusses what the objectives mean and what success might look like by the end of the lesson.
Video Examples
Language Objectives in First Year French DLI Phonics class. Click here to view the entire morning sequence.
Content Objectives in a 3rd Grade French DLI Math class. Click here to view the entire lesson.
Content and Language Objectives presented at the beginning and end of a 5th Grade French DLI Science class. Click here to view the entire lesson.
Content and Language Objectives in a 6th Grade French DLI Science lesson. Click here to view the entire lesson.
Content and Language Objectives in 5th and 6th Grade French DLI multi-subject classrooms.
Presenting content and language objectives using an agenda and self-assessment success criteria in a 9th Grade French DLI/AP French class. Click here to view the full lesson.
By frequently returning to both content and language objectives during the lesson and at the end, teachers help students stay focused and involved, supporting their growth in both subject knowledge and language skills.
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