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immediate needs. In other words, CLIL provides plenty of opportunities for
incidental language learning; the kind of learning which occurs when the
learners’ attention is focussed on something different from what is being
taught. Incidental language learning has been shown to be very effective,
deep and long-lasting. It positively complements the intentional language
learning which typically occurs in the more traditional language classroom.
CLIL, in fact, is not intended to replace traditional language teaching.
Extensive research during the 20-year Canadian immersion experience has
in fact shown that unless more formal language learning takes place
alongside immersion, learners fail to acquire full mastery of the second
language.
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2.1 Which disciplines?
All subjects can be taught through the foreign language, although different
disciplines offer different advantages and are better suited for specific
groups of learners. There are disciplines which mainly rely on verbal
communication and those in which non-verbal communication, visual
and graphic materials are used to clarify and integrate content presented
verbally. In the first group we find disciplines like history, philosophy,
political science; in the second group, on the other hand, we have subjects
such as physical education, biology and geography. Learners with any level
of linguistic competence can be taught the subjects of the second group
through the foreign language. In these cases the teacher can supplement the
linguistic input with more accessible information. 
Verbal and non-verbal input
Even very basic language can be taught, for instance, by using an atlas, by
listing the capital cities of the European countries and pointing at them on
the map (“Rome is the capital city of Italy” or “The capital of Italy is
Rome”). Similarly, by demonstrating various types of movements, the
teacher of physical education can go through a whole series of verbs like
running, jumping, turning round, climbing. Realia, visual aids, animal and
human models, etc. can also be used at more advanced levels when