CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF IMPLEMENTING CLIL FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TRAINING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS

Abstract

This article examines the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach for professional English training in Information Technology (IT) programs. As English has become the primary language of international communication in the rapidly evolving IT sector, traditional English for Specific Purposes (ESP) methods often fall short in developing the integrated professional communicative competence required by modern industry demands. The study analyzes how CLIL, which simultaneously teaches subject content and language, can bridge this gap by fostering authenticlanguage use within professional IT contexts such as programming, networking, cybersecurity, and software development. Through a review of international and national experiences, the paper identifies key challenges including teacher readiness, material adaptation, assessment difficulties, and curriculum integration. At the same time, it highlights significant opportunities such as enhanced student motivation, improved professional discourse skills, and better alignment with global labor market requirements. The findings provide practical recommendations for higher education institutions aiming to modernize English language teaching in technicalprograms through the CLIL methodology