Abstract:
This study examines the perceptions of bilingual educators regarding the use of
CLIL curricular materials and the necessity of text adaptation in the bilingual
education context in Sri Lanka. It is essential to understand how teachers engage
with CLIL materials and whether current curricular materials meet the linguistic
and cognitive needs of learners. With the expansion of bilingual education
programs in Sri Lanka, there is a gap between learners’ expectations and the
quality of curricular material. Therefore, curricular materials should be modified
to meet learners’ expectations. One of the primary strategies for achieving this is
through text adaptation. The research employed a survey design, utilizing a mixed
methods approach that incorporated both quantitative and qualitative
methodologies. The population comprised all bilingual teachers and teacher
educators. A sample of 250 bilingual teachers and five bilingual-related teacher
educators were selected using stratified sampling and purposive sampling. Data
collection instruments included questionnaires and a semi-structured interview
schedule. Quantitative data were analyzed using pie charts and graphs, while
qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The findings reveal that
many teachers recognize the potential of quality CLIL materials to enhance both
content and language learning. There are significant concerns about the linguistic
complexity and cultural relevance of existing textbooks. The majority of
participants indicated that adapting curricular materials is essential in the
contemporary context. At the same time, bilingual teachers suggested the need
for formal training or institutional support for text adaptation. If curricular
material adaptation is not feasible at present, teachers can address this gap
pedagogically. Even though teachers mentioned that applying text adaptation is
currently challenging because it is a time-consuming process. These findings help
curriculum planners, teacher educators, and policymakers aiming to improve
bilingual education in Sri Lanka.
