ABSTRACT
This chapter documents a semester-long implementation of the IC skills approach in a language-focused EFL course, whose goal it is to integrate the traditional four skills and ultimately promote oral presentation skills. The instructor had a long-term experience teaching the course and used the same instructional plan as before. However, she adopted some changes based on the IC skills approach: the dual focus on language skills and content learning skills, more elaborated and iterative explanations of the target skills to be cultivated, and the seamless integration of classroom activities, formative assessment, and summative assessment throughout the course. Tests administered at the beginning and end of the course indicated the overall improvement of the IC skills during the semester. The instructor observed increased engagement and motivation among the students compared with those in the past. The students’ responses to a questionnaire revealed their keen awareness of the communicative nature of the IC skills, various efforts to convey their messages to the audience, and positive attitudes to the assessment that focuses on both content and language in their performance in EFL courses. Thus, integrating content led to the success in enhancing students’ involvement in learning and fostering their linguistic and content learning skills.
