Foreign and classical languages
Reference texts
Foreign languages - modern and classical (2009)
Download the text "Foreign languages - modern and classical"
Download the French version of the text "Foreign languages - modern and classical" (Les langues étrangères - vivantes et classiques)
Overview
Classical and modern foreign languages have educational goals which are both humanistic and utilitarian. The discourse on the teaching both groups of languages reveals this and also the differences in emphasis between them. The Council of Europe has produced instruments which enable the improvement of teaching, learning and assessment of modern foreign languages.
Contents
- 1. Humanistic purposes
- 2. Functional purposes
- 3. Council of Europe instruments for creating a common language for language teaching
The Aims of Language Teaching and Learning (2010)
Mike Fleming
Download the paper "The Aims of Language Teaching and Learning"
Download the French version of the paper "The Aims of Language Teaching and Learning" (Les objectifs de l’enseignement et de l’apprentissage des langues)
Overview
The Languages in and for Education project has at its centre a commitment to an integrated approach to language teaching and learning. This means that in a school context all teachers, whether of the language of schooling taught as subject, second/foreign languages or other curriculum subjects, have a vested interest in and a responsibility for the pupils’ development of language competence. This paper discusses the aims of language as subject and foreign language teaching, and considers aims as they relate to the teaching in/of minority languages and language in other subjects, stressing the need to identify common goals.
Languages in and for Education: a role for portfolio approaches? (2010)
Mike Fleming, David Little
Download the text "Languages in and for Education: a role for portfolio approaches?"
Download the French version of the text "Languages in and for Education: a role for portfolio approaches?" (Langues dans et pour l’éducation : apports éventuels des « approches portfolios »)
Overview
The European Language Portfolio (ELP) was introduced as a concept in 1997 and formally launched in 2001. It has been taken up in almost thirty Council of Europe member states and 107 models had been accredited by the spring of 2010. The ELP is concerned with the learning and use of second and foreign languages (L2s), which is just one focus of the Languages in Education/Languages for Education (LE) project. But can the LE project benefit from the pedagogical experience that has accumulated over ten years of ELP implementation?
Further Language Policy Programme Resources
Instruments (CEFR / ELP)
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). 2001. Council of Europe / CUP
The CEFR, a key Council of Europe instrument - available in 40 languages - provides a common basis for the elaboration of modern languages curricula, examinations, textbooks, ...
- CEFR: Guide for Users, 2001 EN - FR - KA
- Case studies concerning the use of the CEFR. 2002. EN
- Manual for relating language examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Learning, Teaching, Assessment. 2009. EN - FR
and
Further Material on Maintaining Standards across Languages, Contexts and Administrations by exploiting Teacher Judgment and IRT Scaling. 2008. EN - Manual for Language test development and examining for use with the CEFR – produced by ALTE on behalf of the Language Policy Division, Council of Europe. 2011. EN - FR
See also a preliminary text: Language examining and test development, 2002 EN - FR - CEFR Companion Volume with new descriptors, 2018 EN - FR
- Material illustrating competence levels
Reference Level Descriptions for national or regional languages and "Threshold Levels" : Overview and feedback on developments
A substantial number of further resources are provided in the various sections of the CEFR website (see in particular here).
European Language Portfolio (ELP): www.coe.int/portfolio
Tools for language policies
- Two Guides: overview
- From linguistic diversity to plurilingual education: Guide for the development of language education policies in Europe. 2007. Accompanied by a series of 21 Reference Studies
Detailed presentation and list of Reference Studies - Guide for the development and implementation of curricula for plurilingual and intercultural education. 2016.
Detailed presentation and satellite studies
- From linguistic diversity to plurilingual education: Guide for the development of language education policies in Europe. 2007. Accompanied by a series of 21 Reference Studies
- An offer of assistance to member states to review their (national or regional) language policies: Language Education Policy Profiles
Data bank of descriptors
CEFR Descriptors
- CEFR illustrative Descriptors
- Expanded set of C1 & C2 Descriptors
- CEFR Companion Volume with New Descriptors (2018)
ELP Descriptors
- Self-assessment descriptors (selected from ELP models)
- Self-assessment descriptors for learners in lower secondary education (developped by the Swiss project "Lingualevel")
Reports and Publications
- Intergovernmental Policy Forum: "The Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) and the development of language policies : challenges and responsibilities, 2007, Strasbourg, Council of Europe: Report of the Forum
- Council of Europe tools for language teaching: Common European Framework and Portfolios. 2006. Francis Goullier. Council of Europe / Editions Didier.
- Linking to the CEFR levels: Research perspectives, 2009 [Cito, Institute for Educational Measurement / Council of Europe / European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA)]
Intercultural approach
- Intercultural Competence. 2003. Gerhard Neuner, Lynne Parmenter, Hugh Starkey, Geneviève Zarate.
- Developing the Intercultural Dimension in Language Teaching – A practical introduction for teachers. 2002. Michael Byram, Bella Gribkova, Hugh Starkey.
- Plurilingual and pluricultural competence. 2009. Daniel Coste, Daniele Moore, Geneviève Zarate (1st ed. 1997) JA
- La compétence socioculturelle dans l'apprentissage et l'enseignement des langues vivantes, 1997. Michael Byram, Geneviève Zarate, Gerhard Neuner (available in French only)
- Young people facing difference. 1995. Michael Byram, Geneviève Zarate.
Autobiogaphy of Intercultural Encounters - www.coe.int/lang-autobiography
Council of Europe Convention, Recommendations and Resolutions
Convention
- European Cultural Convention (1954)
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2008)7E to member states on the use of the Council of Europe's "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" (CEFR) and the promotion of plurilingualism (and Explanatory Memorandum)
- Recommendation R (98)6 based on the results of the CDCC Project 'Language Learning for European Citizenship' (1989 – 1996)
- Recommendation R (82)18 based on the results of the CDCC Project N° 4 ('Modern Languages 1971-1981')
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
- Recommendation 1598 (2003) on the protection of Sign languages in the member states of the Council of Europe
- Recommendation 1539 (2001) on the European Year of Languages 2001
- Recommendation 1383 (1998) on Linguistic Diversification and Reply from the Committee of Ministers (CM(99)97)
European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML)
A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning (2015)
Do Coyle, Ana Halbach, Oliver Meyer, Kevin Schuck, Teresa Ting
Available also in German: Pluriliterales Lernen im Sachfach
EPLC - Enseignement précoce des langues modernes par des contenus (2011) (in French only)
Dominique Groux, Renate Krüger, Chantal Muller, Dorieta Zdravkova Chakarova
Available also in German: EPLC - Inhaltsorientiertes frühes Fremdsprachenlernen
Content and language integrated learning through languages other than English - Getting started (2011)
Katalin Árkossy, Clarisse Costa Afonso, Kim Haataja, Rolf Kruczinna
Available also in German: Integriertes Sprachen- und Fachlernen in anderen Sprachen als Englisch - für Einsteiger
Sachfachunterricht in der Fremdsprache Deutsch oder Französisch. Methodenhandbuch zur Lehreraus- und -fortbildung
Gérald Schlemminger, Christine Le Pape Racine, Anemone Geiger-Jaillet (2015)
European Framework for CLIL Teacher Education (2011)
María Jesús Frigols Martín, David Marsh, Peeter Mehisto, Dieter Wolff
Available also in German: Europäisches Rahmenprogramm für die Ausbildung von CLIL-Lehrkräften
Plurilingualism and pluriculturalism in content-based teaching: A training kit (2011)
Mercè Bernaus, Áine Furlong, Sofie Jonckheere, Martine Kervran
The CLIL Matrix: An Internet Awareness-raising Tool for Teachers – Achieving good practice in content and language integrated learning / bilingual education (2007)
Anne Maljers, David Marsh, Stefka Kitanova, Dieter Wolff, Bronislawa Zielonka
CONBAT+
Other bodies
European Wergeland Centre, Oslo - www.theewc.org
Selected relevant organisations and associations
Classical languages
- A European Curriculum Framework for Classical Languages: www.eccl-online.eu