In the current challenging financial climate the influence of globalization and migration on education, the economic value of language skills and the impact of ICT on education  were in particular highlighted as priority areas where the sharing of expertise  and working on a common front could  benefit the wider language education community.

The meeting also looked at future joint actions, enhancing the information flow among the members and making use of the dissemination and lobbying opportunities created through the Forum, with a potential worldwide outreach to millions in the language education profession.

The Professional Network Forum was established in 2010 as a platform for exchange  for international associations and institutions  working at grass-roots level to share their know-how and discuss professional development issues in the service of language education. The Graz Declaration, drafted as a result of the founding meeting, provides a the basis for the common activities and actions  undertaken by the membership.

The following institutions and associations make up the INGO-Professional Network forum:
The International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA), the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education (CercleS), the Conseil européen pour les langues / European Language Council (CEL/ELC), the European Association for Quality Language Services (EAQUALS), the European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA), the European Parents Association (EPA), the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), the World Federation of Modern Language Associations (FIPLV), the International Association of Multilingualism (IAM), the International Certificate Conference (ICC), and the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) of the University of Ottawa, Canada. The network is coordinated by the European Centre for Modern Languages.

close

Visit the closing conference of the Empowering Language Professionals programme of activities website.

Another article is dedicated to the new website for the European Language Portfolio (ELP) that enables visitors to find out more about developing and registering ELP models and their implementation.

The Education Newsletter is edited by the Council of Europe Education Directorate and provides an overview on the Organisation’s activities and publications in the field of education, culture and the cultural heritage.
• Read the Newsletter: English - French
• Access all issues: English - French
• To subscribe to the newsletter: Bulletin.Education@coe.int

close

Lingu@net World Wide provides teachers, trainers and curriculum writers with access to quality assured online resources for teaching and learning languages, from beginner to advanced levels. It currently includes over 5,000 resources in over 40 languages.

To download the flyer in English and French
To visit Lingu@net World Wide click on: www.linguanet-worldwide.org

close

In an effort to combat the marginalisation of the Roma people and to contribute to their full integration into society, the Council of Europe has published factsheets 'Protecting the Rights of Roma'.

Knowledge about the history and culture of the Roma nation, which numerically is the largest minority in Europe, is still very low. The factsheets aim at filling this gap in order to bring the different cultures closer together.
Key to the process of integration is the education of both Roma and non-Roma.
Section 3 is devoted to Romani, the language spoken by the Roma, which is included in the list of languages protected by the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

In 2010 and 2011 the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) provided specialised support for the activity “ENHANCING ROMANI LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS IN EUROPE (QUALIROM)” aiming to respond to the need for quality provision in Romani language, given the crucial importance of the issue of Roma education throughout Europe – especially amidst continued discrimination against the Roma and Traveller communities – and in the context of the Council of Europe’s comprehensive approach to Roma and Traveller issues.

• To discover the publication “The Council of Europe: protecting the right of Romas”
  - English: http://www.coe.int/AboutCoe/media/interface/publications/roms_en.pdf
  - French: http://www.coe.int/AboutCoe/media/interface/publications/roms_fr.pdf
• To order hard copies free of charge: docrequest@coe.int
• QUALIROM project of the ECML: web page, abstract in English / French
• More information on Roma issues on the Council of Europe website: http://www.coe.int/lportal/web/coe-portal/roma

close

The ECML draws your attention to the call for contributions (brief reports and full articles) for Synergies Europe no. 7/2012, a multilingual, peer-reviewed journal edition which will focus on two-way immersion education, in particular on two-way immersion models in multilingual areas of Europe and beyond. Please circulate this call widely among your networks.

Guest editor of Synergies Europe no. 7: Gabriela Meier
Editor in chief: Enrica Piccardo

• Call for papers for Synergies Europe n° 7/2012: Bilingual education in Europe and beyond: status quo and formulating a research agenda:
  - English
  - French
  - German
• Languages: French, English, German, Italian, Spanish
• Deadline for short reports and abstracts for full articles: 30 November 2011
• Deadline for long articles: 30 March 2012
• More about Synergies Europe:
  http://gerflint.eu/publications/synergies-des-pays/synergies-europe.html

close

This group of volunteers provided highly specialised interpretation services to athletes from the 88 countries represented.

One of the authors, Sally Rehorick, was the Director of International Client Services for VANOC (the organizing committee for the Games) and had responsibility for language services.

Read the paper:
Rehorick Sally, Jóhannsdóttir Kristín M., Parent Milena, Patterson David, “Using the Common European Framework of Reference for Evaluating Language Volunteers for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”, October 2011

Consult ECML publications relating to the CEFR related to evaluation in the field of education:
• Piloting and implementing the European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages (EPOSTL2): website
• Encouraging the culture of evaluation among professionals (ECEP): website
• Assessment of young learner literacy linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (AYLLIT): website
• Guidelines for university language testing (GULT): website
• QualiTraining at Grassroots Level (QUALITRAINING 2): website
• Training in relating language examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (RELEX) and Classroom Assessment related to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (ClassRelEx): website
• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - level estimation grid for teachers (CEFESTIM): website

ECML website - Related research
http://www.ecml.at/Resources/Relatedresearch/tabid/174/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

close

Courriel européen des langues, free online newsletter, is issued three times a year by CIEP (International Centre for Pedagogical Studies), the National Contact Point in France for the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe. The newsletter provides information on the activities of the Council of Europe and the European Union in the field of language policy. It publishes in particular articles on the ECML - its activities and publications - and on French participation in ECML workshops.

• Read the Courriel européen des langues (French only): Issue no. 23 (November 2011)
• Visit the CIEP website
• ECML web pages devoted to CIEP and French expertise in ECML activities: English – French

close

The journal includes two articles on projects of the Empowering Language Professionals Programme of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML). The MARILLE project, Majority language instruction as basis for plurilingual education (p. 44-48) and the CARAP project, A Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches (p. 49-56), offer practical examples and teaching ideas for the classroom.
In future issues more articles from this programme will be published.

Babylonia, the Swiss quarterly review of language teaching and learning, publishes articles by teachers, teacher trainers and researchers, always in the original language with a short summary in another language. This special issue of Babylonia was edited Daniel STOTZ, Gé STOKS and Sonia REZGUI (coordinators) jointly with the Language Policy Division and the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) of the Council of Europe.

Visit the Babylonia website

Contents of issue no. 1/2011

ECML related articles (PDF)
• MARILLE – Promoting plurilingualism in the majority language classroom - Eija Aalto, Andrea Abel, Tatjana Atanasoska, Klaus-Börge Boeckmann & Terry Lamb
• Valoriser toutes les langues à l’école… par des approches plurielles: le projet CARAP - Ildikó Lörincz & Jean-François de Pietro

Visit the ECML project websites:
MARILLE project, Majority language instruction as basis for plurilingual education
CARAP project, A Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches
Empowering Language Professionals Programme of the ECML (2008-2011)

close

In the current challenging financial climate the influence of globalization and migration on education, the economic value of language skills and the impact of ICT on education  were in particular highlighted as priority areas where the sharing of expertise  and working on a common front could  benefit the wider language education community.

The meeting also looked at future joint actions, enhancing the information flow among the members and making use of the dissemination and lobbying opportunities created through the Forum, with a potential worldwide outreach to millions in the language education profession.

The Professional Network Forum was established in 2010 as a platform for exchange  for international associations and institutions  working at grass-roots level to share their know-how and discuss professional development issues in the service of language education. The Graz Declaration, drafted as a result of the founding meeting, provides a the basis for the common activities and actions  undertaken by the membership.

The following institutions and associations make up the INGO-Professional Network forum:
The International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA), the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education (CercleS), the Conseil européen pour les langues / European Language Council (CEL/ELC), the European Association for Quality Language Services (EAQUALS), the European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA), the European Parents Association (EPA), the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), the World Federation of Modern Language Associations (FIPLV), the International Association of Multilingualism (IAM), the International Certificate Conference (ICC), and the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) of the University of Ottawa, Canada. The network is coordinated by the European Centre for Modern Languages.

close

Visit the closing conference of the Empowering Language Professionals programme of activities website.

Another article is dedicated to the new website for the European Language Portfolio (ELP) that enables visitors to find out more about developing and registering ELP models and their implementation.

The Education Newsletter is edited by the Council of Europe Education Directorate and provides an overview on the Organisation’s activities and publications in the field of education, culture and the cultural heritage.
• Read the Newsletter: English - French
• Access all issues: English - French
• To subscribe to the newsletter: Bulletin.Education@coe.int

close

Lingu@net World Wide provides teachers, trainers and curriculum writers with access to quality assured online resources for teaching and learning languages, from beginner to advanced levels. It currently includes over 5,000 resources in over 40 languages.

To download the flyer in English and French
To visit Lingu@net World Wide click on: www.linguanet-worldwide.org

close

In an effort to combat the marginalisation of the Roma people and to contribute to their full integration into society, the Council of Europe has published factsheets 'Protecting the Rights of Roma'.

Knowledge about the history and culture of the Roma nation, which numerically is the largest minority in Europe, is still very low. The factsheets aim at filling this gap in order to bring the different cultures closer together.
Key to the process of integration is the education of both Roma and non-Roma.
Section 3 is devoted to Romani, the language spoken by the Roma, which is included in the list of languages protected by the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

In 2010 and 2011 the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) provided specialised support for the activity “ENHANCING ROMANI LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS IN EUROPE (QUALIROM)” aiming to respond to the need for quality provision in Romani language, given the crucial importance of the issue of Roma education throughout Europe – especially amidst continued discrimination against the Roma and Traveller communities – and in the context of the Council of Europe’s comprehensive approach to Roma and Traveller issues.

• To discover the publication “The Council of Europe: protecting the right of Romas”
  - English: http://www.coe.int/AboutCoe/media/interface/publications/roms_en.pdf
  - French: http://www.coe.int/AboutCoe/media/interface/publications/roms_fr.pdf
• To order hard copies free of charge: docrequest@coe.int
• QUALIROM project of the ECML: web page, abstract in English / French
• More information on Roma issues on the Council of Europe website: http://www.coe.int/lportal/web/coe-portal/roma

close

The ECML draws your attention to the call for contributions (brief reports and full articles) for Synergies Europe no. 7/2012, a multilingual, peer-reviewed journal edition which will focus on two-way immersion education, in particular on two-way immersion models in multilingual areas of Europe and beyond. Please circulate this call widely among your networks.

Guest editor of Synergies Europe no. 7: Gabriela Meier
Editor in chief: Enrica Piccardo

• Call for papers for Synergies Europe n° 7/2012: Bilingual education in Europe and beyond: status quo and formulating a research agenda:
  - English
  - French
  - German
• Languages: French, English, German, Italian, Spanish
• Deadline for short reports and abstracts for full articles: 30 November 2011
• Deadline for long articles: 30 March 2012
• More about Synergies Europe:
  http://gerflint.eu/publications/synergies-des-pays/synergies-europe.html

close

This group of volunteers provided highly specialised interpretation services to athletes from the 88 countries represented.

One of the authors, Sally Rehorick, was the Director of International Client Services for VANOC (the organizing committee for the Games) and had responsibility for language services.

Read the paper:
Rehorick Sally, Jóhannsdóttir Kristín M., Parent Milena, Patterson David, “Using the Common European Framework of Reference for Evaluating Language Volunteers for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”, October 2011

Consult ECML publications relating to the CEFR related to evaluation in the field of education:
• Piloting and implementing the European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages (EPOSTL2): website
• Encouraging the culture of evaluation among professionals (ECEP): website
• Assessment of young learner literacy linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (AYLLIT): website
• Guidelines for university language testing (GULT): website
• QualiTraining at Grassroots Level (QUALITRAINING 2): website
• Training in relating language examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (RELEX) and Classroom Assessment related to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (ClassRelEx): website
• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - level estimation grid for teachers (CEFESTIM): website

ECML website - Related research
http://www.ecml.at/Resources/Relatedresearch/tabid/174/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

close

Courriel européen des langues, free online newsletter, is issued three times a year by CIEP (International Centre for Pedagogical Studies), the National Contact Point in France for the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe. The newsletter provides information on the activities of the Council of Europe and the European Union in the field of language policy. It publishes in particular articles on the ECML - its activities and publications - and on French participation in ECML workshops.

• Read the Courriel européen des langues (French only): Issue no. 23 (November 2011)
• Visit the CIEP website
• ECML web pages devoted to CIEP and French expertise in ECML activities: English – French

close

The journal includes two articles on projects of the Empowering Language Professionals Programme of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML). The MARILLE project, Majority language instruction as basis for plurilingual education (p. 44-48) and the CARAP project, A Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches (p. 49-56), offer practical examples and teaching ideas for the classroom.
In future issues more articles from this programme will be published.

Babylonia, the Swiss quarterly review of language teaching and learning, publishes articles by teachers, teacher trainers and researchers, always in the original language with a short summary in another language. This special issue of Babylonia was edited Daniel STOTZ, Gé STOKS and Sonia REZGUI (coordinators) jointly with the Language Policy Division and the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) of the Council of Europe.

Visit the Babylonia website

Contents of issue no. 1/2011

ECML related articles (PDF)
• MARILLE – Promoting plurilingualism in the majority language classroom - Eija Aalto, Andrea Abel, Tatjana Atanasoska, Klaus-Börge Boeckmann & Terry Lamb
• Valoriser toutes les langues à l’école… par des approches plurielles: le projet CARAP - Ildikó Lörincz & Jean-François de Pietro

Visit the ECML project websites:
MARILLE project, Majority language instruction as basis for plurilingual education
CARAP project, A Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches
Empowering Language Professionals Programme of the ECML (2008-2011)

close