Czech Republic: experts involved and ECML activities

The Czech School Without Borders non-profit organization and the European Centre for Modern Languages jointly organized a two-day workshop entitled “Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning” on July 30 and 31 2024. The workshop was held in the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research in Prague and was attended by Czech language teachers from 17 different Czech (heritage) schools around the world, language teachers from the Czech Republic and academic language educators.

The participants indicated in their evaluations that it was an ‘Excellent workshop’, a great opportunity to learn and to put immediately into the practice ICT tools. Excellent opportunity to work with others in groups, to share experience, to learn how to work with others efficiently and to learn how others might approach an assignment. Though teachers are in general aware of (some) ICT tools and use some on daily basis, a comprehensive overview and a possibility to try it directly in concrete situations are a real plus. The access to all the resources and possibility to share them is equally much useful and appreciated. The experts were dynamic, enthusiastic and very inspiring.

Czech version:

Spolek Česká škola bez hranic organizoval ve dnech 30.–31. 7. 2024 společně s European Centre for Modern Languages workshop nazvaný “Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning”. Dvoudenní workshop se konal v Praze, v prostorách poskytnutých Domem zahraniční spolupráce. Workshopu se zúčastnili učitelé českého jazyka ze 17 českých škol v zahraničí (nejdále z USA), učitelé jazyků a akademičtí pracovníci z České republiky.

Všichni účastníci hodnotili workshop velice pozitivně, zde výběr z jednotlivých komentářů:

Jedná se o skvělý workshop, který umožnil jeho účastníkům získat detailní přehled o moderních IT nástrojích a jejich využití při výuce jazyků. Způsob vedení worskhopu je velmi dynamický, účastníci mají možnost si v inspirativním a přátelském prostředí vše rovnou vyzkoušet; důležité a přínosné je i vzájemné sdílení zkušeností. Volný přístup ke všem zdrojům je neopominutelné plus.

Local organisers: Denisa Ďuranová (National Institute of Education and Youth, Slovak Republic) and Jitka Tůmová (National Pedagogical Institute, Czech Republic)

ECML experts: Terry Lamb, United Kingdom; Catherine Carré-Karlinger, Austria

Participants: 9 participants from the Slovak Republic, 10 participants from the Czech Republic (foreign language teachers/teachers of other subjects, teachers of the language of schooling, teachers of the language of schooling as a second language, school administrators, school advisers, policymakers)

“On 20 – 21 June 2023 the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML) in cooperation with the National Institute of Education and Youth in the Slovak Republic and the National Pedagogical Institute in the Czech Republic carried out a two-day workshop on Supporting Multilingual Classrooms. The workshop, resulting from a joint initiative of the ECML and European Commission, was organised in the Slovak Republic for the fourth year, and in 2023 it was the first international workshop involving two countries - bringing together both Slovak and Czech experts.

One of the main reasons behind this joint event is that curriculum reform for primary and lower secondary education is underway in both the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic, with a priority on the educational standards for Slovak/Czech as a second language. This is due to the increasing numbers of pupils with migrant backgrounds, with many coming in particular from Ukraine as a result of the ongoing war.

The primary aims of the two-day workshop were to: promote access to quality education for migrant children; bridge the gap between foreign pupils and other pupils; strengthen teachers' professional competences in the field of assessment and evaluation of pupils' language competences; improve the quality of language teaching and to support the development of plurilingual competences of all pupils in multilingual classrooms, based on the linguistic and cultural diversity of pupils. The workshop was also devoted to international networking among participants and experts of the international initiative.

The workshop focused on: experiences and practices in the field of language education of migrant children; reflection on attitudes towards linguistic and cultural diversity; plurilingual activities and classroom management; development of the plurilingual dimension in all subjects; issues of assessment in multilingual schools/classrooms; building relationships and collaboration between schools and the community.

The workshop facilitators explained how to work with parents, plan activities, promote inclusion and collaboration with other actors, such as school organizations. Participants identified priorities that will enrich their own practice.

The video developed during the event provides a flavour of the atmosphere and collaborative spirit during this very successful Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshop.

More information about the Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshop in the Slovak Republic is available at https://www.statpedu.sk/sk/vyskum/vzdelavacie-aktivity/podpora-multilingvalnych-tried-iv/"

 Denisa Ďuranová in collaboration with Jitka Maříková Tůmová

ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2023 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Date and venue: 10-11 May 2023 (a 2-day face-to-face activity), Prague – National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic.
Local organiser: Martina Duničková, National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic – System for Supporting Professional Development of Teachers and Principals.
ECML experts: Dunja Chamberlain and Fréderic Taveau, International School of Geneva, Switzerland.
Participants: 31 participants: primary school teachers (10), secondary school teachers (18), university teachers (3). Among the participants there were teachers from 2 schools that will implement the CLIL method in their teaching. The participants of the workshop were members of the SYPO project (System for Supporting Professional Development of Teachers and Principals).

A unique international education activity led by experienced experts introduced the inspiring CLIL method and beyond to English and French language teachers as well as to subject teachers in the Czech Republic. The two-days face-to-face workshop proved very practical and full of elements of modern pedagogy that lead to the important theme of pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning. The participants received booklets with diverse ideas and innovative methods to help them change the traditional way their pupils and students think about learning to a more effective one without rote learning. The teachers went through all the processes of planning/preparation involved for teaching, including its implementation and evaluation.

This innovative format of educational activity is unparalleled in similar courses. The teachers who want to use the CLIL method or its elements in their teaching can implement it directly with the support of the ECML experts who kindly communicate with them.

The organisers believe the workshop was beneficial for the participants who will use the knowledge they have gained in their lessons and at their own schools. We trust there will be another opportunity to organise a follow-up activity in cooperation with the ECML.

Martina Duničková, local organiser

• ECML training and consultancy offer for member states (2020-2023) “CLIL and beyond: pluriliteracies for deeper learning”
• ECML thematic collection on “Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)”

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CZECH VERSION

CLIL a něco navíc: čeští učitelé sdíleli své zkušenosti v ojedinělé mezinárodní vzdělávací aktivitě

Jedinečná mezinárodní aktivita vedená zkušenými lektory představila učitelům jak anglického a francouzského jazyka, tak vyučujícím nejazykových předmětů inspirující metodu CLIL a „něco navíc“. Dvoudenní prezenční workshop byl uchopen velmi prakticky a zahrnoval spoustu prvků moderní pedagogiky, z níž vycházejí změny vedoucí k přirozenému rozvoji gramotnosti ve více než jednom jazyce. Účastníci získali materiály, které jim nadále poslouží jako zásobníky rozmanitých nápadů a inovativních metod ke zefektivnění učení žáků a studentů. V průběhu workshopu si účastníci vyzkoušeli všechny fáze vyučování od plánování po reflexi.

Tento inovativní formát vzdělávací aktivity nemá obdobu. Učitelé, kteří chtějí metodu nebo její prvky implementovat přímo ve výuce, mohou požádat o konzultaci experty z Evropského centra pro moderní jazyky v Grazu, kteří s nimi laskavě zůstávají ve spojení.

Organizátoři pevně věří v přínos workshopu a využití osvojeného vědění ve vyučovacích hodinách zúčastněných pedagogů. Současně věří v možnost uspořádání další navazující aktivity ve spolupráci s Evropským centrem pro moderní jazyky v Grazu.

Martina Duničková, NPI ČR – Projekt SYPO

Local organiser: Martina Dočekalová, Secondary School of Arts and Crafts, Uherské Hradiště

ECML experts: Gábor Szabó, Huhngary; Jana Bérešová, Slovakia

Participants: 20 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, policymakers)

“The RELANG workshop focusing on the module ‘Constructing valid language tests and examinations based on the CEFR and its Companion Volume’ was a fabulous opportunity to approach language testing from the perspective of achieved learners’ skills and levels as the CEFR and its Companion Volume defines them. It also helped deepen the communication among various stakeholders involved in the language testing in the Czech Republic.

During the workshop, participants had an excellent opportunity to write and discuss items similar to those in live tests. Those discussions were insightful and provided a basis for a deeper understanding of the languages being tested at the Czech maturita exams (English, German, French, Spanish, and Russian). Apart from the official discussions and lectures, the workshop offered space for personal meetings and informal talks, and thus it can be said it is sure to enhance further cooperation among participants. Current in-service teachers and teacher trainees will also benefit from the workshop as the participants will offer similar workshops throughout Czechia.”

Martina Dočekalová, local organiser, 22 September 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organisation: Krajský úřad Plzeňského kraje, Odbor školství, mládeže a sportu / The Regional Authority of the Pilsen Region, Department of Education, Youth and Sport;
Landesversammlung der deutschen Vereine in der Tschechischen Republik e.V.
ECML experts: Kevin Schuck, The Netherlands; Susanne Staschen-Dielmann, United Kingdom.
Participants: 65 teachers of basic and secondary schools.

The participants had the opportunity to get to know CLIL in an interactive and interesting format. The workshop was pedagogical and didactical and  full of elements of modern pedagogy. It provided insights into formative evaluation and very precise planning including the focus of a lesson, types of evaluation, methods used and organisational formats. These formats included approaches for all the pupils and students; they are supposed to reflect on the subject matter rather than focusing only on memory reproduction.

For German teachers and teachers who want to use  German in a CLIL approach, this workshop was a unique opportunity. Most similar courses are based on English and German teachers have to redesign and adapt everything individually. We hope it will be possible to follow up on this meeting and support them in their further work.

We believe that the workshop was of great value to  all participants and that they will use the knowledge they have gained in their lessons at schools.

We also hope that we will have further opportunities to organise other interesting workshops within the theme of modern languages.

Alexandra Weberová and Barbora Štychová, The Regional Authority of the Pilsen Region

Zuzana Svobodová, representative of Landesversammlung der deutschen Vereine in der Tschechischen Republik e.V.

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer for member states “CLIL and beyond - Pluriliteracies for deeper learning”
• Related ECML thematic area

Date: 21-22 March 2019.

Venue: European House (Evropský dům), Jungmannova 24, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic.

Local organisation: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Department for Education, Prague, Czech Republic; in cooperation with The National Institute for Further Education (NIDV); partners: EC Representation in the Czech Republic, Centre for International Cooperation in Education (DZS). Conctacts: Eva Tučková and Marie Černíková, MSMT, Prague, Czech Republic.

ECML trainers: Pauline Ernest, Spain; Joe Hopkins, Spain; Aline Germain-Rutherford, Canada.

Participants: 25 teacher trainers, multipliers, eTwinning ambassadors, members of the teachers´ foreign language associations (teachers)

On 21 and 22 March 2019 we had the pleasure to host an ECML-provided event on Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning (ICT-REV). We offered a limited number of places and thus tried to get the most motivated and enthusiastic participants. There had been a pre-condition for taking part: the participants had to agree that after the event they would share the ideas, methods, skills and tools with their colleagues or peers, so that the workshop multiplied in the Czech republic as much as possible.

The organisation of the event went very smooth for there were clear recommendations available from the ECML which we happily used and followed. The budget of the event has been shared between the ECML and the ministry; partners have been called to share some of the organisation and providing the venue.

The ECML moderators were professionals with a lot of experience and they were very inviting and happy to share their know-how and expertise. Their active involvement was a great asset to the event.

The organisation of the event has been a great opportunity for the Czech Republic to draw on the expertise of the ECML and to use it towards enhancing the ICT use and skills in the language class within the Czech schools.

Eva Tučková and Marie Černíková, MSMT, Prague, Czech Republic (the local organisers)

Resources:

• Article published on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic: "Využití digitálních technologií ve výuce cizích jazyků"
• Training and consultancy offer of the ECML for member states : Online technology – Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning
• ECML project “Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning”
• ECML inventory of ICT and open educational tools

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Czech version

21. a 22. března 2019 jsme měli příležitost k organizaci semináře, který lektorsky zajišťovalo Evropské centrum pro modern jazyky (ECML), k využití digitálních technologií ve výuce cizích jazyků (ICT-REV). K účasti byl přizván omezený počet účastníků, čímž bylo zajištěno, že se zúčastní ti nejmotivovanější a nadšení. Všichni museli souhlasit se vstupní podmínkou, že po skončení semináře budou šířit získané vědomosti a dovednoti mezi své kolegy a spolupracovníky, aby se zajistilo co největší šíření v rámci České republiky.

Samotná organizace semináře šla velmi lehce, protože jsme měli k dispozici doporučení od ECML, kterých jsme se jednoduše drželi. Rozpočet na celou akci byl rozdělen mezi ECML a ministerstvo, byli přizváni také partneři, kteří zajistili část oragnizace a poskytli prostory.

Lektoři ECML byli profesionálové s rozsáhlými zkušenostmi a s nadšením se o ně také podělili. Jejich aktivní přístup byl velkým přínosem celé akci.

Oragnizace této akce byla dobrou příležitostí k tomu, aby Česká republika využila odbornosti ECML k rozšíření využívání ICT v hodinách cizích jazyků v českých školách.

http://www.msmt.cz/vyuziti-digitalnich-technologii-ve-vyuce-cizich-jazyku

Photos: @ Jan Faber

On 2 March 2018 fifteen local organisers from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” met ECML expert teams to prepare national training events in the areas of Plurilingual education (“FREPA - Plurilingual and intercultural competences: descriptors and teaching materials”) and Online technology (“ICT-rev - Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning”).

These events are examples of the ECML offer of Training and Consultancy for member states - bilateral support responding to specific national priorities whereby previously successful ECML project teams share their expertise with national authorities and local experts to devise and implement in-country activities, tailored to the particular context and target audience.

A big thank you to national organisers and expert teams for their support and cooperation in preparing the delivery  of 8 ICT-REV and 4 FREPA training activities for professionals in language education in these nine countries.

• FREPA calendar of events

• ICT-rev calendar of events
  Follow tweets about #ictrev on Twitter

Local organiser: Kamila Kolmašová, National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic

ECML experts: Gábor Szabó, Hungary; Jana Bérešová, Slovak Republic

Participants: 21 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers, teacher trainers and curriculum developers of Czech as a foreign (second) language)

Programme

“The workshop focusing on the RELANG module “Applying the CEFR and new Companion Volume to the development of tests of second language competence” was held on 4-6 February 2020 in Prague. The participants were comprised of language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers, teacher trainers and curriculum developers of Czech as a foreign (second) language both for adult migrants and migrant pupils.

During the event the participants were familiarised with the main new elements within the Companion Volume which are descriptor scales for mediation and plurilingual/pluricultural competence, an extended definition of “plus levels” and a new “Pre-A1 level”, a more elaborate description of listening and reading in the existing scales and further developing the description at A1 and at the C levels. The structure of the workshop was carefully prepared according to participants’ needs and requirements with a special focus on evaluation of productive skills, revision of learning outcomes including the linking to relevant CEFR levels, revision of tasks and development of valid items related to the CEFR.

The whole workshop was a great opportunity for participants to provide feedback on forthcoming or already existing language tests or curricula for Czech as foreign (second) language. Participants could exchange their ideas within a format of practical or expert discussions and get to know some issues in the field of language testing much better and - last but not least - could gain deeper knowledge of language testing.”

Kamila Kolmašová, local organiser, 20 February 2020

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2019-2020 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

The Czech Republic takes over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 19 May.  Among the nine designated  priorities of the 6 month chairmanship is  the  promotion of human rights education and linguistic skills.

 
“The Czech Republic continuously develops and improves tools for linguistic and cultural inclusion in Czech schools to help them deal with the increasing number of pupils whose mother tongue differs from the language of instruction. In this connection, the Czech Chairmanship will actively co-operate with the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML) on promoting teachers’ and other language professionals’ capacities to develop linguistic skills and intercultural competences of learners, as a prerequisite for their successful education. In the framework of the ECML’s four-year programme 2016-2019, this co-operation will involve the preparation and organisation of mediation skills, as well as the dissemination of the results of projects focused on the work in multilingual classrooms and the establishment of European standards specifying proficiency levels of sign languages. Cooperation will proceed through the membership of the Czech representative in the ECML Governing Board and through the involvement of Czech experts in the project teams and networks.”

See full list of priorities of the Czech chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe: CM/Inf(2017)12

The European Language Gazette, the ECML's e-newsletter, provides up-to-date news about the ECML (events, projects, resources), the Language Policy Unit and other relevant sectors of the Council of Europe, as well as our partners. It focuses on national developments in the field of language education in the member states and beyond.

Issue no. 33 (September - October 2016): available in English and in French.