Latvia: experts involved and ECML activities

On June 26-27, 2025, the Agency organised its annual end-of-school-year seminar for LVA teacher trainers. For the second year in a row, a group of trainers participated in a workshop by the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), led by experts Katri Kuukka (Finland) and Nermina Wikström (Sweden). The workshop continued the topic introduced in 2024, focusing on language as a key transversal skill in the learning process. This year, particular attention was given to the ECML-developed ROADMAP for schools to support the language(s) of schooling.

The ROADMAP helps schools assess their needs using an electronic self-assessment tool. It emphasises the importance of involving the entire school community—from the principal to the technical staff. By surveying all stakeholders—school administration, teachers, students, parents, and support staff—the school can gain a well-rounded overview of its strengths and areas for improvement in the field of language awareness.

Over two days, teams from six schools used the ROADMAP to analyse the situation in Latvian schools by stepping into the perspectives of different stakeholder roles.

Participating schools:

• Ventspils Secondary School No. 6
• Liepaja Rainis Secondary School
• Riga State Classical Gymnasium
• Daugavpils Secondary School of Sciences
• Salaspils Primary School
• Riga Secondary School No. 72

We encourage other schools to explore this valuable resource, which also includes a good practices database!

Indra Lapinska, Head of the Department of Language Development, Latvian Language Agency (LLA)

• Information on LLA webpage
• ECML Training and consultancy activity “A roadmap for schools to support the language(s) of schooling“

Latvian version
 

Soli pa solim uz visas skolas kopienas iesaisti mācību valodas stiprināšanai.
Eiropas Moderno valodu centra ceļvedis skolām
Tālākizglītotāju seminārs, 2025. gada 26.–27. jūnijs, Jūrmala

Text

2025. gada 26.–27. jūnijā aģentūra rīkoja ikgadējo mācību gada noslēguma semināru LVA tālākizglītotājiem, kurā daļa tālākizglītotāju jau otro gadu piedalījās Eiropas Moderno valodu centra (ECML) darbnīcā, ko vadīja ekspertes Katri Kūka (Somija) un Nermina Vikstrēma (Zviedrija). Tā turpināja 2024. gadā iesākto tēmu par valodu kā svarīgu caurviju prasmi mācību procesā, šoreiz uzmanību veltot ECML izstrādātajam ceļvedim skolām mācību valodas (-u) stiprināšanai. Ceļvedis palīdz skolai novērtēt savas vajadzības, izmantojot elektronisku pašnovērtēšanas anketu. Tas uzsver visas skolas iesaistes nozīmi – no direktora līdz tehniskajam personālam. Veicot visu ieinteresēto pušu – skolas adminstrācijas, skolotāju, skolēnu, vecāku un skolas atbalsta personāla – aptauju, skola var iegūt daudzpusīgu pārskatu par tās stiprajām pusēm, kā arī vēl pilnveidojamajiem aspektiem valodas jomā.

Divu dienu laikā sešu Latvijas skolu komandas, izmantojot ceļvedi, analizēja Latvijas skolu situāciju, iejūtoties dažādu lomu perspektīvās.

Dalībskolas

• Ventspils 6. vidusskola
• Liepājas Raiņa vidusskola
• Rīgas Valsts klasiskā ģimnāzija
• Daugavpils Zinātņu vidusskola
• Salaspils pamatskola
• Rīgas 72. vidusskola

Aicinām arī citas skolas iepazīties ar šo vērtīgo resursu, kurā pieejama arī labās prakses piemēru datubāze!

Indra Lapinska, Latviešu valodas aģentūras Valodas attistibas daļas vadītāja

• INFORMĀCIJA LVA TĪMEKĻVIETNĒ

At the end of school year, from 26 to 28 June, the Latvian Language Agency (LLA) organised the seminar for teacher trainers in Jurmala. The seminar was attended by more than 70 educators with whom the LLA had collaborated this year or plans to cooperate in future. 

The novelty of this year's seminar – cooperation with the European Centre for Modern Languages!

For the first time, a two-day workshop of the European Centre for Modern Languages (26-27 June) was included in the annual LLA Summer seminar for teacher trainers. The workshop "Language and subject learning – hand in hand!" was led by experts from the ECML, Artashes Barkhanajyan and Marita Härmälä. To promote the whole school approach towards language awareness, LLA invited teams of five schools to participate in the workshop. Each team consisted of teachers of Latvian, English and 1–2 other subjects, and a representative of the school administration as well. The aim of the workshop was to draw attention to the language of schooling, i.e. language in all subjects and at all aspects of language. Some of the participants recognised that they never have looked at the language as a tool for teaching the subject. Some instead emphasized that they have refreshed their knowledge, as language awareness was once a much-considered topic within the framework of bilingual education. For two intense days, teachers actively participated in the workshop, finally arriving at the conclusion "we are now on the right track". Teachers went home with a task to pass on the newly acquired knowledge to their colleagues. 

Indra Lapinska, Head of the Department of Language Development, Latvian Language Agency (LLA)

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer for member states on “Language of schooling in subject learning: Identifying and integrating linguistic and subject objectives – hands-on training sessions”

*****

Latvian version

Valoda skolā – ne tikai valodu stundās!
Divas karstas dienas Jūrmalā. 

Jūnija nogalē no 26. līdz 28. jūnijam Latviešu valodas aģentūra Jūrmalā rīkoja Tālākizglītotāju profesionālās kompetences pilnveides mācību gada noslēguma semināru. Seminārā piedalījās vairāk nekā 70 pedagogu tālākizglītotāju, ar kuriem aģentūra šogad bija sadarbojusies vai arī plāno sadarboties. 

Šī gada semināra jaunums – sadarbība ar Eiropas Moderno valodu centru! 

Pirmo reizi vasaras tālākizglītotāju seminārā divu dienu garumā tika iekļauta Eiropas Moderno valodu centra darbnīca (26.–27. jūnijs). Darbnīcu vadīja Eiropas Moderno valodu centra eksperti Artašes Barkhanajans un Marita Hermele. Darbnīcai eksperti bija devuši nosaukumu “Valoda un citi mācību priekšmeti – roku rokā!”, tā uzsverot valodas nesaraujamo saikni ar mācību satura apguvi. Lai veicinātu labāku izpratni par valodas nozīmi ne tikai atsevišķos mācību priekšmetos, bet skolas izglītības programmās kopumā, aicinājām darbnīcā piedalīties piecu skolu komandas. Katras komandas sastāvā ietilpa latviešu valodas, angļu valodas, 1–2 citu mācību priekšmetu skolotāji un skolas administrācijas pārstāvis. Darbnīcas mērķis bija pievērst uzmanību valodai izglītības procesā, t.sk., visos priekšmetos un visos valodas aspektos (ikdienas saziņā, akadēmiskajā jeb mācību saziņā, katram priekšmetam specifiskajā saziņā). Daļa dalībnieku atzina, ka iepriekš nekad nebija domājuši par valodu kā instrumentu citu priekšmetu mācīšanai, citi savukārt atzina, ka šīs mācības palīdzēja atjaunot nedaudz jau piemirstas zināšanas – valodas lomai citos priekšmetos savulaik bija pievērsta īpaša uzmanība bilingvālās izglītības kontekstā. Pēc divu intensīvu dienu mācībām darbnīcas noslēgumā skolotāju galvenā atziņa attiecībā uz valodas nozīmes izpratni mācību procesā bija, ka “mēs esam uz pareizā ceļa”! Mājup skolotāji jau devās ar uzdevumu gūtās zināšanas nodot tālāk saviem kolēģiem.

Indra Lapinska, Head of the Department of Language Development, Latvian Language Agency (LLA)

Local organiser: Inga Linde, Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE) 

ECML experts: José Noijons, the Netherlands; Gábor Szábo, Hungary

Participants: 24 (teacher trainers, EFL methodological board leaders from across Latvia)

"The RELANG workshop with a focus on the module on “Alternative, continuous methods of assessment in line with the CEFR and the Companion Volume”, under the ECML-EU cooperation agreement, was held in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE) on 13 – 15 June 2022 in Latvia.

The workshop was conducted by the ECML experts José Noijons (Netherlands) and Gábor Szábo (Hungary). 24 project participants - mostly teacher trainers and EFL methodological board leaders from all over Latvia – took part in the event.

Currently, Latvia is undergoing changes in the education system and a new competency-based curriculum is being introduced, emphasizing the introduction of the competency-based learning content and transversal skills. Therefore, the primary aim of the workshop was to raise the participants’ awareness and understanding of alternative and continuous methods of assessment, the most appropriate ways of their implementation and how to align the assessment with the CEFR and the Companion Volume.

The participants found the ECML workshop immensely beneficial. The positive environment of the workshop and the outstanding professionalism of the ECML experts was highly praised and valued by all the participants. The course content prepared the ground for numerous opportunities of group discussions and helped the teachers have a better understanding of how to develop appropriate tasks and assessment scales.

The project activities encouraged the teachers to develop a cooperation network - they will also participate in follow-up workshops. A set of materials on alternative and continuous methods of assessment that could be adapted to the needs of the EFL teachers was developed and will be presented at the LATE 30^th Anniversary Conference on 17 – 18 August 2022."

Inga Linde, local organiser, 30^th June 2022

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2022 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Date: 21st -22 June 2022
Venue: Riga Teika Secondary School, Aizkraukles Street 14, Riga, Latvia
Local organisation: Inga Linde, Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE)
ECML experts: Joseph Hopkins, Spain and Sarah Heiser, United Kingdom
Participants: 21 participants - 1 Spanish as a foreign language teacher; 20 English as a foreign language teachers from all regions of Latvia.
From all the participants – 2 were curriculum developers at a national level, 2 – test developers at a national level, 7 – regional methodological board leaders, 4 – teacher trainers and 1 pre-service teacher, University of Latvia student.

The ECML workshop “Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning” was held in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE) on 21 -22 June 2022 in Latvia. The workshop was conducted by the ECML experts, Sarah Heiser (UK) and Joseph Hopkins (Spain), and the 21 project participants, the majority of whom were teacher trainers and EFL methodological board leaders from all over Latvia, actively participated in the event.

The workshop provided invaluable insight into the ECML’s resources and there was a great balance between  theory and practice during the event. Project participants praised the ECML experts’ professionalism work and said that the knowledge and skills gained during the course were very useful and applicable for teachers in Latvia. The participants worked out a set of activities on implementing ICT in language teaching and learning that could be adapted to the needs of Latvian EFL teachers.

The project activities encouraged the teachers to develop a cooperation network, and they will participate in follow-up workshops and  present the activities developed during the ICT-REV workshop at the LATE 30^th Anniversary Conference on 17-18 August 2022.

Inga Linde, LATE President

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy for member States “Use of ICT in support of language learning and teaching - ICT-REV”

​*****

Latvian version

Sadarbībā ar Latvijas Angļu valodas skolotāju asociāciju (LAVSA), 2022. gada 21.-22. jūnijā Latvijā notika Eiropas Modernā valodu centra (EMVC) projekts "IKT izmantošana valodu mācīšanas un mācīšanās atbalstam". Semināru vadīja EMVC eksperti Sāra Heizere (Sarah Heiser, Apvienotā Karaliste) un Džozefs Hopkins (Joseph Hopkins, Spānija), un tajā aktīvi piedalījās 21 projekta dalībnieks, no kuriem lielākā daļa ir skolotāji - tālākizglītotāji un valodu metodisko jomu koordinatori no Latvijas.

EMVC seminārs sniedza nenovērtējamu ieskatu EMVC resursos, un pasākuma laikā tika panākts lielisks līdzsvars starp teoriju un praksi. Projekta dalībnieki atzinīgi novērtē EMVC ekspertu profesionalitāti un darbu un atzīst, ka kursa laikā iegūtās zināšanas un prasmes ir ļoti noderīgas un pielietojamas. Dalībnieki ir izstrādājuši materiālu kopumu par IKT izmantošanu valodu mācīšanas un mācīšanās atbalstam, ko var pielāgot valodu skolotāju vajadzībām.

Projekta aktivitātes rosināja skolotājus izveidot sadarbības tīklu, un skolotāji piedalīsies turpmākajos semināros, kā arī  prezentēs projekta laikā izstrādātās aktivitātes Latvijas Angļu valodas skolotāju asociācijas 30. jubilejas konferencē 2022. gada 17.-18. augustā.

Inga Linde, Latvijas Angļu valodas skolotāju asociācijas prezidente

Local organiser: Tatjana Kunda, Latvian Association of Teachers of English       

ECML experts: José Noijons, the Netherlands; Gábor Szabó, Hungary

Participants: 23 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, curriculum developers, policymakers, decision-takers)

Programme

“The ECML workshop with the focus on the RELANG module “Exploring ways to test mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual skills in the classroom” was held in cooperation with the National Centre for Education of the Republic of Latvia and the Latvian Association of Teachers of English on 19-21 February 2020.

The primary aim of the workshop was to raise the participants’ awareness and understanding of the Companion Volume in general and mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual skills in particular. The workshop took place in the context of the introduction of Latvia’s new language curriculum, which calls for changes in the choice of classroom activities and tests.

The new mediation and plurilingual/pluricultural scales in the recently published Companion Volume to the CEFR, which specify the situations and roles the participants perform, were discussed as a possible way of operationalising the curriculum attainment levels. The participants agreed that there is a need for examples of mediation tasks that would tap the specific attainment levels and would encourage teachers to explore the concept of mediation.

The positive approach and environment of the workshop and its outcomes were both highly valued and praised by participants The feedback provided has prepared the ground for further exchanges of views and opinions about the implementation of mediation activities in the classroom.”

Tatjana Kunda, local organiser, 16 March 2020

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