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    A guide to teacher competences for languages in education
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    Project overview

Towards a Common European Framework of Reference for language teachers

How do existing tools and publications define and present language teacher competences, and how are these tools used in practice? What could be the added value of a future Common European Framework of Reference for Language Teachers, and what might be its form, content, and function? To answer these questions, this project will develop a comprehensive description of language teacher competences. Read more

Working languages of the project: English, French
Project term: 2016-2019
Shortcut:  NEW!!  www.ecml.at/guidetoteachercompetences 

    

Who will benefit from the project?

Whilst the direct beneficiaries will be teacher educators and those developing teacher education programmes, and in turn, the teacher-learner of these programmes, the ultimate beneficiaries will be learners, because teachers will be better equipped to respond to individual learner needs. The outputs will stimulate teacher educators, as well as the authorities and persons who employ teachers, to reflect on teaching competences. They will aid development of a coherent overview of the competences needed, as well as providing access to the examples of descriptions of competences in the existing tools. Teachers themselves will also be able to draw on the resources provided, including a robust frame of reference, in their ongoing self-development. This will help to alleviate the sense of isolation sometimes experienced by teachers and teacher educators.

Powerpoint presentation:
English - French
50 frameworks of teacher competences

Envisaged outputs

  1. A user guide for existing competence frameworks and instruments for language education that have been developed by the Council of Europe (ECML, Language Policy Unit), and other organisations.
  2. Practical examples of how the existing tools are used in various contexts, including critical reviews and references to national curricula.
  3. An inventory of key language teaching competences. If feasible, these will include language-related competences relevant to subject teachers.
  4. Further development, piloting and empirical validation of existing tools, including the Swiss Profiles, FREPA, the EPG and the Eaquals Framework, so as to adapt them for broader use within Europe.
  5. An examination of the need for, and feasibility of, a Common European Framework of Reference for Language Teachers.

Envisaged outcomes

  1. Better quality language education which meets the needs of all learners as a result of
    improved initial and in-service language teacher education, and autonomous professional development for language teachers and teachers of all subjects.
  2. Greater international transparency and coherence in language teacher education that takes into account the diversity of educational contexts across member states.
  3. A deeper understanding and broader awareness of the role all teachers play in developing the linguistic repertoire of their learners.
  4. Improved collaboration among teachers working with or through different languages in order to promote and support plurilingualism.
  5. Dialogue and greater agreement on the key role that language teachers play in education.

This is a project of the European Centre for Modern Languages within its "Languages at the heart of learning" programme 2016-2019.

Go to the programme webpage

Webinar

“Towards a common resource for language-related teacher competences?”

In the webinar Lukas Bleichenbacher and his team present their approach to a number of the project’s key questions: 

  • What need is there for a future resource that describes the competences of language teachers and the language-related competences necessary for teaching other subjects?
  • Is it feasible to propose a model with common competences for all teachers, and specific adaptations for different kinds of teachers?
  • In what ways could the development of such a resource be of concrete value for teacher education and professional development?

The webinar also provides a practical introduction to the online guide to the many existing instruments available that describe teacher competences.

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Latest articles

12.11.2020
“A guide to teacher competences for languages in education”: New resource website for teacher educators and designers of teacher education programmes

03.06.2019
Describing teacher competences for language education

01.03.2019
Towards a common resource for language-related teacher competences? webinar

11.02.2019
Take part in the webinar “Towards a common resource for language-related teacher competences?”, Wednesday 27 February, 16:00-17:30 (CET)

04.02.2019
Participate in the online survey on the need for future resources about language-related teacher competences. Deadline: 26 February 2019!

31.10.2018
ECML project “Towards a Common European Framework of Reference for language teachers”: workshop results (Graz, Austria, 3-4 October 2018)

04.10.2018
ECML workshop “Towards a Common European Framework of Reference for language teachers” (Graz, Austria, 3-4 October 2018)

13.06.2018
Just published : Courriel européen des langues – Issue no. 40, the e-magazine of the National Contact point for the ECML in France

30.04.2018
Regional workshop "Towards a Common European Framework of Reference for language teachers" (Bucharest, Romania, 22-23 March 2018)

12.02.2018
Intense and fruitful exchange of ideas on future developments in language education

01.02.2018
"Towards a Common European Framework of Reference for language teachers" (CEFRLT): project update - January 2018

05.10.2017
Towards a Common European Framework for Language Teachers: latest ECML project news

22.05.2017
Online survey – contribute now! - Call for case studies or practical examples of the use of instruments and frameworks for language teacher education and development

05.05.2017
Recently published: European Language Gazette no. 36 (January-April 2017)

03.04.2017
The ’Towards a Common European Framework for Language Teachers’ project

03.04.2017
ECML project "Towards a Common European Framework of Reference for language teachers": List of instruments for teacher competences currently analysed by the project team

01.03.2017
"Towards a Common European Framework for Language Teachers": expert meeting (23-25 January 2017)

09.12.2016
ECML colloquium "Ensuring quality in language testing and assessment": videos, presentations, photos

07.10.2016
Towards a Common European Framework for Language Teachers: network meeting (Graz, 8-9 September 2016)

17.02.2016
Towards a Common European Framework for Language Teachers - project launch


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