This resource establishes European standards for sign languages for professional purposes in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and provides an overview of assessment descriptors and approaches.
Available in English, Czech, Estonian, German, Icelandic, Slovenian and in sign language
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Available in English and French
The publication offers an introduction to linking examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in a valid way.The highlights are targeted at producers of language examinations, who are less familiar with psychometric procedures and who are not (yet) assessment experts.The texts in the publication originate from the "Manual for linking examinations to the CEFR" (a publication of the Language Policy Division of the Council of Europe).
Available in English and French.
This book and CD-Rom have been produced as a practical guide for those who are beginners in the field of teacher education – though experienced teacher trainers may find it interesting and useful, too.
Available in English, French and Hungarian.
The handbook for teachers is designed to assist in the assessment of reading and writing in the primary language classroom.
Available in English.
"Pathways" - guide and kit - aims at supporting ownership and contextualization of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The guide provides a user-friendly tool for accessing the ‘nitty gritty’ of the CEFR. The kit assists teacher educators in devising training paths for understanding the principles of the CEFR and for envisaging links with classroom practice.
The publication explains how languages for specific purposes (LSP) can be tested in the university context using a task-based approach. It shows how such an approach to language testing can be used in various settings and how task-based language tests are devised and administered.
How can teachers estimate the materials they are preparing for their language classes in relation to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages? The online CEF-ESTIM Grid provides examples and guidelines to apply to classroom activities and texts targeting the range of A2 to B2 levels.
Training teachers to use the European Language Portfolio – A book with CD, plus a website. There is detailed background information about the European Language Portfolio and underlying pedagogic concepts, claiming that they prompt radical socio-linguistic changes in the approach to teaching and training. There is guidance on how to set up portfolio projects and use ELP's most profitably in the classroom. The CD-ROM has PowerPoint presentations to be used in a common core of teacher training on the ELP.
Impel – ELP implementation support consists of a leaflet and a data base designed to gather information about different ways of putting European Language Portfolios into practice. On the website there are case studies of both national and school level implementations.
The European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages (EPOSTL) is a document intended for students undergoing their initial teacher education which encourages them to reflect on the didactic knowledge and skills necessary to teach languages, helps them to assess their own didactic competences and enables them to monitor their progress and to record their experiences of teaching during the course of their teacher education.
Available in 14 languages.
This book presents an account of the work of the Bergen 'Can Do ' project,which grew from a local project in a Norwegian county to a Nordic-Baltic one, as part of the ECML 's medium-term programme of activities, 2000-2003.The aim of the project was to adapt and supplement the 'typical ' components of a European Language Portfolio (ELP), developing material which would reflect the world of secondary school learners,building on what they tell us they can and do 'do ' in their foreign and second languages.
The European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages is a tool for reflection and self-assessment of the didactic knowledge and skills necessary to teach languages. It builds on insights from the Common European Framework of Reference and the European Language Portfolio as well as the European Profile for Language Teacher Education. Four years after its initial publication it has been translated into twelve European and Asian languages.To meet widespread demand this ECML publication provides materials which support its implementation in teacher education.
For further ECML resources related to the CEFR and the ELP, please visit our dedicated thematic page.
The result of over twenty years of research, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR) is exactly what its title says it is: a framework of reference. It was designed to provide a transparent, coherent and comprehensive basis for the elaboration of language syllabuses and curriculum guidelines, the design of teaching and learning materials, and the assessment of foreign language proficiency. It is used in Europe but also in other continents and is now available in 39 languages.
Available in 39 languages.
Go to the CEFR page
This Manual is a welcome and timely addition to the ‘toolkit’, which offers support for specific groups in the use of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)
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The main purpose of school evaluation is, of course, to improve educational quality. Today, 31 European education systems put their schools under the spotlight through external and internal evaluations, a significant increase to just a few years ago.
MERLIN offers an online platform that enables users of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to explore authentic written learner productions for Italian, Czech, and German for didactic purposes. The web-based interface illustrates A1-C1 level learner texts. MERLIN can be used for language teaching in the classroom to make students understand CEFR levels. It can be used by textbook and material writers in order to explore crucial aspects of language learning, such as learners' use of collocations, verbal aspect, and mood, etc. Also, textbook writers can find authentic examples for material writing.
Available in English, German, Italian and Czech.
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This Eurydice report provides a comparative overview of the national tests in Europe assessing the language competences of secondary school students. The analysis covers aspects such as the increasing importance of national tests in languages, the objectives of the tests, the skills tested, as well as the means developed by countries aiming at ensuring consistent and reliable scoring procedures, and the influence of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) on national tests.
The aim of this study is to critically assess the comparability of existing national tests of pupils’ language competences in Europe. The study draws upon data on existing national tests of language competences in the 28 EU Member States collated by the Eurydice Network.
EAQUALS is an international association of institutions and organisations involved in language education. Its aim is to promote and guarantee high quality in language teaching and learning. To achieve this aim, EAQUALS has created and published a demanding set of criteria to verify the quality offered by its Accredited Members-schools offering courses in a wide variety of languages in 31 countries.
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The European Commission described the purpose of SurveyLang as providing participating countries with comparable data on foreign language competence and knowledge about good practice in language learning. It is also intended to be an indicator to measure progress towards the objectives of improving foreign language learning.
Available in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.
EALTA is a professional association for language testers in Europe. The purpose of EALTA is to promote the understanding of theoretical principles of language testing and assessment, and the improvement and sharing of testing and assessment practices throughout Europe.
EFNIL provides a forum for institutions - whose role includes monitoring the official language or languages of their country, advising on language use, or developing language policy - to exchange information about their work and to gather and publish information about language use and language policy within the European Union.
Go to the federation page
ALTE is an association of providers of foreign language examinations and includes many of the world‘s leading assessment bodies. Through its activities ALTE provides leadership in addressing issues of test quality and fairness and in raising awareness of language testing issues.
The EPG is a tool for mapping and assessing language teacher competencies internationally. It contains sets of descriptors organised over six stages of professional experience as a language teacher (novice to very experienced) and summarises the main competencies of language teachers and the background in training and experience that would be expected at each stage.
Available in English, French, German, and Spanish.
The European Survey on Language Competences (ESLC) is designed to collect information about the foreign language proficiency of students in the last year of lower secondary education or the second year of upper secondary education. The intention was not only to undertake a survey of language competences but a survey that should be able to provide information about language learning, teaching methods and curricula.
Download the survey