In their book Beyond CLIL: Pluriliteracies teaching for deeper learning, Do Coyle (University of Edinburgh, UK) and Oliver Meyer (Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Germany) propose a new 'pluriliteracies' approach which refines and develops current thinking in CLIL and show how to put that understanding into practice. This resource will be valuable to both academics and education practitioners.

The book is based on the work of the ECML on “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning”, among others.

• Coyle D. & Meyer O. (2021), Beyond CLIL: Pluriliteracies teaching for deeper learning, Cambride University Press: description and key features

 

You can further explore the work of the ECML in this field here:

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

Local organisers of the ECML training and consultancy event:
Prešovská univerzita, Štátny pedagogický ústav, Univerzita Mateja Bela, Trnavská univerzita, Slovak Republic - Zuzana Strakov, Silvia Pokrivčákov, Dana Hanesová, Beáta Menzlová

Dates, format, participants:
Day 1: 21 January 2021, MS Teams, 204 participants
Day 2: 16 February 2021, online workshop, MS Teams (German section), Zoom (English section), 120 participants
Background of the participants: English and German language teachers, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary teachers

 

“Pluriliteracies for deeper learning” shows teachers and materials' developers ways of fostering deep learning by paying attention to the development of students’ subject specific literacies as well as their conceptual understanding and automatisation of subject-specific procedures, skills and strategies. By communicating about their evolving understanding in increasingly sophisticated ways, students internalise their understanding and ways of acting and thinking. “Pluriliteracies for deeper learning” not only makes the links between content and language learning visible, but it also shows how teachers can create learning trajectories, taking students’ current abilities as a starting point and tracing their progress along the learning pathway. Participants in the workshop benefit mainly by sharing their experience and considering “other” ways of thinking which can help to find new possibilities to support deep learning in their classroom.

Zuzana Straková, Faculty of Arts, University of Prešov (local organiser of this event)

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

 

Slovak version

Obsahovo a jazykovo integrované vzdelávanie a rozvoj funkčnej aviacnásobnej gramotnosti pre hĺbkové učenie

Rozvoj funkčnej aviacnásobnej gramotnosti umožňuje učiteľom a tvorcom učebných materiálov vnímať rôzne možnosti podpory hĺbkového učenia (deep learning) tým, že sa venuje pozornosť rozvoju špecifických gramotností študentov, ako aj ich koncepčnému porozumeniu a automatizácii postupov, zručností a stratégií uplatňovaných v jednotlivých predmetoch. Tým, že študenti komunikujú o svojom rozvíjajúcom sa porozumení čoraz sofistikovanejšími spôsobmi, internalizujú toto chápanie, spôsoby konania a myslenia. Tento prístup pomáha študentom zreteľnejšie vnímať prepojenie medzi obsahom a jazykom, ale tiež učiteľom vytvoriť podmienky pre ich zmysluplný a kontinuálny rozvoj. Účastníci seminára sa prostredníctvom zdieľania vlastných skúseností a uvedomovania si viacerých možností rôznych prístupov k vytýčeným cieľom obohacujú o rozšírené obzory, ktoré im umožnia vnímať vlastný kontext z viacerých uhlov a hľadať možnosti pre prieniky do hĺbkového učenia.

Zuzana Straková

Date: 29-30 November 2019
Venue: Copenhagen, Comfort Hotel Copenhagen
Participants: 27 language teachers from all educational levels, teacher trainers and university teachers/researchers 
Local organisers: Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska and Anne Sofie Jakobsen
ECML experts: Do Coyle and Kevin Schuck

 

On 29-30 November 2019, the ECML Contact Point Denmark, the Danish National Centre for Foreign Languages invited ECML experts Do Coyle and Kevin Schuck in Copenhagen to provide a training and consultancy workshop on CLIL and beyond - a pluriliteracies approach for deeper learning.

In the workshop, language teachers from different educational levels and teacher trainers discussed their needs and challenges regarding the use of CLIL approach in the language classroom. CLIL concepts and methods were presented and teachers reflected on techniques for achieving sustainability of results related to the integration of CLIL approach. Participants explored different videos, materials and lesson plans available on the website, A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning and they prepared activities and tasks based on these tools. They shared their experiences with other participants and discussed what makes a successful activity. Both days were a good combination of theory and practical tasks. Some materials from the CLIL and Pluriliteracies approach project and the workshop will be adapted/modified to fit a particular institutional context. 

The participants were encouraged to send project proposals to the Danish National Centre for Foreign Languages based on implementation of CLIL and a pluriliteracies approach for learning. The National Centre organised a follow-up seminar on 3 June 2020 with participants to discuss their experience with CLIL and pluriliteracies approach six months after the training. We encouraged the participants to establish a national network for CLIL and a pluriliteracies approach for deeper learning and one part of network’s activities could be financed by the The Danish National Centre for Foreign Languages. These activities are a part of our strategy to enhance the impact of the ECML workshops in Denmark.

Learn more about A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning here.

 

Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska (local organiser),
Aarhus University,
The Danish National Centre for Foreign Languages, ECML Contact Point Denmark

 

More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer for member states is available here and on the local Danish website.

Venue: Sulejówek Training Centre, Sulejówek, Poland.

Local organiser: Elżbieta Witkowska, Education Development Center / Ośrodek Rozwoju Edukacji

ECML trainers: Dunja Chamberlain and Frédéric Taveau, Switzerland.

Participants: 24 teacher consultants, methodology advisors, English teachers, teachers of non-language subjects in primary and upper secondary schools.

 

The opportunity to have a workshop run by ECML experts is always a great advantage for participants to learn something new and to enhance teaching skills and get more motivated in work. The workshop on “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning” with Dunja Chamberlain and Frederic Taveau as experts was undoubtedly of a great value for the participants.

Although the target group represented various educational backgrounds (such as in-service teacher training institutions, primary and secondary school teachers of English and other non-language subjects), the particpants all benefitted from the content presented and the activities carried out during the workshop. The ECML experts prepared the materials that were used druing the activities, but they will also be invaluable for the participants while planning activities for their students or preparing workshops for their colleagues. Due to the trainers’ expertise, many years of practice and their dedication to work, the participants went back home, inspired with new ideas for their work and encouraged to implement them in their own teaching practice.

The workshops led by ECML are always of the greatest standards and value, so it is always worth applying for one!

Elżbieta Witkowska, local organiser

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer for member states “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning”
• ECML thematic area

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Polish version

Warsztaty organizowane we współpracy z ECML, prowadzone przez wybitnych ekspertów z danej dziedziny są zawsze doskonałą okazją do zdobywania nowej wiedzy i doskonalenia warsztatu pracy. Szkolenie Pluriliteracies Approach to Teaching for Learning prowadzone przez trenerów ECML -Dunję Chamberlain and Frederica Taveau również było znakomitą okazją do zapoznania się z nowymi pomysłami na nauczanie, tym razem w systemie dwujęzycznym, tak aby było on efektywne. Eksperci, przygotowali dla uczestników materiały, które wykorzystywane były w trakcje wykonywania ćwiczeń , ale będą również pomocne w przygotowywaniu własnych warsztatów bądź lekcji w szkole. Eksperci zaprezentowali tematykę w sposób przystępny, łącząc wiadomości teoretyczne z treściami praktycznymi. Uczestnicy mieli okazję pracować w grupach, dzielić się swoimi doświadczeniami oraz poznać techniki i strategie pracy wspomagające nauczania treści przedmiotowych poprzez język angielski.

Nasza instytucja po raz kolejny miała okazję do zorganizowania warsztatów we współpracy z ECML i po raz kolejny okazały się one ogromnym sukcesem, a uczestnicy wrócili do domu zainspirowani nowymi pomysłami.

Date: 16-17 May 2019
Venue: Municipal Art Gallery of Larissa-Museum G.I. Katsigra, Larissa, Greece
Local organiser: Marina Kollatou, Head Teacher of 3^rd Senior High of Larissa, President of English Teachers’ Association of Larissa
ECML experts: Dunja Chamberlain and Frédéric Taveau
Participants: 38 teachers of different subjects, head teachers, coordinators of education.

 

A two-day workshop titled “Content and language integrated learning – A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning” took place in Larissa, Greece on 16-17 May 2019. The workshop was organised in the framework of ECML’s cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, Directorate of European and International Relations.

The workshop participants greatly benefited from the trainers’ presentations, materials, resources and activities as well as from their own active participation in classroom activities simulations, discussions and group work. More specifically, they enhanced their scope of teaching approaches, they developed awareness of the value of the pluriliteracies approach for the development of academic literacies and transferable skills of learners and realized the importance of the teacher’s mindset in the teaching and learning process. They became aware of the fact that the pluriliteracies approach enables teachers to facilitate deep learning across languages, disciplines and cultures for all learners, including those who do not speak the official language spoken in the school (Greek, in our case), thus enhancing their performance in the different subjects and acquiring a good command of academic language.

Finally, participants were encouraged to seek for opportunities offered by ECML (https://www.ecml.at/) to broaden their knowledge on modern pedagogies, expand their teaching practices and take advantage of the ECML resources.

Marina Kollatou, local organiser

Related links

• Blog on pluriliteracies and contribution on the ECML workshop (in Greek)
• More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer for member states “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning”  
• ECML thematic area

Greek version

Διήμερο εργαστήριο με θέμα «Ολοκληρωμένη Διδασκαλία Γλώσσας και Περιεχομένου (CLIL)   

Μια μέθοδος ανάπτυξης πολυγραμματισμών για ουσιαστική μάθηση»  πραγματοποιήθηκε στη Λάρισα στις 16-17 Μαΐου 2019. Το εργαστήριο διοργανώθηκε στο πλαίσιο συνεργασίας του Ευρωπαϊκού Κέντρου Σύγχρονων Γλωσσών του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης (ECML) και της Διεύθυνσης Ευρωπαϊκών και Διεθνών Σχέσεων του Ελληνικού Υπουργείου Παιδείας, Έρευνας και Θρησκευμάτων.   

Το εργαστήριο ήταν εξαιρετικά χρήσιμο για τους εκπαιδευτικούς που συμμετείχαν καθώς τα οφέλη που αποκόμισαν ήταν πολλά σύμφωνα με τις μαρτυρίες τους. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, με τις παρουσιάσεις, τις δραστηριότητες, το υλικό που χρησιμοποίησαν οι εκπαιδευτές αλλά και με την ενεργό συμμετοχή τους στις συζητήσεις, στις ομαδικές εργασίες, στις προσομοιώσεις δραστηριοτήτων της τάξης, οι συμμετέχοντες είχαν την δυνατότητα να διευρύνουν τις παιδαγωγικές τους μεθόδους, να αντιληφθούν την αξία της διδασκαλίας των πολυγραμματισμών για την ανάπτυξη της ακαδημαϊκής γλώσσας και των δεξιοτήτων εκείνων που μπορούν να μεταφέρονται από μάθημα σε μάθημα. Επίσης, είχαν την ευκαιρία να συνειδητοποιήσουν το πόσο σημαντικό ρόλο στη μαθησιακή διαδικασία παίζει η στάση του εκπαιδευτικού.   

Αντιλήφθηκαν ότι η μέθοδος των πολυγραμματισμών προσφέρει τη δυνατότητα στους εκπαιδευτικούς να διευκολύνουν την εμβάθυνση στη μάθηση γενικά, είτε πρόκειται για γλώσσα, επιστήμη, πολιτισμό, πράγμα που έχει ως αποτέλεσμα τη βελτίωση της επίδοσης και στη γλώσσα και στα διάφορα γνωστικά αντικείμενα, όχι μόνο των μαθητών που έχουν μητρική τη γλώσσα που ομιλείται στο σχολείο αλλά και των αλλόγλωσσων μαθητών.  

Τέλος οι συμμετέχοντες παροτρύνθηκαν να αναζητούν και να αξιοποιούν της ευκαιρίες που προσφέρονται από το Ευρωπαϊκό Κέντρο Σύγχρονων Γλωσσών (https://www.ecml.at/) για να επικαιροποιήσουν τις γνώσεις τους σε θέματα διδακτικής και παιδαγωγικής και να εκμεταλλευτούν το υλικό και τις εκδόσεις που είναι αναρτημένα στον ιστότοπο του Κέντρου (https://www.ecml.at/Publications).

 

The ECML expert team of the activity “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning” discussed details of their 2019 training workshops with local organisers from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Greece, and Poland at the ECML in Graz.

More information on the individual training sessions will soon be available on the dedicated website.

Date: 4-5 October 2018
Venue: Bureau for Education Services of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
Local organiser: Nataša Perić, Bureau for Education Services of Montenegro
ECML experts: Do Coyle and Kevin Schuck
Participants: 26 teachers of all subjects, presidents of teachers associations, advisors from the Examination Centre and supervisors from the Bureau for Education Services

 

On 4 and 5 October 2018, the Bureau for Education Services, with the expert support of the European Centre for Modern Languages, organised a workshop Integrated content and language learning (CLIL). Class and subject teachers from primary and secondary schools that are implementing bilingual education programmes, advisors from the Examination Centre and supervisors from the Bureau for Education attended the training programme.

Integrated learning of content and language is one of the current issues when it comes to improving learning and teaching, but also to promoting multilingualism, as one of the policy principles of the European unity. The aim of this two-day training programme was to familiarize teachers with activities and methods whose implementation in the classroom will enable students to acquire not only professional, but also good linguistic and communicative competences.

The workshop was facilitated by two members of the ECML’s CLIL team, Kevin Schuck and Do Coyle and observed by Letizia Cinganotto, a researcher in the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research from Rome, who presented the School Education Gateway which is funded by Erasmus+, the European programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport.

For more information about the ECML training and consultancy activity, you can visit the dedicated ECML website.

Nataša Perić, Bureau for Education Services of Montenegro

 

MONTENEGRIN VERSION

U organizaciji Zavoda za školstvo, uz ekspertsku podršku Evropskog centra za moderne jezike iz Graca, 4. i 5. oktobra 2018. godine, u Zavodu za školstvo, održan je seminar Integrisano učenje sadržaja i jezika (CLIL).

Program obuke su pohađali nastavnici razredne i predmetne nastave iz osnovnih i srednjih škola u kojima se realizuje dvojezična nastava, savjetnici iz Ispitnog Centra i nadzornici iz Zavoda za školstvo.

Integrisano učenje sadržaja i jezika je jedna od aktuelnih tema kada je riječ o unapređenju nastave, ali o 4 promovisanju višejezičnosti, kao principa politike evropskog jedinstva. Cilj ovog dvodnevnog programa obuke bio je upoznati nastavnike sa aktivnostima i metodama čijom će primjenom učenicima omogućiti sticanje, ne samo stručnih kompetencija i ovladavanje stručnom terminologijom, nego i dobru jezičku i komunikacijsku kompetenciju.

Voditelji seminara su eksperti Evropskog centra za moderne jezike Kevin Schuck i Do Coyle, dok je seminar pratila Letizia Cinganotto, istraživač u Ministarstvu za obrazovanje i istraživanje iz Rima, koja je učesnicima predstavila Teacher Academy i online platformu School Education Gateway.

Više informacija o projektu i resurse možete naći na sljedećem sajtu https://www.ecml.at/Thematicareas/ContentandLanguageIntegratedLearning/tabid/1625/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

Are you looking for ways to increase your students’ subject performance and their command of academic language or of the language of schooling?

This ECML activity addresses the development of subject literacies and transferable skills in contexts where learners are operating in more than one language, e.g. education of migrant children, content and language integrated learning (CLIL):

Content and Language Integrated Learning |
A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning

The pluriliteracies approach will enable workshop participants to facilitate deep learning across languages, disciplines and cultures and it will provide ideas for adapting teaching approaches and materials to facilitate deep learning.

This offer is targeted at teachers, teacher trainers and curriculum writers and provides training courses and workshops to design material, reflect on teaching and learning, and plan learning sequences.

ECML experts in language education work with national authorities and local experts to devise and implement in-country activities, tailored to the particular context and target audience.

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If you are looking for input for an in-service training to develop the professional skills of language educators or are in need of consultancy to advance local, regional or national reform processes and to meet international standards, take a closer look at what the ECML has on offer. Information on offers and the 2019 request form are available online: http://www.ecml.at/TrainingandConsultancy

Requests for a training and consultancy activity must be submitted via the national ECML representative in the Governing Board. Educational professionals interested in organising a particular activity should therefore contact their national representative.

Deadline for submission of requests by the ECML Governing Board member: 4 November 2018

Are you looking for input for an in-service training to develop the professional skills of language educators? Or are you in need of consultancy to advance local, regional or national reform processes and to meet international standards? Then take a closer look at what the ECML has on offer.

ECML experts in language education work with national authorities and local experts to devise and implement in-country activities, tailored to the particular context and target audience.

Information on offers and the 2019 request form are available online: http://www.ecml.at/TrainingandConsultancy

Requests for a training and consultancy activity must be submitted until 4 November 2018 via the national ECML representative in the Governing Board.
Educational professionals interested in organising a particular activity should therefore contact their national representative.

Local organiser: Sona Hakobyan, Eurasia International University, Yerevan, Armenia
ECML experts: Frédéric Taveau and Dunja Chamberlain, International School of Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: 31 school teachers, associate professors, assistant professors, faculty members from different educational institutions, decision makers and multipliers

 

CLIL is a relatively new approach to learning where content is learnt through the foreign language in an integrated way so that language learning is linked with other areas of the curriculum. The advantages of this approach are that the teaching is focused on content whilst language is used for an authentic purpose and is assimilated in a natural context. This can firstly boost learners’ motivation to learn languages. The Armenian education institutions are in their initial stage to implement CLIL in the content of study programmes.

CLIL trainings and CLIL education in general will enable teachers to identify the appropriate content to be taught, to view the content from different cultural perspectives, deploy strategies to support language learning in content classes, to scaffold language learning during content classes by learning specialized vocabulary, etc. All in all, through CLIL approach one can develop crucial intercultural attitudes, critical cultural awareness and action taking, hereinafter.

All the participants of the workshop were happy with the results of the event as they got new portion of professional knowledge and skills which they may further use in their teaching practice.

Since the content of CLIL is new to the educators in Armenia, we hope that the trained experts later will act as multipliers by introducing the main ideas of CLIL to smaller groups at their education institutions.

Sona Hakobyan, local coordinator of the event

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer for member states “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning”
• ECML pages dedicated to Armenia (national contacts, participants in ECML projects, resources)

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ARMENIAN VERSION

Լեզվի ուսուցման նոր մոտեցումները,որոնք հնարավոր է զարգացնել կրթական բոլոր դասընթացների միջոցով, կարևոր գործիք է շաղկապելու օտար լեզուները և կրթական ծրագրերը: Բովանդակային և լեզվի ինտեգրված ուսուցումը միաժամանակ խթանում է սովորողների և լեզվական և առարկայական հմտությունների և կարողությունների զարգացումը: ՀՀ կրթական հաստատություններն առաջին քայլերն են անում ներմուծելու ԲԼԻՈՒ մոտեցումը կրթական ծրագրերի բովանդակության մեջ:

Բովանդակային և լեզվի ինտեգրված ուսուցումը հնարավոորություն է ընձեռում ուսուցիչներին կենտրոնանալ բովանդակային խնդիրների վրա, ձևավորել սովորողների միջմշակութային  հմտությունները և միջմշակութային վերաբերմունք: Հատուկ բառապաշարի ներմուծումը կարևոր դերակատարություն ունի այս գործում:

Վերապատրաստման մասնակիցները տարբեր վարժությունների միջոցով կարողացան փորձարկել ԲԼԻՈՒ հիմնական մեթոդները՝ հետագայում իրենց մասնագիտական գործունեության մեջ կիրառելու նպատակով: Քանի որ ԲԼԻՈՒ-ի մոտեցումը ոչ շատերին է ծանոթ, հուսով ենք, որ վերապատրաստման մասնակիցները՝ ավելի փոքր խմբերում կկարողանան տարածել յան հիմնական գաղափարները, որոնց շնորհիվ հնարավորություն կստեղծվի մեկտեղել լեզվի և այլ առարկաների ուսուցումը տարբեր մակարդակի կրթական հաստատություններում:

ECML experts: Do Coyle, Kevin Schuck, Susanne Staschen-Dielmann, Fred Taveau
Experts invited by the coordinator: Dunja Chamberlain, Letizia Cinganotto

 

On 4 and 5 December 2017 the Pluriliteracies team met with national representatives from Armenia, Austria, Montenegro and Norway who had applied for an ECML training and consultancy event to be held in their respective countries.

The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the Pluriliteracies Framework for Deeper Learning to the national representatives, to find ways of adapting the content and methods of our training offer to the specific needs of the target countries and to schedule dates for the trainings to be held in 2018.

The meeting also gave our team the invaluable opportunity to discuss the latest developments of our model, especially the Revised Pluriliteracies Framework for Deeper Learning which was introduced in a number of recent publications and has already found its way into CLIL teacher training curricula e.g. in Germany (Berlin) and Finland. The team also seized the opportunity to share best practice dissemination activities based on previous training experience in the ECML member states and to improve the exchange of materials by establishing a digital platform.

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning”

Oliver Meyer,
coordinator of the ECML training and consultancy offer

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German version

„Pluriliterales Lernen im Sachfach“ : Fortbildungs- und Beratungsangebot des EFSZ in Armenien, Montenegro, Norwegen und Österreich Netzwerktreffen (Graz, Österreich, 4.-5. Dezember 2017)

EFSZ-ExpertInnen: Do Coyle, Kevin Schuck, Susanne Staschen-Dielmann, Fred Taveau
Gastexpertinnen auf Einladung des Koordinators: Dunja Chamberlain, Letizia Cinganotto

 

Am 4.-5. Dezember 2018 traf sich das Pluriliteracies-Team mit VertreterInnen aus Armenien, Montenegro, Norwegen und Österreich, die sich für Lehrerfortbildungen im Rahmen des Fortbildungs- und Beratungsprogramms des Europäischen Fremdsprachenzentrums (EFSZ) beworben hatten.

Der Zweck des Treffens bestand darin, die Kontaktpersonen in den Bewerberländern und deren spezifische Situationen und Erfordernisse kennenzulernen, ihnen neue Entwicklungen in Bezug auf unser Pluriliterales Lehr-/Lernmodell vorzustellen und ein Fortbildungsangebot zu entwickeln, das auf die speziellen Bedürfnisse der Lehrenden in den jeweiligen Ländern zugeschnitten ist sowie konkrete Termine für die Fortbildungen zu vereinbaren.

Das Treffen war für uns auch eine wertvolle Gelegenheit, uns persönlich über Neuentwicklungen sowie aktuelle und geplante Veröffentlichungen der Teammitglieder auszutauschen. Die Relevanz unseres Modells zeigt sich unter anderem darin, dass es mittlerweile Einzug in Lehr- und Ausbildungspläne z.B. in Deutschland (Berlin) und Finnland gefunden hat.

Ein weiteres Ergebnis des Treffens bestand darin, dass sich die Teammitglieder über die bisher durchgeführten Fortbildungen ausgetauscht und best practice-Aktivitäten zusammengestellt haben, die nun allen Teammitgliedern auf einer internen digitalen Plattform zur Verfügung stehen.

• Für weitere Informationen zum Fortbildungs- und Beratungsangebot des EFSZ „Pluriliterales Lernen im Sachfach“ (verfügbar auf Englisch und Französisch)

 

Oliver Meyer, Koordinator
des Fortbildungs- und Beratungsangebot des EFSZ

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French version: available here

The presentation delivered by ECML representatives was very insightful. It gave participants a new perspective on their current teaching and the way they can help their students experience a deeper learning. The presentation was interesting and sparked a discussion amongst the participants and trainers, which helped to deepen understanding of the subject ‘Pluriliteracies”. In the second half of the training, participants were given the opportunity to get hands on with the material. They were positive about the training and felt inspired to get to work with new ideas.

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[Dutch version]

De presentatie van de ECML vertegenwoordigers was erg inzichtelijk. Het gaf de deelnemers een nieuw perspectief op hun huidige manier van lesgeven en een manier om leerlingen met meer diepgang te laten leren. De presentatie was interessant en zorgde voor discussies tussen de deelnemers onderling en de trainers. Deze discussies leidden weer tot een beter begrip van het onderwerp Pluriliteracies. In de tweede helft van de training kregen de deelnemers de kans om aan de slag te gaan met voorbeeldmateriaal. De deelnemers lieten zich positief uit over de training en gaven aan geïnspireerd te zijn om de ideeën in hun werk te gaan toepassen.

Mieke van der Made, Nuffic (local organisation)

ECML experts: Oliver Meyer, Germany; Kevin Schuck, The Netherlands.
Local organiser: Lieke Boersma, Project Officer, Nuffic, Schools Network Department, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Participants: up to 50 CLIL teachers/coordinators.

ECML websites: 

• ECML training and consultancy for member states on “Content and Language Integrated Learning – A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning”

• Thematic collection relating to CLIL 
  

 

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.

Read the latest issue: English - French

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Issue no. 36 – Contents

Focus on ECML programme developments – "Languages at the heart of learning" (2016-2019)

Latest project developments

"Language awareness in subject classes": participate in an online survey

"Towards a Common European Framework for Language Teachers": latest news

e-lang project in 2016: laying the foundations for a digital literacy in the language teaching and learning context

"Promoting excellence in sign language instruction (PRO-Sign2)": ECML workshop (Graz, Austria, 1-2 March 2017) – cooperation partnership with Moscow State Linguistic University

"A quality matrix for CEFR use": ECML workshop (Graz, Austria, 15-16 November 2016) – Interview with Denis Vigneron, French participant

ECML training and consultancy for member states

Network meeting of local organisers and ECML consultants (Graz, Austria, 7-8 March 2017) and upcoming national training workshops

National training workshop "Supporting multilingual classes" in Slovenia (Koper, 2-3 March 2017)

National workshops "A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning" in Malta (Floriana, 2-3 March 2017) and Latvia (Riga, 6-7 March 2017) 

Forthcoming events

Recent ECML publication: Language skills for successful subject learning – CEFR linked descriptors for mathematics and history/civics

European Day of Languages

National developments in Armenia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland

Professional Network Forum of the ECML: upcoming events

Council of Europe developments

The linguistic integration of adult migrants: some lessons from research

Council of Europe Ad hoc Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (CAHROM) (ECML, Graz, Austria, 29-31 March 2017)

International Roma Day – 8 April

Pestalozzi programme: creating an online community of action researchers – summer school 2017

Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: developments in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Kosovo*, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

Urban policies for inclusive integration and diversity advantage: join the Intercultural Cities 2017 Milestone Event (Lisbon, Portugal, 28-29 November 2017)

Cyprus Chairmanship Conference in Nicosia: "Securing Democracy through Education"

Recent publication

Editorial news from other organisations: Eurostat, Eurydice, OECD, Unesco, Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning, Babylonia

Quick links

National coordinator: Zane Olina
ECML consultants: Oliver Meyer, Kevin Schuck

The ECML project A Pluriliteracies Approach to Teaching for Learning event in Latvia proved to be a highly valuable experience for the core group of the subject matter experts of the project of the National Centre for Education who have begun their work on developing new competence based curricula for all school subjects. Among the participants of the workshop there were also school teachers, university lecturers, representatives of teachers’ associations and specialists of the Latvian Language Agency. 

The ECML experts managed to involve everybody in the process of thinking about thinking, proving that deep learning is slow learning, making the participants think about how important it is for the teacher to be fully aware that their students have really understood the subject matter, as well as giving examples of how to make sure it has happened. During the workshop the experts, using a video of a lesson, clearly showed this process – how it goes on gradually, what actions are taken to achieve the final result, what roles the students are assigned, how they themselves witness the process of learning, how important it is for the students to reflect on their learning process and its outcomes. It does not matter what subject you study or teach, in any case its essence has to be revealed and understood.

The experts also introduced the participants) to a wealth of materials and websites on this topic for further reading, too.

The planning of the day was perfect – this was not only a presentation or a lecture – the participants were actively involved in the process, wrote their own examples, discussed them, exchanged their ideas.

The event made the participants rethink their own teaching and the methods they use. They went back to their work enriched, ready to share the ideas gained with their colleagues and to implement them in their own lessons.

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• Article “Experts of the European Centre for Modern Languages discuss the possibilities of Deep Learning in Education)” and photos: see website of the National Centre for Education of Latvia (in Latvian)
• Discussion with language specialists and teachers, with the participation of Mr Meyer and Mr Schuck, organised on the second day of the workshop (PDF) (in Latvian)
• Website of the National Centre for Education of Latvia providing information about the ECML, ECML projects and workshop reports of participants nominated by Latvia (in Latvian)
• Project website “Content and Language Integrated Learning – A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning” (in English)

Local organiser: Ministry for Education and Employment, Malta
Venue: St Ignatius College, Luqa Primary School, Floriana
Participants: 53 members of Senior Management Teams in schools, Education Officers, Teachers (primary and secondary sector)

 

On 2-3 March 2017 the Ministry for Education and Employment, Malta,  organised a training course on Content and Language Integrated Learning, focusing on a Pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning offered by the ECML.  Participants attending the course included  directors, education officers, members of school management teams and teachers both from the primary and secondary sector.  This represented therefore a varied cross-section of stakeholders working at multiple levels, with the aim of applying CLIL principles within a whole school approach.

The training was conducted by Professor Do Coyle, from the University of Aberdeen.

Participants had the opportunity of becoming aware of the pedagogical approaches to integrated learning, including all the “4 C’s”, namely Content, Cognition, Communication and Culture. The training discussed the development of Pluriliteracies through the application of the Language Triptych: (language of learning, language for learning and language through learning) as elements which learners need. Professor Coyle stressed that educators needed to ensure that their teaching raises both the linguistic and the cognitive levels of their learners.

A dynamic hands-on approach guided workshops, where participants were invited to apply the above-mentioned principles to their existing school context, by developing a unit of work using CLIL guidelines. The Ministry for Education and Employment is now planning a follow-up session in the short term in order to offer participants to share best practices in the application of CLIL principles, and to cascade this acquired knowledge with their colleagues.

• Pictures on Facebook page of the Migrant Learners' Unit Malta
• Web pages dedicated to ECML training and consultancy for member states on "Content and Language Integrated Learning - A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning"

From 30 May to 1st June 2016, the Pluriliteracies team met with national representatives from 7 European countries (Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Serbia and Slovenia) to share the latest iteration of the pluriliteracies model as well as a newly developed planning tool for mentoring deeper learning which was illustrated by practical examples for different subjects and levels from associated partner schools and teacher training seminars.

The teacher training and consultancy events will address a wide audience including teachers, teacher educators, policy makers, curriculum writers, heads of schools and ministry officials.

The events are intended to promote change towards deeper learning mindsets. Outcomes will include university training modules and courses, curriculum consultancy, and teacher training courses for a wide range of audiences, subjects, languages and age groups.

Related ECML resources:

• A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning – Content and Language Integrated Learning
• Literacies through Content and Language Integrated Learning: effective learning across subjects and languages
• Thematic collection on CLIL