Latest articles
03.07.2024
Language at school – not only in language lessons!
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)
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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)
02.07.2024
“Language of schooling: Developing language awareness in subject classes” workshop in Lesbos, Greece
Date and venue: Lesbos, Greece, 18-19 June 2024
Local organiser: Angeliki Tsakyri, Primary School Ippiou, Lesbos
ECML experts: Eli Moe (Norway) and Jérôme Béliard (France)
Participants: 33 primary and secondary language and subject teachers, refugee education coordinators, school advisors
The “Language of schooling: developing language awareness in subject classes” workshop organised by the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) in cooperation with the Section of International Relations of the Hellenic Ministry of Education and the Regional Directorate of Education of the North Aegean, offered significant benefits for teachers who develop the modern educational systems. The event followed an agenda of well-structured workshops, to emphasize the critical role of language across all subjects,empowering teachers with tools and strategies to support students' language development and thereby enhance overall academic outcomes. Participants had the opportunity to gain insights into fostering an inclusive learning environment for all students.
This workshop also promoted collaboration among educators from different educational levels, encouraging the exchange of best practices and resources. It highlighted the importance of language-aware teaching in policy and curriculum development, advocating for its inclusion.
For further resources, the ECML website offers a wealth of information and tools for educators seeking to implement language awareness in their teaching practices.
Further developments in this area can be found on the ECML’s official website, providing continuous support and updates for educators committed to enhancing language awareness in schools. This initiative is a step forward in ensuring that all students, regardless of their language or cultural background, have equal opportunities to succeed academically.
Tsakyri Angeliki
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Greek version
Το επιμορφωτικό εργαστήριο «Language of Schooling: Developing Language Awareness in Subject Classes» που διοργάνωσε το Ευρωπαϊκό Κέντρο Σύγχρονων Γλωσσών (ECML) σε συνεργασία με το Τμήμα Διεθνών Σχέσεων του Ελληνικού Υπουργείου Παιδείας και την Περιφερειακή Διεύθυνση Εκπαίδευσης Βορείου Αιγαίου, προσέφερε σημαντικά οφέλη σε εκπαιδευτικούς που διαμορφώνουν τα σύγχρονα εκπαιδευτικά συστήματα. Η επιμόρφωση ακολούθησε μια ατζέντα καλά δομημένων πρακτικών εργαστηρίων, έτσι ώστε να τονιστεί ο κρίσιμος ρόλος της γλώσσας σε όλα τα μαθήματα, ενδυναμώνοντας τους δασκάλους με εργαλεία και στρατηγικές για να υποστηρίξουν τη γλωσσική ανάπτυξη των μαθητών και να ενισχύσουν τα συνολικά ακαδημαϊκά αποτελέσματα. Οι συμμετέχοντες είχαν έτσι την ευκαιρία να αποκτήσουν γνώσεις για την δημιουργία ενός περιβάλλοντος μάθησης χωρίς αποκλεισμούς για όλους τους μαθητές.
Το εργαστήριο κατάφερε παράλληλα, να προωθήσει τη συνεργασία μεταξύ εκπαιδευτικών από διαφορετικές εκπαιδευτικές βαθμίδες, ενθαρρύνοντας την ανταλλαγή βέλτιστων πρακτικών και πόρων, υπογραμμίζοντας τη σημασία της γλωσσικής διδασκαλίας στην ανάπτυξη πολιτικών και προγραμμάτων σπουδών και υποστηρίζοντας τη συμπερίληψη.
Οι εκπαιδευτές και ο ιστότοπος του ECML προσέφεραν πληθώρα πληροφοριών, πόρων και εργαλείων για τους εκπαιδευτικούς που επιδιώκουν να εφαρμόσουν τη γλωσσική επίγνωση στις διδακτικές τους πρακτικές.
Περισσότερο υλικό σε αυτόν τον τομέα υπάρχει στον επίσημο ιστότοπο του ECML, παρέχοντας συνεχή υποστήριξη και ενημερώσεις σε εκπαιδευτικούς που στοχεύουν στο να ενισχύσουν τη γλωσσική ευαισθητοποίηση στα σχολεία. Αυτή η πρωτοβουλία είναι ένα βήμα προς τη διασφάλιση ότι όλοι οι μαθητές, ανεξάρτητα από τη γλώσσα ή το πολιτιστικό τους υπόβαθρο, έχουν ίσες ευκαιρίες για αποτελεσματικότερη εκπαίδευση.
Tsakyri Angeliki
11.12.2023
Final conference of the 6th medium-term programme 2020-2023 (13-14 December 2023, Graz, Austria & online)
“Inspiring innovation in language education: changing contexts, evolving competences” – Join the livestream!
The conference represents the culmination of the four years of work of the ECML’s “Inspiring innovation in language education: changing contexts, evolving competences” programme, involving, among others, 9projects, 1think tank, 12offers of training and consultancy (TaC) and a series of initiatives developed with the support of the European Commission.
The conference is aimed at all language education professionals and in particular at ECML stakeholders, policy makers and persons with a professional focus on the practice of language education (curriculum development, teacher education, material design…).
The programme involves plenary presentations, speeches, a round table, a series of smaller workshops for the presentation and discussion of programme outputs and outcomes as well as envisaged links to activities in the 2024-2027 programme.
The workshops on the second day of the conference will be organised thematically:
- Language teacher and learner competences,
- Transversal dimension of language education / Competences for life and work,
- Plurilingual and intercultural education,
- Languages of schooling; language in subjects.
Within each given theme there will be a focus on the completed project resources and related TaC activities from the current programme. Presenters will focus on the inspiring and innovative aspects of their TaC activity/new resources and will consider how the different approaches and materials presented in their thematic session complement one other.
This will also be an excellent opportunity to get a preview of the new ECML programme “Language education at the heart of democracy” (2024-2027).
In order to ensure access to a wider audience, the event will be streamed in both working languages (English and French) and the recordings made available on the ECML website.
Conference web page: English – French
Conference programme: English – French
Join the live streaming here – no registration required: English – French
#ECMLCELVconf2023
01.03.2023
Series of 48 language education workshops in member states
The European Centre for Modern Languages is launching a series of 48 national training and consultancy workshops . The workshops which are hosted in member states offer a wide range of European expertise in language education and are adapted to the concrete needs and specific contexts within individual countries. This year represents the highest ever number of events organised according to this format by the ECML and reflects the increasing popularity of the Centre’s training and consultancy activities.
25 of the events will take place within the framework of the “Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning” cooperation action between the ECML and the European Commission. These activities, covering member states of the ECML and the European Union, focus on Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG), Supporting Multilingual Classrooms and Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning
The other 23 events targeting the member states of the ECML focus on the following areas: Action research communities, CLIL and beyond – pluriliteracies, Language for work, Language of schooling in subject learning, Plurilingual and intercultural approaches (CARAP/FREPA), The ROADMAP – a self-assessment tool to foster school development, Setting up learning environments where modern languages flourish.
The events combine professional input from the ECML and expertise in the member state to initiate quality developments – the workshops can assist in change processes in language education at local, regional and national levels. The first of the events, a RELANG workshop, will take place at the Lithuanian National Agency for Education in Vilnius on 7-9 March.
07.02.2023
Training and consultancy for ECML member states: network meeting for ECML training teams and national local organisers (Graz, 27 January 2023)
The ECML offers its member states European expertise in language education adapted to the concrete needs and specific contexts within individual countries.
On 26 January 2023, seven training and consultancy (TaC) teams exchanged their experience in the field of:
- Action research communities,
- CLIL and beyond – pluriliteracies,
- Language for work,
- Language of schooling in subject learning,
- Plurilingual and intercultural approaches (CARAP/FREPA),
- The ROADMAP - a self-assessment tool to foster school development,
- Setting up learning environments where modern languages flourish (online presentation),
focusing on highlights, challenges and learning opportunities, and conclusions for 2023 activities.
The network meeting with the local organisers from Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Slovak Republic and Slovenia took place on 27 January. The participants got an overview of the TaC offers and their benefits from previous experience, national contexts and needs, and the ECML support provided. Individual meetings took place for local organisers with the TaC teams to discuss the organisation and arrangements of their national events planned this year.
In 2023 the ECML will conduct 23 training events in 17 member states:
Action research communities (ARC): |
Luxembourg, Montenegro, Norway |
Language for work (LfW): |
Luxembourg |
Plurilingual and intercultural approaches (FREPA): |
Greece, Malta, Serbia, Slovak Republic |
Supporting the language(s) of schooling (ROADMAP): |
France, Germany, Poland |
CLIL and beyond: |
Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, NorthMacedonia, Poland |
Language of schooling in subject learning (LiS): |
Malta, Slovenia, Belgium |
Setting up learning environments where modern languages flourish (EOL): |
Armenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece |
In addition, up to 25 workshops will be organised in ECML and EU member states through the Centre’s cooperation action with the European Commission – these will be announced shortly.
Photo gallery
14.10.2022
Languages awareness matters!
01.12.2021
Armenia: ECML training and consultancy training workshop “Language of schooling in subject learning – Developing language awareness in subject classes” (Yerevan, 11-12 November 2021)
Date and venue: 11-12 November 2021, Yerevan, Armenia
Local organiser: Avedisian school, Yerevan, Armenia; contact: Tsovik Manukyan
ECML experts: Jérôme Béliard (France), Eli Moe (Norway) and Artashes Barkhanajyan (Armenia)
Participants: 21 subject teachers, language teachers, teacher trainers
It is not a secret that a successful education system of a country represents an important element of its social and economic development. In this difficult period, when the whole world fights against the coron avirus, we had an excellent training organised by professional experts. The two-day training workshop helped our participants to develop an integrated approach to learning and using languages across the curriculum and helped our subject teachers to develop their abilities in defining the linguistic objectives in their respective subjects. Well organised group work facilitated cooperation between language teachers and subject teachers. During the group work participants created plans and activities which they can use during their teaching, with clearly defined language goals and subject goals. After each group work participants presented the results of their activities and exchanged their ideas.
Thanks to the professional moderators, participants were motivated and inspired during the workshop. They became familiar with a lot of useful tools that will help them to increase their students’ awareness of the language competence required in the language of schooling in order to achieve educational success.
Tsovik Manukyan, local organiser
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Armenian version
ECML ուսուցման և խորհրդատվական դասընթացների սեմինար «Դպրոցական լեզուն առարկայական ուսուցման մեջ. զարգացնել լեզվի իմացությունը առարկայական դասարաններում»
Ժամանակահատվածը նոյեմբերի 11-ին և 12-ին, 2021թ
Տեղական կազմակերպություն՝ Ավետիսյան դպրոց, Երևան, Հայաստան, Ծովիկ Մանուկյան
ECML փորձագետներ՝ Ժերոմ Բելիարդ (Ֆրանսիա), Էլի Մո (Նորվեգիա) և Արտաշես Բարխանաջյան (Հայաստան)
Մասնակիցներ՝ 21 այլ առարկայի ուսուցիչներ, լեզվի ուսուցիչներ, ուսուցիչների վերապատրաստողներ
Գաղտնիք չէ, որ երկրի հաջողակ կրթական համակարգը նրա սոցիալ-տնտեսական զարգացման կարևոր տարրն է։Այս դժվարին ժամանակահատվածում, երբ ամբողջ աշխարհը պայքարում է կորոնավիրուսի դեմ, մենք հրաշալի վերապատրաստում անցկացրինք պրոֆեսիոնալ փորձագետների կողմից։Այդ երկօրյա արդյունավետ վերապատրաստումը օգնեց մեր մասնակիցներին ինտեգրված մոտեցում ունենալ ուսումնական ծրագրում լեզուներ սովորելու և օգտագործելու հարցում, օգնեց մեր այլ առարկաների ուսուցիչներին զարգացնել իրենց կարողությունները՝ առարկայի դասավանդման ժամանակ լեզվական նպատակները սահմանելու համար: Լավ կազմակերպված խմբակային աշխատանքները նպաստեցին լեզվի ուսուցիչների և այլ առարկաների ուսուցիչների համագործակցությանը: Այդ խմբային աշխատանքների ընթացքում մասնակիցները ստեղծեցին պլաններ և գործնական աշխատանքներ, որոնք նրանք կարող են օգտագործել իրենց դասավանդման ընթացքում, որոնց մեջ հստակորեն սահմանված էր լեզվական նպատակները և առարկայական նպատակները: Յուրաքանչյուր խմբային աշխատանքից հետո անդամները ներկայացրեցին իրենց ածխատանքների արդյունքները և փոխանակեցին իրենց մտքերը:Պրոֆեսիոնալ փորձագետների շնորհիվ բոլոր մասնակիցները մոտիվացված և ոգեշնչված էին ամբողջ երկու օրերի ընթացքում: Նրանք ստացան բազմաթիվ օգտակար գործիքներ, որոնք դրական ազդեցություն կունենան յուրաքանչյուրի դասավանդման մեթոդիկայի վրա՝ կրթական հաջողությունների հասնելու համար։
Կազմակերպիչ՝ Ծովիկ Մանուկյան
18.03.2021
Online workshop in Poland on "Language of schooling in subject learning": a practical support for teachers in planning lessons and designing teaching materials
Online ECML training and consultancy training workshop "Language of schooling in subject learning: Identifying and integrating linguistic and subject objectives – hands-on training sessions"
Dates: 29 October 2020 and 12 February 2021
Local organisation: Centre for Education Development (ORE), Warsaw, Poland; Elżbieta Witkowska
Participants: 16 teacher consultants, methodology advisors, English teachers, teachers of non-language subjects (e.g. History, Geography) in primary and upper secondary schools
In these challenging times of COVID-19, the workshop was run in two online sessions by ECML experts: Guillaume Grave Rousseau and Jérôme Béliard. The target group represented various professional environments (such as teacher training institutions, primary and secondary schools with bilingual education classes), but the way the sessions were prepared enabled all participants to benefit from the content presented and the activities conducted in the workshop. The activities included a lot of group work during which everyone could share both teaching experience and good practice, learn how to integrate linguistic and subject objectives and how to implement these into classroom work. The teaching tools presented will also be invaluable for the participants while planning activities for their students especially now, when most schools are closed and teaching is held online. A variety of tools that help identify learners’ language needs in subject learning together with scaffolding techniques will serve as a practical support for teachers in planning lessons and designing teaching materials.
Due to the trainers’ expertise, the participants felt inspired by the new ideas presented and encouraged to implement them in their own teaching.
The workshops led by ECML are always of a very high standard and great value, so it is always worth applying for one!
Elżbieta Witkowska
Polish version
Warsztaty organizowane we współpracy Europejskiego Centrum Języków Nowożytnych z Ośrodkiem Rozwoju Edukacji w Warszawie są zawsze doskonałą okazją dla uczestników do zdobywania nowej wiedzy i doskonalenia warsztatu pracy. Szkolenie Language of schooling in subject learning: Identifying and integrating linguistic and subject objectives – hands-on training sessions prowadzone przez trenerów ECML - Guillaume Grave Rousseau i Jérôme Béliarda ze względu na sytuację epidemiczną covid 19 odbyło się w formie dwóch sesji online 29.10.2020 oraz 12.02.2021 r. W spotkaniach wzięli udział przedstawiciele różnych środowisk związanych z edukacją: doradcy metodyczni, nauczyciele konsultanci oraz nauczyciele szkół podstawowych i ponadpodstawowych zaangażowani w tematykę nauczania dwujęzycznego. Sesje zostały zaplanowane tak, aby umożliwić jak najpełniejsze zapoznanie się z wiedzą na temat integracji edukacji przedmiotowej i językowej, jak również zaplanowano przestrzeń na dzielenie się doświadczeniem i dobrą praktyką. Eksperci, przygotowali dla uczestników materiały, które wykorzystywane były w trakcje wykonywania ćwiczeń, ale będą również pomocne w przygotowywaniu materiałów na własne lekcje stacjonarne, ale i te prowadzone zdalnie. Eksperci zaprezentowali tematykę w sposób przystępny, łącząc materiały teoretyczne z treściami praktycznymi. Uczestnicy mieli okazję pracować w grupach, dzielić się swoimi doświadczeniami i dobrą praktyką oraz poznać techniki i strategie pracy wspomagające nauczania treści przedmiotowych poprzez język angielski.
Dzięki doświadczeniu trenerów, uczestnicy poczuli się zainspirowani nowymi pomysłami i zachęceni do wdrażania ich we własnym nauczaniu.
Warsztaty prowadzone przez ECML mają zawsze najwyższy standard i wartość, dlatego zawsze warto się o nie ubiegać!
Elżbieta Witkowska
22.12.2020
Language of schooling in subject learning – Identifying and integrating linguistic and subject objectives: online workshop (Croatia, 13 November and 11 December 2020)
Dates of the online workshop: 13 November and 11 December 2020
Local organisation: Ms Snježana Šincek, Ministry of Science and Education
ECML experts: Ms Eli Moe (Norway) and Mr Artashes Barkhanajyan (Armenia)
Participants:27 teachers in primary and secondary schools, teacher trainers, university professors and assistants
Language of schooling in subject learning – Identifying and integrating linguistic and subject objectives workshop was held online in Croatia on 13 November and 11 December 2020, in cooperation of the European Centre for Modern Languages and the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia.
The two-day workshop was moderated by a team of ECML experts – Ms Eli Moe from Norway and Mr Artashes Barkhanajyan from Armenia.
During the workshop participants became familiar with methods and practical procedures which will help them to identify students’ language needs in their subject. They were enabled with different scaffolding techniques to create teaching materials, support their students in writing, speaking, and reading tasks, and to motivate their students to reflect on their own learning. In time between two days of the workshop, participants were motivated to conduct their case studies which they presented on second day of the workshop. Presenters presented their newly adopted skills in thematically different areas and subjects, and their case studies were accepted with great enthusiasm and appreciation.
Snježana Šincek, local organiser of the workshop
Croatian version
Radionica Jezik obrazovanja u predmetnoj nastavi – Utvrđivanje i integriranje jezičnih i predmetnih ciljeva je u Hrvatskoj održana online 13. studenoga i 11. prosinca 2020. godine, u suradnji Europskog centra za moderne jezike i Ministarstva znanosti i obrazovanja Republike Hrvatske.
Dvodnevnu radionicu moderirao je tim stručnjaka ECML-a - gospođa Eli Moe iz Norveške i gospodin Artashes Barkhanajyan iz Armenije.
Tijekom radionice sudionici su upoznati s metodama i praktičnim postupcima koji će im pomoći u prepoznavanju jezičnih potreba učenika u svom predmetu. Različitim tehnikama osposobljeni su za stvaranje nastavnih materijala, podršku učenicima u pisanju, govoru i čitanju i motiviranje učenika za samoprocjenu vlastitog učenja. U razdoblju između dva dana radionice, sudionici su potaknuti na provođenje studija slučaja koje su predstavili drugog dana radionice. Izlagači su predstavili svoje novo usvojene vještine u tematski različitim područjima i predmetima i njihove studije slučaja su prihvaćene s velikim entuzijazmom i uvažavanjem.16.12.2020
“Developing language awareness in subject classes”: new ECML resource website for teachers and teacher educators of non-linguistic subjects
The European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) of the Council of Europe is pleased to announce the completion in both English and French of its resource website “Developing language awareness in subject classes” (www.ecml.at/languageinsubjects), an output of the ECML programme “Languages at the heart of learning” (2016-2019).
These new resources are for teachers and teacher educators of what are traditionally considered to be “non-linguistic” subjects such as maths, biology, physics or history. Given that the academic success of each learner depends to a large extent on his or her mastery of the language of schooling, additional support is needed so that the specific discourse used in different subject classes becomes more accessible, particularly to vulnerable learners, including those from a migrant background.
The practical resources on the website help teachers to identify the linguistic needs of their learners and to reflect on language-sensitive approaches which can be applied when learning new subject content. Teachers can explore different ways to support their students with writing, speaking, and reading tasks by drawing on students’ first language in their teaching and creating appropriate teaching materials. We believe that these pedagogical approaches are of particular importance in addressing some of the social and linguistic divides present in our schools, divides which Covid-19 has only increased.
“Developing language awareness in subject classes”
(www.ecml.at/languageinsubjects)
Click on the links below to go directly to the different resources: