Testing and assessment
Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG)

In response to the call for the 2022 round of “RELANG” and “Supporting Multilingual Classrooms” national workshops, a total of 27 requests from EU and ECML member states were received.
Events will take place between mid-March and mid-December 2022 in the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland – with slots for one-two further workshops still to be determined.

RELANG focuses on relating foreign/second language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms focuses on the linguistic integration of migrant learners in schools across Europe.

These activities take place within the 9th edition of the European Commission – ECML joint action on Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning.

The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe together with the European Commission are launching a new round of RELANG and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshops within the joint action on Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning. RELANG focuses on relating foreign/second language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms focuses on the linguistic integration of migrant learners in schools across Europe.

The activities are scheduled to take place between mid-March and mid-December 2022, each initiative offering up to 9 national workshops during this period. In view of the ongoing pandemic, workshops will be delivered in a combination of online and face-to-face formats.

The call is open to current European Union member states and the additional member states of the ECML until 16 February 2022.

For further information, please contact Adelina Rosca (adelina.rosca@ecml.at), the ECML-EU cooperation agreement coordinator.

Local organiser: Ludmilla Stefani, Quality Assurance Agency in Pre-University Education

ECML experts: Rita Juknevičienė, Lithuania; José Noijons, the Netherlands

Participants: 26 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, curriculum developers, language inspectors, policymakers)

“The workshop was held in the context of the RELANG initiative (part of the ECML-EU cooperation agreement) in cooperation with QAAPUE (Quality Assurance Agency in Pre-University Education), with a focus on the module ‘Relating existing language examinations to the common European reference levels of language proficiency: promoting quality assurance in education and facilitating mobility’. It was a continuation of an earlier RELANG workshop given in 2018 and 2019 on ‘Relating existing tests and examinations to the CEFR and its Companion Volume.’

The participants in the workshop were policy makers, curricula developers, trainers, item writers and test developers and language teachers (English, French, German, Italian, Albanian and Greek).

The aims of this follow-up workshop were as follows:

• raising the awareness of language testers and examiners, item writers and curriculum developers, policy makers of the need of including speaking and listening in the national exams and further relating existing tests and examinations to the CEFR and its Companion Volume as a must for quality assurance in assessment and national exams.
• participants will be introduced to the principles of valid and reliable language testing (listening and speaking elements) in relation to the CEFR model of language use as well as to the principles of linking examinations to the CEFR and its Companion Volume.
• support materials will be developed and adopted to the specific needs of the Center for Education Services (CES).

Specific results:

• the CES will be supported to adopt tests and Examinations in relation to CEFR for the four language skills.
• the CES expert team will continue to train teacher trainers on how to develop listening and speaking items and link the whole process of assessment to the CEFR and its Companion Volume.
• tests templates will be designed in relation to the CEFR and its companion for school and classroom use.”

Ludmilla Stefani, local organiser, 12 November 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Rodica Diana Cherciu, Ministry of Education and Research      

ECML experts: José Noijons, the Netherlands

Participants: 24 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, curriculum developers, language inspectors)

“In the context of the visible reform of the Romanian educational system, the workshop entitled ‘Literature and creative texts: how to practice and test literature in line with the CEFR and the Companion Volume’ stood for an authentically new shift in the approach to the CEFR standards in relation to literature. What stirred the interest of the attendees was the way literature and especially the creative response could be used in the process of reaching the standards associated to the linguistic levels.

At the same time, the integrative manner of presenting the main topics put forth challenging connections, ranging from envisioning and valuing literature, as part of curriculum, in CEFR terms, to making up learning tasks grounded on literary texts to be further assessed and rated according to adequate scales.

The seminar proved to be a relevant exercise of curriculum design and assessment appreciated by all the participants who unanimously agreed on the workshop novelty and efficiency and recommended this course to the foreign language teachers regardless of the language taught.” 

Rodica Diana Cherciu, local organiser, 3 November 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Suzana Bitenc Peharc, The National Examinations Centre

ECML experts: Evelyne Bérard, France; Jana Bérešová, Slovak Republic

Participants: 17 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, policymakers, decision-takers)

“The RELANG workshop was held in Ljubljana on 30 September – 1 October 2021. Participants – members of national testing committees for Vocational Matura and advisors from the National Examinations Centre - gathered in the hotel and were listening to the online presentations via Zoom. The aim of the workshop to offer item writers at Vocational Matura specialized training in preparing test specifications and tasks for listening test in accordance with the CEFR at B1 level.

The consultants presented the principles of constructing test specifications and listening tasks in accordance with the CEFR descriptors. They pointed out the importance of reliability and validity of language testing and text selection criteria. Later on, the participants divided into three groups: English, German and Italian and started preparing test specifications and tasks for listening test. Special attention was paid to the selection of relevant and appropriate recordings and task types. At the end, groups presented their work and discussed the most important issues in constructing listening tasks.

The workshop was extremely useful for our future work, and we are certain that the participants will use acquired knowledge to prepare better language test in relation to the CEFR.”

Suzana Bitenc Peharc, local organiser, 12 October 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Anna Schönbach, Pädagogisches Landesinstitut Rheinland-Pfalz

ECML experts: José Noijons, the Netherlands

Participants: 22 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers; curriculum developers, language inspectors, policymakers)

“Our group of teaching advisors, teacher trainers and representatives of decision-makers is grateful for this hybrid workshop that informed us about the necessity of setting priorities in the selection of descriptors contained in the CEFR Companion Volume (CV). It helped us to focus on the action-oriented approach that is aiming at supporting the learner as a social agent. As every successful action requires focus, teaching by objective in the wording of can-do-statements in authentic settings becomes particularly important. This workshop has helped the experts to develop a deeper understanding of the role of the social dimension in languages, which also includes plurilingualism and the importance of competences related to the digital age. Our experience from exchanging ideas in these workshops has shown that the best guidance for teachers, teacher trainers can be achieved through this process of focusing and setting priorities.

Another benefit was enabling our experts to disseminate ideas about the multiple dimensions of mediation. Our suggestions on intercultural activities, plurilinguistic tasks and the integration of transferable skills in our teaching could be updated and consolidated. We became aware of differences between assessment practices and teaching practices, which has a huge potential of contributing to the implementation of an action-oriented and task-based approach in teaching, learning and assessment and thus make teaching and assessment more relevant to the learner. Tasks, activities and scenarios can now be rendered more meaningful to the learner – both in teaching and assessment. Thank you very much for the inspiring input and an opportunity of bringing us together and exchanging ideas.”

Anna Schönbach, local organiser, 9 October 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Diana Saccardo, Ministry of Education    

ECML experts: Rita Juknevičienė, Lithuania; José Noijons, the Netherlands

Participants: 19 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, language inspectors)

“The RELANG workshop dealt with the following topics: (a) to teach and test literature through reading, analysing and interpreting literary texts including also mediation activities, (b) to teach and test personal responses to literary texts.

The workshop was held online due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, however, thanks to the participatory and interactive methodology employed by the two very experienced trainers and the efficient organization, the participants were immersed in a comfortable learning environment which increased their motivation, stimulated their involvement and created a collaborative working climate.

The participants had the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the Companion Volume descriptors relating to literary texts and mediation, to reflect on their use in relation to the National Guidelines of the upper secondary general education pathways and the Guidelines of the Technical and Vocational Institutes and to develop tasks by working in groups. The composition of the group with specialists of various languages also inspired interesting reflections on plurilingualism.

The two trainers who conducted the workshop, Rita Juknevičienė and José Noijons, were very experienced both on the topics covered and on leading groups which made the participants ready for a fruitful interaction. The organization of a RELANG workshop is highly recommended for the opportunity to develop new knowledge and skills thanks to the stimuli offered and sharing of ideas between participants and between participants and trainers.”

Diana Saccardo, local organiser, 26 September 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Ana Xavier, Directorate General for Education

ECML experts: Evelyne Bérard, France; Jana Bérešová, Slovakia

Participants: 24 (teachers of English, French, German and Spanish, representatives of language teacher associations at national level and teacher training centres at regional level, and professionals involved in curriculum development and external assessment)

“The Directorate-General for Education (DGE) of the Ministry of Education (ME), will promote the 3^rd edition of the workshop entitled “Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG) – Exploring ways to test mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual skills in the classroom”.

In this workshop, participants will focus on the new mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual skills of the recently published Companion Volume, a complementary document to the European Framework of Reference for Languages. Accordingly, participants will be asked to analyse to what extent the [Portuguese] foreign language curricula are aligned with these skills. Classroom mediation activities will be explored as well as assessment.

This workshop has been successfully promoted in different EU Member States since 2013. For the third time, Portugal, represented by the Directorate-General for Education/Ministry of Education, will be one of the European countries which have accepted the challenge to carry out this initiative led by ECML foreign language assessment experts.

This is an important initiative for primary and secondary education at national level, where the participants will deepen and, in the short term, multiply their knowledge of the principles of foreign language assessment, which must be valid, reliable and aligned with the European language model. The current edition will include French, English, German and Spanish as a Foreign Language teachers, teacher trainers, test developers and curriculum developers.”

Ana Xavier, local organiser, 24 September 2021

Local organiser: Martina Dočekalová, Secondary School of Arts and Crafts, Uherské Hradiště

ECML experts: Gábor Szabó, Huhngary; Jana Bérešová, Slovakia

Participants: 20 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, policymakers)

“The RELANG workshop focusing on the module ‘Constructing valid language tests and examinations based on the CEFR and its Companion Volume’ was a fabulous opportunity to approach language testing from the perspective of achieved learners’ skills and levels as the CEFR and its Companion Volume defines them. It also helped deepen the communication among various stakeholders involved in the language testing in the Czech Republic.

During the workshop, participants had an excellent opportunity to write and discuss items similar to those in live tests. Those discussions were insightful and provided a basis for a deeper understanding of the languages being tested at the Czech maturita exams (English, German, French, Spanish, and Russian). Apart from the official discussions and lectures, the workshop offered space for personal meetings and informal talks, and thus it can be said it is sure to enhance further cooperation among participants. Current in-service teachers and teacher trainees will also benefit from the workshop as the participants will offer similar workshops throughout Czechia.”

Martina Dočekalová, local organiser, 22 September 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Davor Černi, Education and Teacher Training Agency   

ECML experts: Rita Juknevičienė, Lithuania; Gábor Szabó, Hungary

Participants: 20 (advisors, teachers, test creators, test evaluators)

“Following the implementation of the new foreign language curricula as a part of the curricular reform being carried out in Croatia, in the school year 2020/2021, mediation was introduced into 11^th year classrooms of Croatian secondary schools. As it is a completely new grading element Croatian foreign language teachers have to deal with, it is considered to be essential to allow as many of the teachers to develop skills in this area as possible. Based on previous experience we had in cooperation with the ECML – EC RELANG project, Relating existing language examinations to the common European reference levels of language proficiency: promoting quality assurance in education and facilitating mobility was recognized as one of the resources that can be used to strengthen and improve the competences of Croatian language teachers. In the context of the above-mentioned, Module 1 Exploring ways to test mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual skills in the classroom was chosen as the most suitable tool to help us achieve given goals and outcomes. In a three-day workshop, the ECML consultants gave excellent guidance passing on both theoretical and practical knowledge to participants of this workshop, This will  facilitate the  use of the CEFR Companion Volume as a resource for an increased focus on mediation and on pluricultural/plurilingual skills, and to development of skills in order for them to satisfy assessment needs regarding competences and attitudes that help learners to develop skills to act as critical intercultural individuals and citizens.”

    Davor Černi, local organiser, 13 July 2021

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2020-2021 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local coordinators from 11 countries (Albania, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain) met with the project team in an online meeting on 22 March 2021 to advance preparations for national workshops to be hosted on the themes of Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG). 

The series of events targeting practitioners, multipliers and administrators at national level will take place between April and mid-December 2021. In view of the ongoing pandemic, a number of the workshops will be delivered online, with the possibility of face-to-face events from late summer/autumn depending upon the situation.

The RELANG initiative, providing training to Member States of the European Union and the European Centre for Modern Languages, is organised through a joint cooperation action with the European Commission - first launched in 2013. The action will offer training and consultancy over the next year to around 500 language professionals within national systems.

Further details on the events and how to participate will be made available on the RELANG website.

The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe together with the European Commission are pleased to announce the launch of a new round of RELANG and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshops within the joint action on Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning. RELANG focuses on relating foreign/second language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms focuses on the linguistic integration of migrant learners in schools across Europe.

The activities are scheduled to take place between mid-March and mid-December 2021, each initiative offering up to 9 national workshops during this period. In view of the ongoing pandemic, workshops will be delivered online for the foreseeable future.

The call is open to current European Union member states and the additional member states of the ECML until 19 February 2021.

For further information on how to request a workshop, please contact Adelina Rosca (adelina.rosca@ecml.at), the ECML-EC cooperation agreement coordinator.

Local organiser: Tamara Djordjevic, Foundation Tempus  

ECML experts: José Noijons, the Netherlands; Evelyne Bérard, France

Participants: 17 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, policymakers, decision-takers)

Programme

“The online RELANG workshop on Constructing valid language tests and examinations based on the CEFR and its Companion Volume was held on 2-4 September 2020 in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the Foundation Tempus. The participants were language professionals in Serbia with a background in teaching and testing English, French, German and Russian as a foreign language.

The main aims of the workshop were for the participants to gain a deeper insight into the CEFR and its Companion Volume and learn how to exploit them as a tool in language teaching and assessment, as well as to get practical advice on how to define and/or revise learning outcomes and construct speaking, listening, reading and writing tasks in line with the CEFR.

The topics addressed during the workshop included the CEFR concept of language use, methods of linking tests to the CEFR, aligning CEFR descriptors to Serbian learning outcomes, development of valid items related to the CEFR, and assessment.

The participants recognised the importance of relating locally/nationally developed tests of foreign languages to the CEFR, especially in the context of the reformed curricula in Serbia focusing on outcome-based teaching. The workshop offered many opportunities for the participants to increase their awareness of good testing practice and to reflect on the currently used tests of foreign languages in a new light.”

Tamara Djordjevic, local organiser, 18 September 2020

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

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"

Local organiser: Kamila Kolmašová, National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic

ECML experts: Gábor Szabó, Hungary; Jana Bérešová, Slovak Republic

Participants: 21 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers, teacher trainers and curriculum developers of Czech as a foreign (second) language)

Programme

“The workshop focusing on the RELANG module “Applying the CEFR and new Companion Volume to the development of tests of second language competence” was held on 4-6 February 2020 in Prague. The participants were comprised of language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers, teacher trainers and curriculum developers of Czech as a foreign (second) language both for adult migrants and migrant pupils.

During the event the participants were familiarised with the main new elements within the Companion Volume which are descriptor scales for mediation and plurilingual/pluricultural competence, an extended definition of “plus levels” and a new “Pre-A1 level”, a more elaborate description of listening and reading in the existing scales and further developing the description at A1 and at the C levels. The structure of the workshop was carefully prepared according to participants’ needs and requirements with a special focus on evaluation of productive skills, revision of learning outcomes including the linking to relevant CEFR levels, revision of tasks and development of valid items related to the CEFR.

The whole workshop was a great opportunity for participants to provide feedback on forthcoming or already existing language tests or curricula for Czech as foreign (second) language. Participants could exchange their ideas within a format of practical or expert discussions and get to know some issues in the field of language testing much better and - last but not least - could gain deeper knowledge of language testing.”

Kamila Kolmašová, local organiser, 20 February 2020

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

Local organiser: Kati Bakradze, Estonian Association of Foreign Language Teachers    

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

Participants: 27 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, curriculum developers, policymakers and decision-takers)

Programme

A three-day RELANG training event, was offered by the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and the Estonian Foreign Language Teachers’ Association, and co-funded by the European Commission. The workshop module “Exploring ways to test mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual skills in the classroom” brought together teachers of foreign languages, university lecturers, teacher trainers, decision makers and other experts in language education. Participants worked with mediation and pluricultural and plurilingual scales in the CEFR Companion Volume and the nuances of the Estonian national curricula. After familiarising themselves with the documents and scales, participants constructed mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual tasks as well as developed assessment grids for them. This is an important addition to the process of language acquisition as well as assessment (both summative and formative), and the workshop helped the participants in introducing the concept of mediation to the Estonian context.

Kati Bakradze, local organiser, 11 March 2020

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

Given the current situation around the Coronavirus, the RELANG and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshops under the ECML-EU cooperation initially scheduled for the period March-June 2020 had to be postponed until autumn. The experts and the local coordinators are working together to find new dates for the training workshops. Please visit the ECML website and the online calendar for updates.

Local coordinators from 9 countries (Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Serbia, Sweden) met with the project team at the ECML on 2-3 October to  advance preparations for national workshops to be hosted  on the theme of Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG).  The series of events targeting practitioners, multipliers and administrators at national level will take place between January and September 2020.

The RELANG initiative, providing training to Member States of the European Union and the European Centre for Modern Languages, is organised through a joint cooperation action with the European Commission - first launched in 2013 (www.ecml.at/ec-cooperation). The action will offer training and consultancy over the next year to around 500 language professionals within national systems.

Further details on the events and how to participate will be made available on the RELANG website.

In September 2019, the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, plan to launch another round of activity within the joint action on Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning.

The action includes two initiatives: RELANG and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms. RELANG focuses on relating foreign/second language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms focuses on the linguistic integration of migrant learners in schools across Europe. The activities are scheduled to take place from 21 September 2019 to 20 September 2020, each initiative offering up to 9 national workshops during this period.

The call is open to current European Union member states and the additional member states of the ECML until 5 July 2019.

For further information, please contact Adelina Rosca (adelina.rosca@ecml.at), the ECML-EC cooperation agreement coordinator.

Local organiser: Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska, Aarhus University

ECML experts: Rita Juknevičienė, Lithuania; Gábor Szabó, Hungary

Participants: 17; teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, item writers

On 12-13 March 2019, the ECML Contact Point Denmark - The Danish National Centre for Foreign Languages - invited ECML experts in Copenhagen to provide a training and consultancy on Relating foreign language curricula to Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG). The aim of the training and consultancy activity using RELANG tools was to improve the alignment of Danish tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and Companion Volume. The focus was in particular on tests and examinations in upper secondary schools.

The participants (language teachers at university and university college, primary, secondary and upper secondary school and language consultants at the Ministry of Education) were inspired and received inspiration and clear directions on how to relate existing Danish tests and examinations to CEFR levels and descriptors. Participants gained a deeper knowledge of CEFR descriptors and received practical guidance on how to revise learning outcomes and link them to relevant CEFR levels. Participants worked on all linking phases: familiarization, specification, standardization and benchmarking. The participants were also asked to develop valid exams items for oral and written production related to the CEFR and Companion Volume. In addition, external assessment materials provided by the Danish participants and ECML experts were discussed during the training and the participants tried to link them to the CEFR levels. Some of the RELANG materials will be adapted/modified to fit a particular institutional context. 

Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska, local organiser

25 March 2019

• Programme
• ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2018-2019 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"