ECML training and consultancy for member states

Local organiser: Denisa Ďuranová, Methodology-Pedagogy Centre

ECML experts: Terry Lamb, United Kingdom; Mercè Bernaus, Spain

Participants: 14 (foreign language teachers, teachers of other subjects, teacher educators, teachers of the language of schooling, special educators)

“In the Slovak Republic, the Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshop was a great opportunity to promote a positive attitude towards linguistic and cultural diversity by developing an understanding of the principles and values underlying pluralistic and intercultural approaches. It allowed to improve the quality of teaching and to support the development of plurilingual competences of teachers by building on the linguistic and cultural diversity of their pupils. The participants raised their awareness of the value of plurilingualism and multilingual environment in order to achieve educational success and to support the inclusion of children with a migrant background. The workshop was focused on valuing all languages – challenging assumptions, plurilingualism as a resource in the language classrooms, benefitting from multilingualism across school subjects, democratic classrooms, scaffolding learning – supporting second language development across the curriculum, opening the school to plurilingual approaches, developing collaborative projects.  

Information about the Supporting Multilingual Classrooms workshop is available online on the National Institute for Education website: https://www.statpedu.sk/sk/vyskum/vzdelavacie-aktivity/podpora-multilingvalnych-tried-iii/”

 Denisa Ďuranová, local organiser, 29 June 2022

ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2022 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Date: 21st -22 June 2022
Venue: Riga Teika Secondary School, Aizkraukles Street 14, Riga, Latvia
Local organisation: Inga Linde, Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE)
ECML experts: Joseph Hopkins, Spain and Sarah Heiser, United Kingdom
Participants: 21 participants - 1 Spanish as a foreign language teacher; 20 English as a foreign language teachers from all regions of Latvia.
From all the participants – 2 were curriculum developers at a national level, 2 – test developers at a national level, 7 – regional methodological board leaders, 4 – teacher trainers and 1 pre-service teacher, University of Latvia student.

The ECML workshop “Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning” was held in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE) on 21 -22 June 2022 in Latvia. The workshop was conducted by the ECML experts, Sarah Heiser (UK) and Joseph Hopkins (Spain), and the 21 project participants, the majority of whom were teacher trainers and EFL methodological board leaders from all over Latvia, actively participated in the event.

The workshop provided invaluable insight into the ECML’s resources and there was a great balance between  theory and practice during the event. Project participants praised the ECML experts’ professionalism work and said that the knowledge and skills gained during the course were very useful and applicable for teachers in Latvia. The participants worked out a set of activities on implementing ICT in language teaching and learning that could be adapted to the needs of Latvian EFL teachers.

The project activities encouraged the teachers to develop a cooperation network, and they will participate in follow-up workshops and  present the activities developed during the ICT-REV workshop at the LATE 30^th Anniversary Conference on 17-18 August 2022.

Inga Linde, LATE President

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy for member States “Use of ICT in support of language learning and teaching - ICT-REV”

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Latvian version

Sadarbībā ar Latvijas Angļu valodas skolotāju asociāciju (LAVSA), 2022. gada 21.-22. jūnijā Latvijā notika Eiropas Modernā valodu centra (EMVC) projekts "IKT izmantošana valodu mācīšanas un mācīšanās atbalstam". Semināru vadīja EMVC eksperti Sāra Heizere (Sarah Heiser, Apvienotā Karaliste) un Džozefs Hopkins (Joseph Hopkins, Spānija), un tajā aktīvi piedalījās 21 projekta dalībnieks, no kuriem lielākā daļa ir skolotāji - tālākizglītotāji un valodu metodisko jomu koordinatori no Latvijas.

EMVC seminārs sniedza nenovērtējamu ieskatu EMVC resursos, un pasākuma laikā tika panākts lielisks līdzsvars starp teoriju un praksi. Projekta dalībnieki atzinīgi novērtē EMVC ekspertu profesionalitāti un darbu un atzīst, ka kursa laikā iegūtās zināšanas un prasmes ir ļoti noderīgas un pielietojamas. Dalībnieki ir izstrādājuši materiālu kopumu par IKT izmantošanu valodu mācīšanas un mācīšanās atbalstam, ko var pielāgot valodu skolotāju vajadzībām.

Projekta aktivitātes rosināja skolotājus izveidot sadarbības tīklu, un skolotāji piedalīsies turpmākajos semināros, kā arī  prezentēs projekta laikā izstrādātās aktivitātes Latvijas Angļu valodas skolotāju asociācijas 30. jubilejas konferencē 2022. gada 17.-18. augustā.

Inga Linde, Latvijas Angļu valodas skolotāju asociācijas prezidente

Local organiser: Rachel Bowden, Technische Universität Dresden

ECML experts: Brigitte Gerber, Switzerland; Chantal Muller, Belgium

Participants: 25 (foreign language teachers, teachers of other subjects, teacher educators, teachers of the language of schooling, school administrators, educational researchers)

“The first ever Supporting Mulitlingual Classrooms workshop in Germany was held on the 15^th and 16^th of June at Gymnasium Dresden Johannstadt and Friedrich Schiller Gymnasium Pirna. Participants included school leaders and teachers from GDJ and FSGP, for whom multilingual education is a central focus area; German as a second language teachers and language assistants from a number of other Dresden and Pirna schools; and teacher educators from TU Dresden.

The workshop aimed to enrich educators’ knowledge, attitudes and skills for working with multilingual students in their classrooms and schools. During the highly interactive workshop, participants reflected upon and shared their experiences, and engaged with research-based insights and practical activities. Focus areas included: multilingualism, language in all subjects, everyday language vs. academic language, language-sensitive teaching, resources for supporting multilingual classrooms.”

 Rachel Bowden, local organiser, 25 June 2022

ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2022 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Date: 9 and 10 June 2022
Venue: Foundation Tempus, Belgrade, Serbia
Local organiser: Milena Kostić, Foundation Tempus
ECML experts: Sarah Heiser and Uschi Stickler
Participants: 18 

The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe and the Foundation Tempus organised an onsite workshop entitled “Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning (ICT-REV)” on 9 and 10 June 2022.

The participants were foreign language teachers at different educational levels who teach the foreign languages offered within the formal education system in Serbia. The participants were introduced to the ICT tools and open educational resources which can be found here. They exchanged ideas on using them in teaching and integrating them into language learning based on sound pedagogical principles. The participants have developed practical skills which can help them in the professional context. They were introduced to other similar projects and initiatives of the ECML which can open new possibilities for professional development and advancement.

The workshop enabled the participants to discuss topics relevant to their work both with the ECML experts and with their colleagues from other schools and institutions in Serbia. They recognised the applicability of the tools presented in their own professional practice and appreciated the opportunity for getting new ideas and exchanging experiences.

The more detailed information about the project “Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning” which inspired this workshop, is available on the European Centre for Modern Languages website.

The photos from the workshop are available here.

Milena Kostić

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy for member States "Use of ICT in support of language learning and teaching - ICT-REV"

Serbian version

Европски центар за живе језике Савета Европе и Фондација Темпус организовали су 9. и 10. јуна 2022. године радионицу Употреба ИКТ као подршка настави и учењу језика (енгл. Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning (ICT-REV)).

Учесници на радионици били су наставници страних језика који се у оквиру формалног образовања у Србији уче као први и други страни језик на различитим образовним нивоима.

Они су се упознали за ИКТ алатима и ресурсима у отвореном приступу који се налазе овде, размењивали идеје о томе како да их примене у настави и интегришу у учење језика тако да почивају на адекватним педагошким принципима. Учесници су развили практичне вештине које им могу помоћи у професионалном контексту. Упознали су се са осталим сличним пројектима и иницијативама Центра који им могу отворити нове могућности у погледу професионалног развоја и усавршавања.

Радионица је учесницима обезбедила простор за дискусију о темама важним за њихов рад, како са стручњацима Европског центра за живе језике тако и са колегама из других установа у Србији. Учесници су препознали могућности примене представљених алата у сопственој пракси, а нарочито вредним су сматрали пружену прилику за стицање нових идеја и размену искустава.

Детаљније информације о иницијативи Употреба ИКТ као подршка настави и учењу језика, из којег је потекла ова радионица, доступне су на веб-сајту Европског центра за живе језике.

Овде можете погледати фотографије са радионице.

Milena Kostić

Photo credit: Foundation Tempus, Belgrade

Local organiser: Rodica Diana Cherciu, Ministry of Education      

ECML experts: Rita Jukneviciene, Lithuania; José Noijons, Netherlands

Participants: 26 (teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, foreign language inspectors)

“The Ministry of Education in partnership with the European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz organized a national training workshop dedicated to the specialists in the field of curricular development and evaluation, trainers and teachers, on the topic of alternative methods of continuous evaluation in the with the Common European Framework of reference for languages (CEFR) and the Companion Volume.

The event was held at the request of the Ministry of Education in Constanta, Romania as part of the Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG) initiative within the ECML - EU cooperation.

During the three workshop days, the participants, under the guidance of the RELANG team of experts, became familiar with relevant methods and techniques of continuous evaluation, ways to integrate assessment into the current teaching - learning process and design assessment tasks and test items in accordance with the CEFR descriptors. The focus was also on the use of self-assessment methods and techniques, the development of tasks for self-assessment and the valorisation of the evaluation feedback.

The acquired skills will support current curricular reform efforts which aim to turn assessment into a constant and continuous dimension of the teaching-learning process.”

Rodica Diana Cherciu, local organiser, 6 June 2022

ECML project website: RELANG – EU-ECML cooperation agreement 2022 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Dates: 20 May 2022, 26 May 2022, 27 May 2022
Format: online event
ECML experts: Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, Germany; Alexander Braddell, United Kingdom
Local organiser of the ECML training and consultancy: Matej Klemen, University of Ljubljana, Centre for Slovene as the Second and Foreign Language
Participants spread over three days: 26 teachers of Slovene as L2, experts in the field od L2, organisers of the courses for unemployed learners of Slovene as L2

Working language: English, Slovene

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How to support work-related language learning for adult migrants

In May 2022, the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language (Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana) hosted a workshop "How to support work-related language learning for adult migrants". The ECML experts, Alexander Braddell and Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, considered the specific challenges faced in Slovenia when working with unemployed people in the field of teaching and testing Slovenian as a target language. 

During the three-day workshop, teachers and organisers of Slovene courses, as well as other experts in the field of Slovene as a second and foreign language, reflected on three areas in particular: language for employability, learners and their motivation to learn the language, and a supportive environment where language learning can flourish. In addition to their expertise, the presenters offered participants the opportunity to reflect on their own work, as well as lots of materials, simple and effective ways to improve teaching and to help unemployed people to learn Slovene as a second language effectively. 

The workshop will undoubtedly contribute to improving teaching practices. It has offered a good starting point for reflection on professional training programmes for teachers teaching Slovene on courses for the unemployed, as well as a reflection on current and future practices in testing of Slovene as a non-first language for professional/employment purposes.

Matej Klemen, local organiser

• Resource website “Language for work – Tools for professional development”
• More information about the ECML Training and Consultancy offer “Language for work: how to support work-related language learning for adult migrants”

SLOVENE VERSION

Kako odraslim migrantom pomagati pri učenju jezika, povezanega z delom

Maja 2022 smo na Centru za slovenščino kot drugi in tuji jezik (Filozofska fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani) gostili delavnico z naslovom "Kako odraslim migrantom pomagati pri učenju jezika, povezanega z delom" ("How to support work-related language learning for adult migrants". Predavatelja, Alexander Braddell in Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, sta pri pripravi delavnice upoštevala specifične izzive, s katerimi se v Sloveniji soočamo pri delu z brezposelnimi osebami na področju poučevanja in preverjanja znanja slovenščine kot neprvega jezika.

Učitelji in organizatorji tečajev slovenščine ter drugi strokovnjaki s področja slovenščine kot drugega in tujega jezika smo v tridnevni delavnici razmišljali zlasti o treh področjih: o jeziku in zaposljivosti, o učencih in njihovi motivaciji za učenje jezika ter o vzpodbudnem okolju, v katerem se je jezika mogoče učiti. Predavatelja sta udeležencem poleg svojega strokovnega znanja ponudila priložnost za razmislek o lastnem delu, poleg tega pa tudi obilico gradiv, preprostih in učinkovitih načinov, kako izboljšati pouk in brezposelnim osebam pomagati pri učinkovitem učenju slovenščine kot drugega jezika. 

Delavnica bo nedvomno pripomogla k izboljšanju poučevalnih praks in bo izhodišče za razmislek o programih strokovnega usposabljanja za učitelje, ki poučujejo slovenščino na tečajih za brezposelne, ponudila pa je tudi razmislek o dosedanjih in prihodnjih praksah pri preverjanju znanja slovenščine kot neprvega jezika za poklicne/zaposlitvene namene.

Matej Klemen, local organiser