ECML training and consultancy for member states

An international TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY EVENT, facilitated on-line by experts from the European Centre for Modern Languages – Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, Alexander Braddell and Kerstin Sjösvärd, was held online on June 1 and 9 June 2022. During this event, researchers from universities in Slovakia, representatives of employers, labour administration, and civil society as well as members of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic were able to learn about the implications of extending the responsibility for migrant language learning beyond the individual learner and their teacher. The key speakers presented a coherent system of support for work-related language learning, beyond grammar and vocabulary teaching and proposed new strategies on how teachers and providers can promote employability through language learning that includes engaging, interactive learning activities helping to develop learners’ employability, as well as their language skills.

Local coordinator: Prof. Edita Hornáčková Klapicová, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra
Date and venue of the event: 1 and 9 June 2022, online
Participants:  19 (+2), national coordinator, local organiser
Background of the participants: stakeholders, university researchers and professors, employers and labour market administration, employer of the Ministry of Education in the Slovak Republic

Edita Hornackova Klapicova

Related links:

• 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”

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Slovak version

V dňoch 1. a 9. júna 2022 sa pod vedením expertov z Európskeho Centra Moderných Jazykov pani Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, pána Alexandra Braddella a pani Kerstin Sjösvärd uskutočnilo virtuálne medzinárodné ŠKOLIACE A KONZULTANČNÉ PODUJATIE. Výskumní pracovníci z univerzít na Slovensku, zástupcovia zamestnávateľov, úradov práce a občianskych združení, ako aj členovia Ministerstva školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu SR mali možnosť dozvedieť sa o následkoch šírenia zodpovednosti za učenie sa jazykov u migrantov nad rámec individuálneho študenta a jeho učiteľa. Kľúčoví rečníci predstavili koherentný systém podpory jazykového vzdelávania súvisiaceho s prácou nad rámec vyučovania gramatiky a slovnej zásoby. Predložili nové stratégie, ako môžu učitelia a poskytovatelia podporiť zamestnateľnosť prostredníctvom jazykového vzdelávania. Toto vzdelávanie by malo zahŕňať pútavé interaktívne aktivity,  ktoré napomáhajú rozvíjať jazykové znalosti študentov a zároveň podporujú ich zamestnateľnosť.

Edita Hornackova Klapicova

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"

Local organiser: Inga Linde, Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE) 

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

Participants: 24 (teacher trainers, EFL methodological board leaders from across Latvia)

"The RELANG workshop with a focus on the module on “Alternative, continuous methods of assessment in line with the CEFR and the Companion Volume”, under the ECML-EU cooperation agreement, was held in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE) on 13 – 15 June 2022 in Latvia.

The workshop was conducted by the ECML experts José Noijons (Netherlands) and Gábor Szábo (Hungary). 24 project participants - mostly teacher trainers and EFL methodological board leaders from all over Latvia – took part in the event.

Currently, Latvia is undergoing changes in the education system and a new competency-based curriculum is being introduced, emphasizing the introduction of the competency-based learning content and transversal skills. Therefore, the primary aim of the workshop was to raise the participants’ awareness and understanding of alternative and continuous methods of assessment, the most appropriate ways of their implementation and how to align the assessment with the CEFR and the Companion Volume.

The participants found the ECML workshop immensely beneficial. The positive environment of the workshop and the outstanding professionalism of the ECML experts was highly praised and valued by all the participants. The course content prepared the ground for numerous opportunities of group discussions and helped the teachers have a better understanding of how to develop appropriate tasks and assessment scales.

The project activities encouraged the teachers to develop a cooperation network - they will also participate in follow-up workshops. A set of materials on alternative and continuous methods of assessment that could be adapted to the needs of the EFL teachers was developed and will be presented at the LATE 30^th Anniversary Conference on 17 – 18 August 2022."

Inga Linde, local organiser, 30^th June 2022

ECML project website: RELANG – 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