Serbia: experts involved and ECML activities

Supporting Multilingual Classrooms: ECML national training workshop (6 – 7 June 2024, Belgrade, Serbia)

Local organiser: Milena Kostić & Tamara Đorđević, Foundation Tempus

ECML experts: Terry Lamb, Brigitte Gerber

Participants: 17 (teacher educators, mentors, teachers organising professional development activities, school leaders)

The workshop organised on 6 and 7 June 2024 in Belgrade brought together teacher educators, mentors, teachers organising professional development activities and school leaders from primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions across Serbia.

The workshop offered sessions involving individual and group work. The participants learnt about valuing plurilingual identities and attitudes towards diversity in the classroom, developing competences to support the learning of other languages in the classroom, how to support multilingualism across the curriculum and in the whole school. The importance of cooperation at the school level was emphasised with the aim of raising awareness of multilingualism and interculturality. The participants could apply the insights and knowledge they gained while creating joint projects.

The participants found it particularly useful that they could observe how students feel in the classrooms where they neither speak nor understand (well) the language of schooling and to reflect on and discuss the ways of integrating them. During the workshop, the moderators presented the activities in which – in addition to teachers – peers, parents and the wider community could also participate, as they are important in the process of welcoming foreign students and introducing them to the new language and culture.

Milena Kostić and Tamara Đorđević, local organisers, 18 June 2024

• ECML project website: Supporting multilingual classrooms, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2024 “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: Milena Kostić, Tempus Foundation, Serbia.
ECML experts: Lea Štiberc (Slovenia) and Kristin Brogan (Ireland)
Number of participants: 24.

The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe and the Tempus Foundation organised an online workshop entitled “Learning environments where modern languages flourish” on 4 November and 9 December 2021. Between these two events the participants worked in smaller teams while guided by the workshop trainers. Experts in the field of teaching and learning languages from primary and general and vocational secondary schools participated in the workshop, i.e. two or three member teams which represented these schools. 

The goal of the workshop was to help teams create action plans that will be implemented in schools after the workshop to establish a language-friendly environment where foreign languages are taught in a comprehensive way, either as separate subjects or through integration into subjects.

During the workshop the participants had an opportunity to learn about the elements of learning environments where modern languages flourish, to learn how to use the matrix for defining challenges in the context of language teaching and learning and to use the ‘TrEOL’ tool to identify their challenges in terms of strengths and priorities in a specific language context – with the aim to create more easily and more successfully an action plan taking a whole-school approach in learning languages.

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

The more detailed information about the project “Learning environments where modern languages flourish”, which inspired this workshop, is available on the European Centre for Modern Languages website where one can also find all the resources and tools related to the topic.

Milena Kostić, local organiser 

• More information about the training and consultancy offer of the ECML for member states “Setting up learning environments where modern languages flourish (EOL)”

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 4 November 2021

  9 December 2021

News item in Serbian

Одржана радионица: Окружења која подстичу учење живих језика

Европски центар за живе језике Савета Европе и Фондација Темпус организовали су 4. новембра и 9. децембра 2021. године онлајн радионицу под називом „Окружења која подстичу учење живих језика“. У периоду између ова два догађаја учесници су радили у мањим тимовима уз консултације са водитељима радионице. Догађај је био намењен стручњацима у области наставе и учења страних језика из основних школа и средњих школа општег и стручног усмерења, односно двочланим или трочланим тимовима који су представљали ове школе. 

Циљ радионице био је да помогне тимовима да развију акционе планове које ће након радионице имплементирати у својим школама како би развијали окружење у којем се страни језици уче на свеобухватан начин, самостално и кроз друге предмете. 

Током радионице учесници су имали прилике да се упознају са елементима окружења које је подстицајно за учење језика, да науче да користе матрицу за дефинисање изазова у контексту наставе и учења језика, као и алат TrEOL за дефинисање јаких страна и приоритета специфичног језичког контекста, све са циљем лакшег и успешнијег састављања акционог плана за свеобухватно учење језика на нивоу школе.

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 пројекту „Окружења која подстичу учење живих језика“, из којег је потекла ова радионица, доступне су на веб-сајту Европског центра за живе језике, где се налазе и ресурси везани за ову тему који могу користити стручњацима у области наставе и учења страних језика.

Milena Kostić

Date and venue: 4-6 November 2020; online (Serbia)
Local organisation: Tamara Đorđević, Language Policy Officer, Education Policies and Career Guidance and Counselling Unit, FOUNDATION TEMPUS, Belgrade, Serbia
ECML experts: Richard Rossner, UK; Lukas Bleichenbacher, Switzerland
Participants: 26 university teachers working in initial teacher education who are also involved in curriculum/syllabus development and adaptation

The online ECML workshop "Teacher competences for languages in education" was held on 4-6 November 2020 in cooperation with the Foundation Tempus. The participants were language professionals in Serbia with a background in language teaching methodology who work in initial teacher education.

The main aims of the workshop were to familiarise participants with the resources developed through the ECML project A guide to teacher competences for languages in education, to assist them in exploring their relevance to teacher education in Serbia and in drawing on the resources when reviewing teacher education curricula and syllabi.

During the workshop, the participants had the opportunity to explore the ECML Catalogue of frameworks and Taxonomy of teacher competences for languages in education, as well as to discuss teacher education curriculum review and examples of good practice in Serbia and Europe. Important topics addressed at the event also included teaching practice in initial teacher education and (self-)assessment of teacher competences.

The workshop enabled the participants to discuss topics relevant to their work both with the ECML experts and with their colleagues from other universities. They recognised the applicability of teacher competence frameworks and taxonomy in their own professional practice and welcome dthe opportunity to gain new insights and ideas as well as exchange experience.

Author: Tamara Đorđević

• More information about the ECML training and consultancy offer "Teacher competences for languages in education" for member states 

Article in Serbian:

Онлајн радионица Европског центра за живе језике: Компетенције наставника језика

Европски центар за живе језике Савета Европе и Фондација Темпус организовали су од 4. до 6. новембра 2020. године онлајн радионицу под називом „Компетенције наставника језика“. Догађај је био намењен стручњацима у области методике наставе страних језика који се баве иницијалним образовањем наставника.

Главни циљеви радионице били су упознавање са ресурсима пројекта „Водич за компетенције наставника језика“ спроведеног у оквиру Европског центра за живе језике, као и испитивање релевантности ових инструмената у нашем контексту и њихове употребе при ревидирању планова и програма за образовање наставника.

Током радионице учесници су имали прилике да истраже Каталог оквира и Таксономију компетенција наставника језика, као и да дискутују о приступима ревизији планова и програма за образовање наставника и примерима добре праксе у Србији и Европи. Међу важним темама радионице били су и методичка пракса у иницијалном образовању наставника и (само)оцењивање компетенција наставника.

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 инструмената у сопственој пракси, а нарочито вредним су сматрали пружену прилику за стицање нових идеја и размену искустава.

Детаљније информације о пројекту „Водич за компетенције наставника језика“, из којег је потекла ова радионица, доступне су на веб-сајту Европског центра за живе језике, где се налазе и ресурси везани за ову тему који могу користити стручњацима у области методике наставе али и будућим наставницима.

Author: Tamara Đorđević

Belgrade Conference

The final preparations are being done now for the ProSign / efsli  October conference in Belgrade. It is still possible to register, so please do so as soon as possible in order to gain insights into the newest developments of Sign Language Teaching and Pedagogy! The preliminary programme is available also on the website.

Greece embraces CEFR for sign language teaching

More than 25 Deaf GSL teachers and teachers-to-be from all over Greece have actively enrolled in the training program for CEFR levels in the teaching of sign languages. Added to these are 7 hearing staff and interpreters of sign language schools that need to be familiar with these concepts / methodology. Since 23rd July they have been studying the CEFR material made available in GSL and Greek, and have started uploading signed exercises according to CEFR on our platform, to be monitored between Chrissostomos Papaspirou, Galini Sapountzaky, the Association of GSL-tutors and discussed with all of the participants in a workshop between 20-26 August 2018. ECML ProSign 2 Expert Team members Christian Rathmann and Beppie van den Bogaerde are involved in the program.

Dissemination of CEFR for Sign Languages

Christian Rathmann (Coordinator of Pro-Sign 2) gave one of three talks at a conference in Tabriz, Iran in early August which was organised by the Deaf Iranian NGO Cooperation Network. This talk focused on the importance of teaching Sign Language as L2 for the implementation of UNCPRD and introduced the competency levels of CEFR for Sign Languages.

At the upcoming SIGN9 conference at the University of Warsaw on 22-25 August 2018 next (see http://sign9.uw.edu.pl/en/), Thomas Geissler and Christian Rathmann are going to share current work on "CEFR-based Sign Language Assessment: A Multistage Procedure and Error Analysis".

 The Pro-Sign 2 project team:
Christian Rathmann (coordinator), Tobias Haug, Lorraine Leeson, Beppie van den Bogaerde

• ECML project website "Pro-Sign 2 - Promoting excellence in sign language instruction" (available in English, French and sign language)

Tobias Haug reports that the University of Applied Science of Special Needs Education (HfH, Zurich, Switzerland) has set up a CEFR¹ working group to align the existing Swiss German Sign Language curricular to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The outputs of the ECML "Pro-Sign project - Promoting excellence in sign language instruction" are a very important resource for this process. The working group, led by Tobias Haug, is also in close cooperation with other stakeholders, mostly with the Swiss Deaf Federation.

In Ireland, Lorraine Leeson and Carmel Grehan, along with student ISL² teachers Anita Nolan and Eimear Mowlds, have been working on the European Language Portfolio (ELP) piloting with students at Trinity College Dublin. They have talked with students at three points over the course of this academic year about their experiences of using the pilot ELP and explored their thoughts on its usefulness.

At Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, Christian Rathmann and Thomas Geissler have been working on the implementation of ELP with the students enrolled in BA Deaf Studies. Two focus groups have been arranged, and the experiences were shared. Moreover, the team at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has been working on sign language assessment in three areas: production, reception and interaction. Another focus group has been arranged as well.

Colleagues at both institutions are analysing the data to prepare for the Pro-Sign II network meeting in Graz (Austria, 5-6 April 2018). The project team is very much looking forward to telling you about our progress at the network meeting!

The Sign Language Curriculum in Deaf Studies at Humboldt University, Germany, was revamped and is now aligned with the CEFR.

Third, the preparations of the Pro-Sign Conference in Belgrade, Serbia, include the release of a "Save the date" announcement, and the call for papers will be distributed soon.

In Toronto, Canada, a CEFR workshop has been delivered by Christian Rathmann (21-24 February 2018). 

Beppie van den Bogaerde represented the Pro-Sign II expert team at an EALTA organised event, VIth EALTA CEFR SIG in Dublin, Ireland, on 27 January 2018, “The CEFR Companion Volume with new descriptors: uses and implications for language testing and assessment”. A report will be published soon, drafted by Prof. Dr. David Little.

The Pro-Sign II project team:
Christian Rathmann (coordinator), Tobias Haug, Lorraine Leeson, Beppie van den Bogaerde

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1 CEFR: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment
2 ISL: Irish Sign Language
3 ELP: European Language Portfolio

Save the date!
The 3rd PRO-Sign Conference will be held at the School of Philology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, on 19-20 October 2018. A call for proposals and further details will be announced in March 2018.

The project is developing a professionally-oriented competency framework for sign language teachers and will provide B2 level materials and learning activities from different European sign languages. They will also create a European Language Portfolio (ELP) that takes account of any modality specific requirements for sign languages.

• Conference announcement
• Pro-Sign II project website available in sign language, English and French
• Related ECML publication available in Czech, English, Estonian, German and Icelandic (2015): Sign languages and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Common reference level descriptors

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"

The QualiRom Seminar gathered participants involved in the education of Roma pupils. This rather heterogeneous group gathered:

• representatives of Мinistries and Institutes dealing with educational policies, developing curricula, evaluation of the quality of textbooks, professional development of teachers and evaluation of the quality of education

• teachers and assistants working directly in schools with Roma children

• representatives of non-governmental organizations dealing with Roma education and

• Roma students and teachers working at universities that educate teaching staff

It was essential to have such a heterogeneous group of participants from all levels so that the document presented by professors David Little and Jan Hero are used in the best possible way at all levels and fields of activity. The lecturers also presented the theoretical side of the document, the purpose and the multiple possibilities of its application, as well as the examples of good practice. Through the workshops, the lecturers tried to make each participant find the points in the document that is relevant to their work domain – from the descriptors that facilitate the development of curricula and testing to the specific teaching examples that can be directly applied in teaching and working with Roma children.

Participants used this opportunity to present strengths and weaknesses of their own teaching practices and they showed satisfaction that they could receive good advice and suggestions for teaching, as well as the possibility to develop better cooperation with everyone involved in Roma education. The participants were also satisfied to receive numerous materials at the seminar, especially the document prepared by the team and translated into the Serbian language and two dialects of the Romani language.

Training and consultancy website

On the first day, the ICT-REV team members concentrated their discussions on the ECML inventory of ICT tools and open educational resources. They revised the recent changes implemented in the inventory and discussed the implementation of short and long-term measures with the ECML to ensure the ongoing updating and guaranteed quality control of the inventory. 

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

We are pleased to announce that Serbia became the 33rd member state of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the European Centre for Modern Languages on 1 May 2013.

The responsibility for language education in Serbia is on Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development. This Ministry covers all levels of education.

Ms Vesna Fila, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, is the Serbian representative in the ECML Governing Board.

• ECML member states: English - French
  
• ECML in the Council of Europe: English - French
• Serbia and the Council of Europe: English - French - German - Italian - Russian