News
12.08.2025
DECODE network meeting: discussing the importance of developing competences for democratic culture (CDC) in young learners through language education
Four DECODE project team members and their ECML consultant met with 19 teacher educators, teachers and researchers at the network meeting which was held at the ECML in Graz, Austria, on 24-25 June 2025. The participants were from Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
During the two-day meeting, participants explored how to foster competences for democratic culture (CDC) in young learners through language education. On the first day, the team introduced the CDC model and discussed challenges in language education, the role of CEFR tools, and principles for developing CDC-related materials. A template for CDC materials was presented, and participants shared best practices and identified teachers’ needs. On the second day, they collaborated in groups to create and present initial CDC teaching materials, offering feedback on the template. Five of the network participants also shared highly interesting testimonials (see below) about CDC’s relevance in their professional contexts and the value of the DECODE project. The meeting strengthened understanding of CDC and highlighted the importance of collaboration for successful implementation of the DECODE project.
Authors: Emina Jelešković, Martina Kramar
- ECML project website “Developing competences for democratic culture for young learners through language education” (2024-26) (available in English and German): www.ecml.at/decode
- Video testimonials of network participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Germany, Ireland, and Sweden: see Recent developments
17.12.2024
National Training Workshop “Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning (ICT-REV)” (8-9 November 2024, St. Gallen, Switzerland)
On November 8 and 9, 2024, employees of cantonal education administrations, language lecturers from various universities of teacher education in Switzerland, teachers at kindergarten, primary and lower secondary level as well as internship supervisors met for a workshop in St. Gallen. The workshop was organized and held in close cooperation with the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML).
The three-person team of experts showed the participants concrete ways in which teachers and learners can be guided and supported so that they can use information and communication technologies in a pedagogically meaningful way in foreign language lessons and engage in virtual exchange with learners from other schools.
In order to achieve this goal, the participants were given ample opportunity on the first day to become aware of the available technologies and to critically reflect on their use in the classroom. Particular attention was paid to the question of their didactic added value.
The second day was used to develop concrete and immediately applicable learning activities. The group work enabled creative collaboration and the peer reviews led to an optimization of the products. These are available to all course participants via the course platform.
The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), which will also disseminate the learning activities developed on its platform. The workshop was also financially supported by the ECML and the European Commission. The Institute for Linguistic and Literary Education (ISLB-PHSG) took on the role of local organization in order to provide an ideal setting for the course leaders and participants. The experts came from the ICT-REV project of the ESFZ. The participants were approached and recruited by the ISLB-PHSG. An important criterion was the participants' ability to disseminate the knowledge they had acquired after the workshop. This can be done through use in courses, mentoring, internal teacher training or as part of continuing education programs in the cantons.
News on the PHSG website: https://www.phsg.ch/de/news/workshop-zu-digitalen-tools-fuer-das-sprachenlehren-und-lernen.
German version:
Am 8. und 9. November 2024 trafen sich Mitarbeitende kantonaler Bildungsverwaltungen, Sprachendozierende verschiedener Pädagogischen Hochschulen der Schweiz, Lehrpersonen der Kindergarten- und Primar- und der Sekundarstufe I sowie Praktikumsleitungen zu einem Workshop in St. Gallen. Der Workshop wurde in enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem Europäischen Fremdsprachenzentrum des Europarats (EFSZ) organisiert und durchgeführt.
Das dreiköpfige Expert:innenteam zeigte den Teilnehmenden konkrete Möglichkeiten auf, wie Lehrpersonen bzw. Lernende angeleitet und unterstützt werden können, damit diese Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien pädagogisch sinnvoll im Fremdsprachenunterricht einsetzen und mit Lernenden anderer Schulen in einen virtuellen Austausch gelangen können.
Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wurde den Teilnehmenden am ersten Tag reichlich Gelegenheit geboten, sich der verfügbaren Technologien bewusst zu werden und deren Einsatz im Unterricht kritisch zu reflektieren. Ein besonderes Augenmerk wurde dabei auf die Frage nach deren didaktischem Mehrwert gelegt.
Der zweite Tag wurde zur Entwicklung konkreter und unmittelbar verwendbarer Lernaktivitäten ein-gesetzt. Die Gruppenarbeiten ermöglichten ein kreatives Zusammenarbeiten, die Peer-Reviews führten zu einer Optimierung der Produkte. Diese stehen via Kursplattform allen Kursteilnehmenden zur Verfügung.
Der Workshop wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Europäischen Fremdsprachenzentrum (EFSZ) durchgeführt, das die entwickelten Lernaktivitäten auf seiner Plattform ebenfalls verbreiten wird. Zudem wurde der Workshop vom EFSZ sowie der Europäischen Kommission finanziell unterstützt. Das Institut Sprachliche und Literarische Bildung (ISLB-PHSG) übernahm dabei die Rolle der lokalen Organisation, um der Kursleitung und den Teilnehmenden einen idealen Rahmen zu bieten. Die Expert:innen stammen aus dem ICT-REV-Projekt des ESFZ. Die Teilnehmenden wurden durch das ISLB-PHSG angesprochen und rekrutiert. Wichtiges Kriterium war dabei die Möglichkeit der Teilnehmenden, das erworbene Wissen im Nachgang zum Workshop zu streuen. Dies kann durch den Einsatz in Lehrveranstaltungen, in Mentoraten, bei schulinternen Lehrer:innenfortbildungen oder auch im Rahmen von Weiterbildungsangeboten in den Kantonen geschehen.
News auf der Webseite der PHSG: https://www.phsg.ch/de/news/workshop-zu-digitalen-tools-fuer-das-sprachenlehren-und-lernen.
Reto Hunkeler, local coordinator
13.03.2018
ECML project "Pro-Sign II - Promoting excellence in sign language instruction": developments in Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, Canada and Serbia
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
05.05.2017
Recently published: European Language Gazette no. 36 (January-April 2017)
The European Language Gazette, the ECML's e-newsletter, provides up-to-date news about the ECML (events, projects, resources), the Language Policy Unit and other relevant sectors of the Council of Europe, as well as our partners. It focuses on national developments in the field of language education in the member states and beyond.
Read the latest issue: English - French
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Issue no. 36 – Contents
Focus on ECML programme developments – "Languages at the heart of learning" (2016-2019)
Latest project developments
"Language awareness in subject classes": participate in an online survey
"Towards a Common European Framework for Language Teachers": latest news
e-lang project in 2016: laying the foundations for a digital literacy in the language teaching and learning context
"Promoting excellence in sign language instruction (PRO-Sign2)": ECML workshop (Graz, Austria, 1-2 March 2017) – cooperation partnership with Moscow State Linguistic University
"A quality matrix for CEFR use": ECML workshop (Graz, Austria, 15-16 November 2016) – Interview with Denis Vigneron, French participant
ECML training and consultancy for member states
Network meeting of local organisers and ECML consultants (Graz, Austria, 7-8 March 2017) and upcoming national training workshops
National training workshop "Supporting multilingual classes" in Slovenia (Koper, 2-3 March 2017)
National workshops "A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning" in Malta (Floriana, 2-3 March 2017) and Latvia (Riga, 6-7 March 2017)
Forthcoming events
Recent ECML publication: Language skills for successful subject learning – CEFR linked descriptors for mathematics and history/civics
European Day of Languages
National developments in Armenia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland
Professional Network Forum of the ECML: upcoming events
Council of Europe developments
The linguistic integration of adult migrants: some lessons from research
Council of Europe Ad hoc Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (CAHROM) (ECML, Graz, Austria, 29-31 March 2017)
International Roma Day – 8 April
Pestalozzi programme: creating an online community of action researchers – summer school 2017
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: developments in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Kosovo*, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"
Urban policies for inclusive integration and diversity advantage: join the Intercultural Cities 2017 Milestone Event (Lisbon, Portugal, 28-29 November 2017)
Cyprus Chairmanship Conference in Nicosia: "Securing Democracy through Education"
Recent publication
Editorial news from other organisations: Eurostat, Eurydice, OECD, Unesco, Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning, Babylonia
Quick links
05.01.2017
Just published: European Language Gazette no. 35 (December 2016)
The ECML's e-newsletter provides up-to-date news about the ECML (events, projects, resources), its partners and other relevant sectors of the Council of Europe. It focuses on language education and national developments in the member states and beyond.
Enjoy the latest issue (December 2016) : English - French
03.11.2016
European Language Gazette : enjoy the latest issue!
The European Language Gazette, the ECML's e-newsletter, provides up-to-date news about the ECML (events, projects, resources), the Language Policy Unit and other relevant sectors of the Council of Europe, as well as our partners. It focuses on national developments in the field of language education in the member states and beyond.
Issue no. 33 (September - October 2016): available in English and in French.
14.07.2014
Language requirements and language testing for immigration and integration purposes. A synthesis of academic literature.
21.11.2013
2014 CercleS Conference "Language Centres in Higher Education: Exploring and Shaping Plurilingual Profiles and Practices"
CercleS has been promoting interaction and cooperation between institutions involved in language teaching in Europe since 1991, with the aim of bringing together higher education language centres, departments, institutes, faculties and schools whose main responsibility is the teaching of languages.
The conference theme „Language Centres in Higher Education: Exploring and Shaping Plurilingual Profiles and Practices“ reflects the important role of language centres in higher education through six sections:
- Teaching methodologies, learning and media
- Plurilingualism for academic and professional purposes
- Assessment and alternative forms of assessment
- Staff and quality development
- Policy and policy implementation
- MAGICC: Modularising Multilingual and Multicultural Academic Communication Competence
Sarah Breslin, Executive Director of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) of the Council of Europe, will participate in the Round Table discussion on 5 September.
On the conference website, you will find all the necessary information on the conference programme, venue, accommodation, registration and deadlines for submission of papers.
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CercleS is a member of the Professional Network Forum on Language Education which is formed of international associations and institutions that share common values and have overlapping expertise in the field of language education and assessment. Under the auspices of the ECML, the members of the Forum have agreed to share their know-how and have committed themselves to work together on areas of common interest in the service of language education.
22.05.2013
50 Swiss faces in the Council of Europe – Swiss nationals talk about their involvement