Hanna Komorowska THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICY …clients.squareeye.net/uploads/eaquals2011/documents/Trieste_EGM/H... · Hanna Komorowska THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICY ... Culture,

Hanna KomorowskaHanna Komorowska

THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICYTHE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICYTHE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICYTHE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICY

WHAT CAN THE PAST AND PRESENTWHAT CAN THE PAST AND PRESENTTELL US ABOUT THE FUTURE?TELL US ABOUT THE FUTURE?

ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED

In the present paper I would like to discuss:In the present paper I would like to discuss:

main trends in the policy of the Council of Europe and themain trends in the policy of the Council of Europe and theEuropean Union over the last two decadesEuropean Union over the last two decades

the didactic landscape with which they interrelatethe didactic landscape with which they interrelate

possible developments in language education in thepossible developments in language education in thefuturefuture

tasks facing second and foreign language teaching todaytasks facing second and foreign language teaching today

some selected tools, documents and projects completedsome selected tools, documents and projects completedin the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML)in the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML)which may be helpful in facing the challengeswhich may be helpful in facing the challenges

DOMAINS OF INTEREST AND ACTIVITY OFTHE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Human rightsHuman rights

Legal cooperationLegal cooperation

Social cohesionSocial cohesion

Education, Culture, HeritageEducation, Culture, Heritage

Youth and SportYouth and Sport Youth and SportYouth and Sport

LANGUAGE RUNS ACROSS ALL OF THE DOMAINSLANGUAGE RUNS ACROSS ALL OF THE DOMAINS

AS IT GUARANTEES NOT ONLY CULTURAL HERITAGE, BUT ALSOAS IT GUARANTEES NOT ONLY CULTURAL HERITAGE, BUT ALSOIMPROVED POSSIBILITES FOR COMMUNICATION IN ALL SPHERESIMPROVED POSSIBILITES FOR COMMUNICATION IN ALL SPHERES

thereforetherefore

CoE VALUES ALL LANGUAGESCoE VALUES ALL LANGUAGES -- NOT ONLY NATIONAL LANGUAGESNOT ONLY NATIONAL LANGUAGES

POLICY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEDEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP,

HUMAN RIGHTS

MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LAST TWO DECADES:MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LAST TWO DECADES:

19951995 ––Framework Convention for the Protection ofFramework Convention for the Protection of

National MinoritiesNational MinoritiesNational MinoritiesNational Minorities

20032003 -- Opatija Declaration onOpatija Declaration on Intercultural DialogueIntercultural Dialogue

andand Conflict PreventionConflict Prevention

20052005 -- Council of Europe Framework Convention on theCouncil of Europe Framework Convention on the

Value of Cultural Heritage for SocietyValue of Cultural Heritage for Society

20052005 -- Final Declaration onFinal Declaration on Human DignityHuman Dignity andand SocialSocial

CohesionCohesion (Budapest)(Budapest)

POLICY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPELANGUAGE AND CULTURE

MAINMAIN CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LAST TWO DECADES:CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LAST TWO DECADES:

19921992 –– TheThe European Charter for Regional andEuropean Charter for Regional and

MinorityMinority LanguagesLanguages

20052005 –– Faro Declaration on the Council of Europe’sFaro Declaration on the Council of Europe’s 20052005 –– Faro Declaration on the Council of Europe’sFaro Declaration on the Council of Europe’s

Strategy for Developing intercultural DialogueStrategy for Developing intercultural Dialogue

20072007 ––Valencia Declaration adopted by theValencia Declaration adopted by the

Conference of Ministers responsible for localConference of Ministers responsible for local

and regional governmentand regional government

20082008 -- White Paper on Intercultural DialogueWhite Paper on Intercultural Dialogue

COUNCIL OF EUROPELANGUAGE TEACHING POLICY –

MAIN TRENDS

Fundamental achievements:Fundamental achievements:

TThe Council of Europe:he Council of Europe:

introduced the concept of communicative competenceintroduced the concept of communicative competence introduced the concept of communicative competenceintroduced the concept of communicative competence

commissioned the first set of communicative functionalcommissioned the first set of communicative functionalsyllabus documentssyllabus documents

promoted communicative methods and techniques ofpromoted communicative methods and techniques oflanguage teachinglanguage teaching

supported teacher educationsupported teacher education

COUNCIL OF EUROPELANGUAGE TEACHING POLICY –

POSTULATESSince 1998 language policy of CoE has been based onSince 1998 language policy of CoE has been based on

Recommendation (98) 6 encouraging member states to:Recommendation (98) 6 encouraging member states to:

develop learners’communicative competence in moredevelop learners’communicative competence in morethan one languagethan one languagethan one languagethan one language

increase the number of languages taught in the schoolincrease the number of languages taught in the schoolsystems of member countriessystems of member countries

encourage flexibility inencourage flexibility in sysyllabus designllabus design

promote new technologies in language educationpromote new technologies in language education

organize pedagogical exchanges to support languageorganize pedagogical exchanges to support languagelearninglearning and intercultural contactsand intercultural contacts

ensure possibilities of lifeensure possibilities of life--long language learning.long language learning.

COUNCIL OF EUROPELANGUAGE POLICY - PRESENT FOCUS

PLURILINGUALISMPLURILINGUALISM -- individual use of more than one languageindividual use of more than one languageMULTILINGUALISMMULTILINGUALISM -- coexistence of languages in a regioncoexistence of languages in a region

STRIVING FOR SOCIAL INCLUSIONSTRIVING FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION

LANGUAGE as a way to education and employmentLANGUAGE as a way to education and employment

WHOLE LANGUAGE POLICY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMWHOLE LANGUAGE POLICY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM

every teacher is a language teacher;every teacher is a language teacher;

a need for cooperation between L1 teachers and teachers ofa need for cooperation between L1 teachers and teachers ofotherother languageslanguages; the language of schooling; the language of schooling

PROMOTION OF LANGUAGESPROMOTION OF LANGUAGES

LANGUAGE POLICYOF THE EUROPEAN UNION (1)

1995 - White Paper on Teaching and Learning

(,two Community languages in addition to the

mother tongue’)

2000 –Lisbon strategy (leading economy by 2010)2000 –Lisbon strategy (leading economy by 2010)

2001 –Berlin Declaration (quality assurance in higher education)

2002 –European Council in Barcelona (mother tongue plus 2

languages = 1+2 formula, no longer ‚Community languages’)

LANGUAGE POLICYOF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2)

2005 - NEW FRAMEWORK STRATEGY FORNEW FRAMEWORK STRATEGY FOR

MULTILINGUALISMMULTILINGUALISM

to maintain the multilingual nature of the EU’s to maintain the multilingual nature of the EU’sinstitutions, based on its translation andinterpretation services

to underline the major role that languages andmultilingualism play in the European economy

to increase efforts to encourage all citizens to learnand speak more languages.

THE LANGUAGE POLICYOF THE EUROPEAN UNION

WORRYING TRENDS

The average number of FLs learned in secondaryeducation shows no sign of attaining the objectivesset by the Barcelona European Council

The range of languages taught - extremely narrow The range of languages taught - extremely narrow

Language skills are still unevenly spread –disparities:between central and peripheral regionsbetween older and more recent member statesbetween age groups, genders and social classes

THE LANGUAGE POLICY OF THE EUSTRATEGIES TO COUNTERACT

WORRYING TRENDS

2007– creation of a new portfolio (Commissioner forMultilingualism)

2007 - Group of Intellectuals led by Amin Maalouf to advise2007 - Group of Intellectuals led by Amin Maalouf to adviseEU on intercultural issues ( ‘personal adoptivelanguage’) –Final Report

2007 - High Level Group on Multilingualism –Final Report

2010 - Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualismand Youth

EU LANGUAGE STATUSCONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

CONFERENCE STATUS OF LANGUAGESCONFERENCE STATUS OF LANGUAGES‘the more languages, the more English’‘the more languages, the more English’

(de Swaan 2001, 2007, Ammon 2006)(de Swaan 2001, 2007, Ammon 2006)

THE ROLE OF ENGLISH AS A LINGUA FRANCATHE ROLE OF ENGLISH AS A LINGUA FRANCA THE ROLE OF ENGLISH AS A LINGUA FRANCATHE ROLE OF ENGLISH AS A LINGUA FRANCAtraptrap scenarioscenario??liberationliberation scenarioscenario??

functionalfunctional realismrealism?? ((SeidlhoferSeidlhofer 2002)2002)

MANDATORY OR OPTIONAL ENGLISH IN THEMANDATORY OR OPTIONAL ENGLISH IN THESCHOOL SYSTEM?SCHOOL SYSTEM?

SHARED VALUES IN LANGUAGE POLICYOF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OF THECOUNCIL OF EUROPE - EDUCATION (1)

•• PromotingPromoting better understanding and communicationbetter understanding and communicationbetween citizens guaranteeing their cultural identity andbetween citizens guaranteeing their cultural identity andlinguistic diversitylinguistic diversity

• Two foreign languages in the school system• Two foreign languages in the school system

• A broader offer of languages

• The early start for the first FL

• Lowering the starting age for the second FL

• Promotion of regional and ethnic minority languages

• Ensuring quality of language education

• Ensuring quality of teacher education

LANGUAGE POLICY - SHARED VALUES (2)RATIONALE - ECONOMY, SOCIETY, EDUCATION

CONTRIBUTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS TO THECONTRIBUTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS TO THEECONOMIC GROWTHECONOMIC GROWTH (S. Hagen(S. Hagen -- ELANELAN projectproject 2006,2006,PIMLICO project 2011)PIMLICO project 2011)

CONTRIBUTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS TO THE PEACECONTRIBUTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS TO THE PEACEPROCESSPROCESSPROCESSPROCESS

CONTRIBUTIONCONTRIBUTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS TO GENERALOF LANGUAGE SKILLS TO GENERALEDUCATIONEDUCATION (Bialystok 2006, Kharkhourin 2008, Kormi-Nouri et al. 2008, Marsh et al. 2009)

LANGUAGE POLICY vs. FLT PRACTICETHE DIDACTIC LANDSCAPE - PAST AND PRESENT

PENDULUM SWINGS (AUDIOLINGUALISM, COGNITIVISM) EXPLOSION OF NEW METHODS AND TECHNOLOGIES LEARNER-CENTREDNESS AND INTERACTION REVIVAL AND RECYCLING OF OLD METHODS

BUTBUT THE LONG PRESENT - THE COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH CURRICULAR UNIFORMITY IN GENERAL COURSES PROMOTING INTELLECTUAL MEDIOCRITY PSEUDO-MOTIVATING THEMES PREDICTABLE COURSEBOOK CONTENT TEACHING GRAMMAR BUT PROMOTING NEGLECT

THROUGH EVALUATING AND SCORING PROCEDURES

INTO THE FUTURE

AN ATTEMPT AT FORTUNE TELLING ? NEW PENDULUM SWINGS?NEW PENDULUM SWINGS?

-- more emphasis on accuracy?more emphasis on accuracy?-- more emphasis on big C culture?more emphasis on big C culture?

ADIEU TO EXAM/ LEVEL UNIFORMITY?ADIEU TO EXAM/ LEVEL UNIFORMITY?-- partial competences?partial competences?-- modularity?modularity?-- modularity?modularity?-- intercomprehension?intercomprehension?-- help to develop learners’dynamic repertoires and tohelp to develop learners’dynamic repertoires and tosatisfy new language needs added to themsatisfy new language needs added to them

PSEUDOPSEUDO--AUTONOMY OF THE LEARNER?AUTONOMY OF THE LEARNER?-- free choice of ICT courses and materials?free choice of ICT courses and materials?-- but the blind following of the selected ones?but the blind following of the selected ones?

FURTHER STEPS? RESEARCH AREAS

• Transversal and transferable competences e.g.reading comprehension, L2 learning strategiesto L1 reading (Garfinkel & Tabor 1991, Dumas1999)

• Multicompetence (Cook 2002, Herdina &• Multicompetence (Cook 2002, Herdina &Jessner 2002, Kormi-Nouri et al. 2008)

• Early bilingualism (Singleton 2009, Muňoz 2006)

• Intercomprehension (Doyé 2005, Hufeisen &Marx 2009)

TASKS FOR TODAY

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I

ought to go from here?The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you

want to get to.

GOALS :

A VARIETY OF LANGUAGE CONSTELLATIONS A VARIETY OF LANGUAGE CONSTELLATIONS

WHOLE LANGUAGE EDUCATION, TRANSVERSAL SKILLS

LANGUAGE AND CONTENT APPROPRIATE FOR Ls

HIGH PROFICIENCY LEVELS

HIGH QUALITY OF TEACHING

Where to look for support?Where to look for support?

EUROPEAN TOOLS AND DOCUMENTSSUPPORTING LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001)Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001)

European Language PortfolioEuropean Language Portfolio (2000)(2000)

European Profile of Language Teacher EducationEuropean Profile of Language Teacher Education (2004)(2004) European Profile of Language Teacher EducationEuropean Profile of Language Teacher Education (2004)(2004)

European Portfolio for Student Teachers ofEuropean Portfolio for Student Teachers of LangLanguagesuages (2007)(2007)

Relating Language Examinations to the Common EuropeanRelating Language Examinations to the Common EuropeanFramework of Reference for Languages (2009)Framework of Reference for Languages (2009)

AutobiographyAutobiography of Intercultural Encounters (2009of Intercultural Encounters (2009))

INSTITUTIONS, PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIESSUPPORTING SHARED VALUES IN THE EUROPEAN

LANGUAGE POLICY (3)

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

GuideGuide for the Development of Language Educationfor the Development of Language EducationPolicies in EuropePolicies in Europe (2002, 2005, 2007)(2002, 2005, 2007)

Language Education Policy Profiles. A transversalLanguage Education Policy Profiles. A transversalanalysis: trends and issues ( 2009analysis: trends and issues ( 2009))analysis: trends and issues ( 2009analysis: trends and issues ( 2009))

European Centre of Modern Languages in Graz

EUROPEAN UNION

• Programmes such as Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardoda Vinci, Grundtvig, The European Language Label,eTwinning, Town twinning, Days of Languages

ECML programme 2008-2011www.ecml.at/empowerment

Thematic areas

• Evaluation• Evaluation

• Continuity in language learning

• Content and language education

• Plurilingual education

EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MODERNLANGUAGES IN GRAZ (ECML)

QUALITY ASSURANCE

QUALITRAININGA TRAINING GUIDE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

- helps school managers and head teachers- helps school managers and head teachers- contains materials for group discussion and self-

reflection- offers activities for sharing the best practice- presents real life success stories

http://qualitraining2.eclm.at

EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MODERNLANGUAGES IN GRAZ (ECML)TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

EPOSTLUSING THE EUROPEAN PORTFOLIO

FOR STUDENT TEACHERS OF LANGUAGES

- assists novice teachers in self-reflection and self-- assists novice teachers in self-reflection and self-assessment

- assists head teachers and teacher educators to helpyoung teachers to develop their professional skills

- helps teachers create their own ICT VOLL materials

http://epostl2.ecml.at


DOTSDEVELOPING ONLINE TEACHING SKILLS

- a training kit for teachers:- a training kit for teachers:- online and offline versions- contains 30 activities for self-training in using

Moodle, wikis, forums, blogs and audio-conferencing

- http://moodle.dots.eclm.at

-


E-VOLLUTIONEXPLORING CUTTING EDGE APPLICATIONS

OF NETWORKED TECHNOLOGIESIN VOCATIONALLY ORIENTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

- looks at e-skills for the 21st c. teaching and learning- contains examples of how ICT can be integrated with

language courses- helps teachers create their own ICT VOLL materials

http://www.ecml.at/projects/voll

EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MODERNLANGUAGES IN GRAZ (ECML)LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

CARAP

A FRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE FORPLURALISTIC APPROACHES

TO LANGUAGES AND CULTURE

Descriptors (Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills)A database with teaching materials

English, Frenchparts in German, Spanish and Hungarian

http://carap.ecml.at


ConBaT+

CONTENT BASED TEACHING FOR YOUNG LEARNERSCONTENT BASED TEACHING FOR YOUNG LEARNERS26 language and culture oriented classroom activities

for children and teenagersAttractive, educationally valuable theme-based activities

English, French ad Spanish

http://conbat.ecml.at


EPLC

Modules with activities from the area of music, history, arts,Modules with activities from the area of music, history, arts,geography and sport for young children + support for Ts

French, German, Russian

http://eplc.ecml.at


ASSESSMENT AND SELF-ASSESSMENT

USING THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE PORTFOLIO

Website with practical materials, videos, worksheets,etc

http://elp-implementation.ecml.athttp://elp-implementation.ecml.at


MORE ON THE COMMON EUROPEANFRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE (CEFR)

ECEPPATHWAYS THROUGH ASSESSING LEARNING

AND TEACHING IN THE CEFR

- Guide and kit on CD-ROM- helps to get new teachers acquainted with the CEFR- contains 107 worksheets to choose from for teacher

development workshops- links class activities to the levels of the CEFR

http://ecep.ecml.at



CEF-ESTIMCEFR –LEVEL ESTIMATION GRID FOR TEACHERS

- helps to link class activities to the levels of the CEFR- helps to build banks of activities and create school

archives of useful materials per level

http://cefestim.ecml.at



RELEXRELATING LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS TO THE CEFRRELATING LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS TO THE CEFR

- contains an easy, user-friendly introduction to theprocedure of linking local examinations to the CEFR

- helps to link classroom-based tests to CEFR levels

http://relex.eclm.at

WHAT CAN WE ADD?SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS: MOTIVATING STRATEGIES

SETTING REALISTIC GOALSSETTING REALISTIC GOALS-- capitalizing on positive experiencecapitalizing on positive experience, presenting successful learners, presenting successful learners-- designing modularised syllabi based ondesigning modularised syllabi based on needs analysisneeds analysis

PROVIDING INFORMATION ON HOW TO LEARNPROVIDING INFORMATION ON HOW TO LEARN-- Internet support (websites with published materials,Internet support (websites with published materials, educationaleducational

portals, support material onportals, support material on--line)line)portals, support material onportals, support material on--line)line)

DEMONSTRATING THE VALUE OFDEMONSTRATING THE VALUE OF LANGUAGESLANGUAGES-- showing how languages support overall developmentshowing how languages support overall development-- showing how languages support other subjectshowing how languages support other subject--areas (transversal skills)areas (transversal skills)

MAKING LANGUAGES ATTRACTIVEMAKING LANGUAGES ATTRACTIVE-- ‘‘edutainmentedutainment’’-- using languages to presentusing languages to present life andlife and customscustoms inin otherother countrcountriesies

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU

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Hanna Komorowska THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICY …clients.squareeye.net/uploads/eaquals2011/documents/Trieste_EGM/H... · Hanna Komorowska THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE POLICY ... Culture,