Metropolis 2010 - The Council of Europe’s contribution to the linguistic integration of adult migrants

Council of Europe – Language Policy Division – www.coe.int/lang

Piet Van Avermaet (on behalf of)Language Policy Division - DG IV Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France

www.coe.int/lang

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The Council of Europe’s contribution to the linguistic integration of adult

migrants


47 member states, Strasbourg, France

Guiding principles:

human rights, democracy and rule of law;

social inclusion & intercultural dialogue

The Council of Europe: MIGRANTS:

Committee of Ministers

Parliamemtary Assembly

• Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population

ECRI – monitoring body

Migration Division (DG III)• European Committee on Migration (CDMG)

Language Policy Division (DG IV)• linguistic aspects related to migration


Council of Europe Policy Texts

2 Conventions 22 Recommendations / Resolutions since 1968

• Committee of Ministers to member States• Parliamentary Assembly (PACE)

Doc. DGIV/EDU/LANG (2008)4 > online

Council of Europe Conference of European Ministers responsible for migration affairs (Kyiv, 2008)

April 2010: PACE adopts Recommendation 1917 on Migrants and refugees: a continuing challenge for the Council of Europe


ECRI European Commission against Racism

and Intolerance - www.coe.int/ecri

Annual Report, 2008:

“Successful integration is a two-way process, a process of mutual recognition, which bears no relation to assimilation”

White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue : “Living together as equals in dignity” (2008)

www.coe.int/dialogue

The White Paper defines integration as “a two-sided process and as the capacity of people to live together with full respect for the dignity of each individual”


Language Policy Division Tools

• Concept Paper: The role of languages in policies for the integration of adult migrants

• Thematic Studies:

– The CEFR and the development of policies for the integration of adult migrants

– Quality assurance in the provision of language education and training for adult migrants – guidelines and options

– Language tests for social cohesion and citizenship- an outline for policy makers

– Language learning, teaching and assessment and the integration of adult migrants. The importance of needs analysis

– Tailoring language provision and requirements to the needs and capacities of adult migrants

- Case Studies (Intergovernmental Seminar 2008)

Texts available online: www.coe.int/lang - Section Minorities and migrants


Language Policy ProjectPrinciples

- respect for migrants’ human rights + dignity- rights + responsibilities- migrants: heterogeneous group- diversified needs and capacities No single uniform approach

Objectives

• facilitate exchange of information and discussion on language policies for integration,

• examine how the principles contained in the CEFR can best support the requirements of member States ( language testing and training)

• offer guidance on ensuring quality in language training and responding to needs


CEFR Common reference levels

>> illustrative « can do » descriptors of global and detailed outcomes

Basic User - A1 (A1.1)

- A2 Independent User

- B1- B2

Proficient User

- C1- C2

Current national language tests and training for migrants: A1.1 > B1/B2 (CEFR)


Language Policy Division: recent initiatives

• 24-25 June 2010 – Strasbourg: Intergovernmental conference on the linguistic integration of adult migrants: Ways of evaluating policy and practice.http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/conference_EN.asp?

• Nov. 2009 > Jan. 2010: follow-up survey to take stock of developments in Council of Europe member states since 2007-2008


Surveys in member states on language requirements for migrants (2008 + 2010)

• Language tuition - obligatory/voluntary and duration- free/subsidised/paying

• Tests linked to - entry, permanent residence or naturalisation

• Language attainment target

Objective: to get an overview of the main developments & trends concerning language requirements, incl. tests and language training

Rapid increase of integration tests and courses (surveys):2002: 29% - 4/14 countries responding to the survey (ALTE)2007: 61% - 11/18 countries (ALTE)2008: 73% - 21/27 countries (Council of Europe)

[Full report on the Council of Europe Survey 2008: see Programme of the seminar on migrants, June 2008 & Seminar Report: www.coe.int/lang - Section Events 2008]


Surveys 2008-2010Language requirements

• 2010: 75% of countries (23/31) have linguistic requirements as part of integration regulations

• 2008: same % (21/27)


• 2008: language requirements:– 19% (4/21) prior to entry host country– 57% (12/21) for permanent residency– 76% (16/21) for citizenship

• 2010: language requirements:– 26% (6/23) prior to entry host country– 69% (16/23) for permanent residency– 96% (22/23) for citizenship

• 2010 language tests:– In 65% (15/23) of countries a language test is

obligatory– Mainly for permanent residency and citizenship

Surveys 2008-2010Language requirements and tests


Some Language Test Issues

1. IF testing, what kinds of tests for what purposes?

2. How a ‘level’ relates to the actual language needs underlying active, responsible democratic citizenship in society?

3. Do they assess what they are supposed to assess?

4. What are the purposes of assessment where this exists, and what modes of assessment might be most appropriate for different purposes?

5. How to accommodate the heterogeneity of migrants?

6. How to gauge the impact of decisions on language requirements and assessment on migrants and on society generally?

7. Other approaches – European Language Portfolio (ELP)


• 2008: official language courses:– 62% (13/21) provide language courses– 46% (6/13) is obligatory

• 2010: official language courses:– 82% (19/23) provide language courses

• 42% (8/19) is obligatory• 58% (11/19) is optional

Surveys 2008-2010 Official language courses


• 2008: KOS courses and tests:– 48% (10/21) have KOS requirements

• Courses and/or tests• Often integrated in language programme

• 2010: KOS courses and tests:– 87% (20/23) have KOS requirements

• courses and or tests

Surveys 2008-2010 KOS courses and tests


• 2010: KOS courses and tests:– Courses:

• 90% (18/20) KOS courses• Mainly for permanent residency and citizenship• In appr. 60% integrated in other (mainly language)

programmes• Number of tuition hours provided is often rather low:

– 1 day; 10h; 50h

– Tests:• 10% (2/20) optional test• 50% (10/20) obligatory test

– In 10 countries for citizenship– In 4 countries also for permanent residency

Surveys 2008-2010 KOS courses and tests


General trends of 2010 survey

• Increasing interest for an evaluation of programmes • Differences between 2008 and 2010 survey are limited• Almost half of the countries have made changes in

their policy between 2008 and 2010• Still a large variation between countries in terms of:

– Regulations and conditions– Cost – Sanctions– Proficiency level required

• language conditions: present in slightly more countries• required level of proficiency: increased in a few cases• language conditions prior to entry: increasingly applied

(interest to follow this route growing in other countries)• No offer of language courses: still the case in some

countries (candidates have to go on the private market)


Challenges

• Developing curricula and training programmes

• Applying the principles of the CEFR• Dealing with different needs• Teacher training and development• Quality assurance• Evaluating effectiveness and impact• Incentivising migrants to take

advantage of the training• After courses, what then?


Websites Council of Europe: www.coe.int Language Policy Division: www.coe.int/lang

Conference June 2010: Section Events Documentation & context: Section Minorities and Migrants)

Migration Division / CDMG: www.coe.int/migration ECRI: www.coe.int/ecri

White Paper: www.coe.int/dialogue

Contact: [email protected]


Piet Van Avermaet (on behalf of)Language Policy Division - DG IV Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France

www.coe.int/lang

ww

ww

.coe.i

nt

THANK YOU

The Council of Europe’s contribution to the linguistic integration of adult migrants

Documents

Metropolis 2010 - The Council of Europe’s contribution to the linguistic integration of adult migrants