The CEFR in the context of Council of Europe‘s work on

languages

WaldeWaldekk Martyniuk Martyniuk ECML, Graz, AustriaECML, Graz, Austria

Council of EuropeCouncil of Europe set up 1949 by 10 member statesset up 1949 by 10 member states in February 2009, the Council of in February 2009, the Council of

Europe has 47 member statesEurope has 47 member states based in Strasbourg, Francebased in Strasbourg, France political international Organisationpolitical international Organisation main bodies: Committee of main bodies: Committee of

Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly, Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly, Congress of Local and Regional Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe and European Authorities of Europe and European Court of Human Rights.Court of Human Rights.

Guiding principles: democracy, human rights and rule of law.

Council of Europe and Council of Europe and languages – ilanguages – institutionsnstitutions

Language Policy Language Policy Division (LPD)Division (LPD)

Strasbourg, Strasbourg, FranceFrance

European Charter European Charter for Regional or for Regional or Minority Minority LanguagesLanguagesStrasbourg, FranceStrasbourg, France

European European Centre for Centre for Modern Modern Languages Languages (ECML)(ECML)Graz, AustriaGraz, Austria

Council of Europe and Council of Europe and language education – language education –

basicbasic concept conceptss PlurilingualismPlurilingualism Plurilingual educationPlurilingual education Lifelong learningLifelong learning Social cohesionSocial cohesion Democratic citizenshipDemocratic citizenship Intercultural dialogueIntercultural dialogue

Council of Europe and Council of Europe and language education – tlanguage education – the he

concept of concept of plurilingualismplurilingualism

expandable, individual language abilityexpandable, individual language ability competences of different kinds and competences of different kinds and

levels for different purposes within a levels for different purposes within a plurilingual repertoire (profile)plurilingual repertoire (profile)

building up – not multiplying building up – not multiplying competencescompetences

global, coherent policy for all global, coherent policy for all languageslanguages

Council of Europe and Council of Europe and languages – planguages – policy olicy

instrumentsinstruments European Convention on Human European Convention on Human

Rights (1950)Rights (1950) European Cultural Convention European Cultural Convention

(1954)(1954) European Charter for Minority or European Charter for Minority or

Regional Languages (1992) Regional Languages (1992) Framework Convention for the Framework Convention for the

Protection of National Minorities Protection of National Minorities (1995)(1995)

Council of Europe and Council of Europe and languages – planguages – policy olicy

instrumentsinstruments Recommendation 98 (6)Recommendation 98 (6) on on

modern languagesmodern languages Recommendation 2008 (7) Recommendation 2008 (7) on the on the

use of the Council of Europe’s use of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the promotion of and the promotion of plurilingualism plurilingualism

Council of Europe and Council of Europe and language education – language education –

ppolicy instruments and olicy instruments and initiativesinitiatives

Modern Languages Project – Modern Languages Project – ‚Threshold Level‘ specifications (1970-‚Threshold Level‘ specifications (1970-90)90)

Guide for the Development of Guide for the Development of Language Education Policies + Language Education Policies + studiesstudies

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

European Language Portfolio (ELP) + European Language Portfolio (ELP) + supporting documentssupporting documents

Council of Europe and Council of Europe and language education – language education –

ppolicy instruments and olicy instruments and initiativesinitiatives

Reference Level Descriptions for Reference Level Descriptions for national/regional languages national/regional languages

Language Education Policy Language Education Policy Profiles Profiles

Manual for Relating Language Manual for Relating Language Examinations to the CEFR + Examinations to the CEFR + supporting supporting materialmaterialss

Language Policies Language Policies for Democratic for Democratic

Citizenship Citizenship and Social Cohesion and Social Cohesion

(2006-9)(2006-9) A A platformplatform of of resources and referencesresources and references for for language(s) language(s) in and in and of school educationof school education

Language testing and migration – a framework Language testing and migration – a framework of referenceof reference

Curriculum reference framework for RomaniCurriculum reference framework for Romani Autobiography of Intercultural EncountersAutobiography of Intercultural Encounters A guide for CEFR-based curriculum A guide for CEFR-based curriculum

developmentdevelopment A guide for CEFR-based test developmentA guide for CEFR-based test development

Languages for Social Languages for Social Cohesion – the ECML Cohesion – the ECML

medium-term medium-term programme of activities programme of activities

2004-72004-7 21 projects, 4 thematic areas:21 projects, 4 thematic areas: Coping with linguistic and social diversity Coping with linguistic and social diversity Communication in a multicultural society: Communication in a multicultural society:

the development of intercultural the development of intercultural communicative competencecommunicative competence

Professional development and reference Professional development and reference tools for language educatorstools for language educators

Innovative approaches and new technologies Innovative approaches and new technologies in the teaching and learning of languagesin the teaching and learning of languages

Empowering Language Empowering Language Professionals – the ECML Professionals – the ECML

medium-term medium-term programme of activities programme of activities

2008-112008-11 20 projects, 4 thematic areas:20 projects, 4 thematic areas:

EvaluationEvaluation Continuity in language educationContinuity in language education Content and language integrated Content and language integrated

learninglearning Plurilingual eduactionPlurilingual eduaction

MMore information ore information on the on the CCouncil of Europeouncil of Europe

language education policies, language education policies, initiatives and instrumentsinitiatives and instruments::

www.www.coecoe..intint//langlang

www.www.coecoe..intint/portfolio/portfolio www.ecml.atwww.ecml.at

Thank you for your kind Thank you for your kind attention!attention!