Strategic language initiatives in Europe – the contribution of the European

Centre for Modern Languages in Graz

1. Good quality education is a pre-requisite for:• social cohesion• democratic citizenship• intercultural dialogue• economic progress

2. Adequate language skills are a pre-requisite for unrestricted access to and an important outcome of good quality education

3. The growing linguistic and cultural diversity in European societies are not problems to be solved but offer a potential to benefit from

4. Supporting people in their linguistic development is an important aspect of an approach to education based on human rights and democracy

Council of Europe and language education

Challenges in contemporary societies:•  increased mobility of people• globalisation of social and economic processes • rapid innovations in communication technology • progressively more multilingual and multicultural classrooms• need for compatibility across educational systems and qualifications• need for ensuring equal access to quality education• need for ensuring the right of learners to quality and equity in

education

Task for language education:• to support European citizens in their linguistic development in such a

way that they grow as confident and successful individuals and as efficient and responsible social agents – in a lifelong learning process

Language education: challenges and tasks

Graz Declaration on Language Education 2010

“Quality education for plurilingual people living in multilingual societies”

‘A new concept of education is required to meet the needs of plurilingual people living in increasingly multilingual societies – people who are capable of using several languages at different levels of competence, living in and contributing to an integrated society and to an international interaction.’

Council of Europe’s platform of resources and references for plurilingual and

intercultural education

Regional, minority and migration languages

LANGUAGE(S) OF SCHOOLING Foreign languages –

modern and classical

Language as a subject Language(s) in other

subjects

The learner and the languages present in

school

Plurilingual and intercultural education: documents and tools

• Guide for the development of language education policies in Europe

• Guide for the development and implementation of curricula for plurilingual and intercultural education

• Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR)

• European Language Portfolio (ELP)

• Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters (AIE)

• A framework of reference for pluralistic approaches (CARAP)

Recommendation (2008)7 of the Committee of Ministers to member states

on the use of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

(CEFR) and the promotion of plurilingualism

Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 2 July 2008at the 1031st meeting of the Ministers’ (Deputies)

Intergovernmental Policy Forum “The right of learners to quality and equity in

education – the role of language and intercultural skills” (Geneva, 2-4 November 2010)

1.Development and implementation of approaches to plurilingual and intercultural education

2.The linguistic and educational integration of children and adolescents from migrant backgrounds

3.Language and school subjects – linguistic dimensions of knowledge building in school curricula

European Centre for Modern Languages

• Founded in Graz, Austria, 1994• Enlarged partial agreement of the Council of Europe• 31 member states

Support to Member States in their effort to provide good quality language education through:

• Initiating and supporting international cooperation• Development and promotion of innovative approaches and tools• Dissemination of good practices• Training of multipliers • Development of professional networks

All publications are available online in downloadable format

• Books• CD-ROMs• Project websites • Project flyers• Travelling exhibition available for

conferences and fairs

ECML programme 2004-2007

Empowering Language Professionals:

ECML programme 2008-201123 projects, 4 thematic areas:

• Evaluation and assessment• Continuity in language learning• Content and language integrated education• Plurilingual education

Four objectives:• to enhance the professional competence of language teachers• to strengthen professional networks and the wider community

of language educators• to enable language professionals to have greater impact on

reform processes• to contribute to better quality of language education in Europe

• 17 years of experience in initiating and supporting international cooperation

• 17 years of accumulated expertise in language education

• Extensive professional network

• Extensive structural network in all member states

• Targeted support and consultancy offered to member states

• Over 120 publications offering practical solutions and advice

• Over 15 000 multipliers from 34 member states trained so far

• Comprehensive on-site and interactive on-line resources

• Fully equipped conference premises with professional service

ECML: the added value

The ECML activities are intended to support the member states in:

• addressing challenges in national language education• conducting reform processes• meeting international standards• dealing with the effects of mobility• promoting quality and excellence• supporting exchange of good practice• implementing innovation• developing and enhancing professional networks• enhancing professional development of language educators• accessing latest information and know-how

ECML: the benefits of membership

• 796 language professionals taking part in capacity building activities• 128 events supported by the ECML• a major conference involving 200 international participants• 20 active projects within the Empowering language professionals

programme• 21 new publications issued by the ECML • 30 websites within the Centre’s web platform, with 3,2 million page views • 6,760 subscribers to the European Language Gazette – the ECML Newsletter• 180 language education experts in the ECML’s Experts’ Database• 612 events organised in 47 European countries registered in the European

Day of Languages events calendar

  

  

 

                                                                                      

ECML in figures (2011)

ECML programme 2012-2015:

Learning through languages.Promoting inclusive, plurilingual and intercultural education

www.ecml.at/learningthroughlanguages

• Innovative development

• Mediation

• Targeted support to Member States

• Expert meetings, workshops, contribution to conferences, consultancy on demand, publications, interactive project websites, on-line and on-site resources

ECML programme 2012-2015

More information on Council of Europe language education policies, initiatives

and instruments:

• www.coe.int/lang• www.coe.int/portfolio• www.coe.int/minlang • www.ecml.at

Thank you very much for your kind attention!

Mange tak for Deres venlige opmærksomhed!