Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG) 

Local organiser: Maria Iacovidou, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth

ECML experts: José Noijons, the Netherlands; Jana Beresova, Slovak Republic

Participants: 27 (teachers and teacher trainers, language testers and examiners, item writers, curriculum developers, language inspectors, policymakers)

“The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth, in collaboration with the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML), successfully organised a training workshop on alternative, continuous methods of assessment in line with the CEFR and its Companion Volume and on exploring ways to test mediation and pluricultural/plurilingual skills in the classroom.

The workshop, which included hands-on sessions, took place from 2 to 4 October 2024 at the OELMEK (Organization of Greek Cypriot Secondary Education Officers) building in Nicosia. Participants included language teachers, inspectors, and specialists in the field of second or foreign language teaching and learning.

The training aimed to promote alternative continuous assessment practices in line with the standards of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Specifically, the workshop emphasized the use of CEFR descriptors, which ensure quality and validity in language education and provide a common framework for recognizing language proficiency levels across Europe and internationally.

Additionally, strategies were presented for assessing linguistic, communicative, plurilingual, and pluricultural skills, which involve reception, production, interaction, and mediation. The participants developed exercises, scales, and assessment methods for the aforementioned skills in working groups, presenting to the plenary how these are aligned with the CEFR’s assessment recommendations.

This workshop provided foreign language teachers with a significant opportunity for professional development and for promoting excellence in language education. Over the course of three days, participants enriched their knowledge, exchanged views and reflections, and shared experiences and ideas with the experts and their teams. At the end of the workshop, they expressed their satisfaction and the desire for similar future initiatives aimed at strengthening authentic learning and assessment.”

Maria Iacovidou, local coordinator, 21 October 2024

ECML project website: RELANG, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2024 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

The ECML offers its member states European expertise in language education adapted to the concrete needs and specific contexts within individual countries. This bilateral support in a range of key areas helps strengthen the cooperation between member states and the ECML by taking the expertise gained from ECML projects directly into member states. ECML experts work with national authorities and local experts to devise and implement in-country activities, tailored to the particular context and target audience.  For 2025 a number of new areas are on offer which  build on the results of projects run within the Inspiring innovation in language education programme (2020-23). Please note that activities offered in cooperation with the European Commission are subject to a separate Call for requests which will be issued in late November.

The  following  ECML training and consultancy activities are on offer for 2025:

• Plurilingual and intercultural education: teacher and learner competences
• Steps towards implementing plurilingual and intercultural education
• Plurilingual and intercultural education in early language learning
• The CEFR Companion Volume: Mediation and other key concepts – Focus: teacher and learner competences  
• The CEFR Companion Volume: Mediation and other key concepts – Focus: curriculum and evaluation
• Learning environments where languages flourish – Focus: Plurilingual and intercultural education
• Learning environments where languages flourish – Focus: Early language learning
• Action research communities for language teachers
• Fostering digital citizenship through language education
• Language for work – Work-related second language learning for adult migrants and ethnic minorities
• Beyond CLIL – Pluriliteracies teaching for deeper learning
• A roadmap for schools to support the language(s) of schooling

Details of the proposed activities, practical information and the application form can be found here: www.ecml.at/Trainingandconsultancy.

Requests for a Training and consultancy activity must be submitted via the national ECML representative in the Governing Board. Educational professionals interested in a particular activity should therefore contact their national representative.

The application deadline for 2025 is 15 November 2024.

Local organiser: Kati Bakradze-Pank, Estonian Association of Foreign Language Teachers

ECML experts: Karine Dekeukelaere, Belgium; Gábor Szabo, Hungary

Participants: 23 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, curriculum developers, language inspectors, policymakers)

“The Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG) three-day workshop was of high value to language testers and examiners, item writers and curriculum developers, policy makers who are in the middle of rewriting and validating their national examination in relation to the CEFR model of language use. During the workshop, special attention was paid to the principles of CEFR descriptors, item construction by skill, assessment, and rating scales; practical tips, examples, and exercises are useful materials. Local expertise is taken into consideration and parallels drawn between national language exams and the CEFR. The workshop was of high practical value to the local context.”

Kati Bakradze-Pank, local coordinator, 3 October 2024

ECML project website: RELANG, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2024 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Ivančica Banković-Mandić, Croaticum – Centre for Croatian as a Second and Foreign Language, University of Zagreb        

ECML experts: Rita Jukneviciene, Lithuania; Gábor Szabo, Hungary

Participants: 24 (Language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, curriculum developers, language inspectors, policymakers)

“The two-day workshop Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (RELANG) was extremely useful and very dynamic for all the participants. It provided important information on the CEFR, in particular the descriptors for different language skills during the developing tasks for language testing of receptive and productive skills. The participants exchanged their experiences and thoughts on testing, exam tasks and evaluation.

In addition to the criteria important for the development of tests, the evaluation criteria were also elaborated and the need for continuous improvement in the field of testing was emphasized.”

Ivančica Banković-Mandić, local coordinator, 15 July 2024

ECML project website: RELANG, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2024 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

Local organiser: Gísli Hvanndal Ólafsson, University of Iceland    

ECML experts: Rita Jukneviciene, Lithuania; Gábor Szabo, Hungary

Participants: 16 (language testers and examiners, item writers, teachers and teacher trainers, curriculum developers, language inspectors, policymakers, language researchers)

"In May 2024, specialists from the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) conducted a three-day workshop on the principles of valid and reliable language testing within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the School of Humanities, University of Iceland. This workshop was part of ECML's initiative "Relating language curricula, tests, and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference" (RELANG) and was attended by sixteen teachers, curriculum developers, and test developers from the University of Iceland.

The workshop was very well organised and highly successful. It greatly benefited all attendees who appreciated the valuable practical tips and guidance from the ECML experts. Participants received comprehensive training in CEFR level descriptors and gained insights into critical aspects of ensuring the validity and reliability of item development and accurate assessment. The RELANG workshop has proven invaluable for the specialists involved in developing the national CEFR curriculum and tests for Icelandic as a second language at the University of Iceland."

Gísli Hvanndal Ólafsson, local coordinator, 21 June 2024

ECML project website: RELANG, ECML-EC cooperation agreement 2024 "Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning"

The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe together with the European Commission are launching a new round of workshops within the joint action on Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning focusing on the following initiatives:

• RELANG – Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference
• Supporting Multilingual Classrooms
  
• ICT-REV – Using ICT in support of language teaching and learning

The activities are scheduled to take place between end of February and mid-December 2024, the three initiatives offering up to 17 national workshops during this period.

The call is open to current European Union member states and the additional member states of the ECML until 10 January 2024.

For further information, please contact Adelina Rosca (adelina.rosca@ecml.at), the ECML-EU cooperation agreement coordinator.