Council of Europe Language Policies: Empowering Plurilingual Education

1. Waldek Martyniuk ECML, Graz, Austria The CEFR in the context of Council of Europe‘s work on languages

2. Council of Europe • set up 1949 by 10 member states • in February 2009, the Council of Europe has 47 member states • based in Strasbourg, France • political international Organisation • main bodies: Committee of Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe and European Court of Human Rights. Guiding principles: democracy, human rights and rule of law.

3. Language Policy Division (LPD) Strasbourg, France European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Strasbourg, France European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) Graz, Austria Council of Europe and languages – institutions

4. Council of Europe and language education – basic concepts • Plurilingualism • Plurilingual education • Lifelong learning • Social cohesion • Democratic citizenship • Intercultural dialogue

5. Council of Europe and language education – the concept of plurilingualism • expandable, individual language ability • competences of different kinds and levels for different purposes within a plurilingual repertoire (profile) • building up – not multiplying competences • global, coherent policy for all languages

6. Council of Europe and languages – policy instruments • European Convention on Human Rights (1950) • European Cultural Convention (1954) • European Charter for Minority or Regional Languages (1992) • Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1995)

7. Council of Europe and languages – policy instruments • Recommendation 98 (6) on modern languages • Recommendation 2008 (7) on the use of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the promotion of plurilingualism

8. Council of Europe and language education – policy instruments and initiatives • Modern Languages Project – ‚Threshold Level‘ specifications (1970-90) • Guide for the Development of Language Education Policies + studies • Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) • European Language Portfolio (ELP) + supporting documents

9. Council of Europe and language education – policy instruments and initiatives • Reference Level Descriptions for national/regional languages • Language Education Policy Profiles • Manual for Relating Language Examinations to the CEFR + supporting materials

10. Language Policies for Democratic Citizenship and Social Cohesion (2006-9) • A platform of resources and references for language(s) in and of school education • Language testing and migration – a framework of reference • Curriculum reference framework for Romani • Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters • A guide for CEFR-based curriculum development • A guide for CEFR-based test development

11. Languages for Social Cohesion – the ECML medium-term programme of activities 2004-7 • 21 projects, 4 thematic areas: • Coping with linguistic and social diversity • Communication in a multicultural society: the development of intercultural communicative competence • Professional development and reference tools for language educators • Innovative approaches and new technologies in the teaching and learning of languages

12. Empowering Language Professionals – the ECML medium-term programme of activities 2008-11 • 20 projects, 4 thematic areas: • Evaluation • Continuity in language education • Content and language integrated learning • Plurilingual eduaction

13. More information on the Council of Europe language education policies, initiatives and instruments:www.coe.int/langwww.coe.int/portfoliowww.ecml.at Thank you for your kind attention!