Introduction |
Council of Europe Language Policy Division
Since 1954 the Language Policy Division of the Council of Europe has
been responsible for a series of influential programmes which have helped
to shape thinking about language teaching and learning, not only in Europe,
but throughout the world.
Recent initiatives of the Language Policy Division include:
- A
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The purpose
of the Framework is to provide a basis for the mutual recognition of
language qualifications, thus facilitating educational and occupational
mobility. The Framework includes a grids outlining levels of competence
in terms of what the learner can do.
- The
European Language Portfolio was developed as a document in which
those who are learning or have learned a language - whether at school
or outside school - can record and reflect on their language learning
and cultural experiences. Member States have been encouraged to submit
their own versions of the Portfolio for approval and further details
of the vocational and primary portfolios
developed by CILT will be found on our web site.
- The European Year of Languages in 2001, a collaboration with the European
Union, the permanent sequel of which is the European
Day of Languages, now administered by ECML. CILT is the UK Relay
for the European Day of Languages and information about what is happening
in the UK will be found at www.cilt.org.uk/edl.
- Policy development on plurilingual education, through, in particular, a major conference, Languages, Diversity, Citizenship: Policies for Plurilingualism in Europe (2002) and a publication, Guide for the development of language education policies in Europe: From linguistic diversity to plurilingual education.
Further information will be found on the Council of Europe's web site.
