Qualifications + Standards

European Language Portfolio

Junior ELP | Adult/vocational ELP

As part of the Common European Framework for Language Learning and in order to make lifelong language learning more meaningful, the Council of Europe has proposed that learners should be able to build up a personal languages portfolio.
The European Language Portfolio was developed and piloted by the Modern Languages Division of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, from 1998 until 2000. It was launched on a pan-European level during the European Year of Languages 2001 as a tool to support the development of plurilingualism and pluriculturalism.

What is a European Language Portfolio?

It is a document in which those who are learning or have learned a language - whether at school or outside school - can record their language learning and cultural experiences.

The portfolio has pedagogic and reporting functions and contains three parts.

Language Passport

The Passport section provides an overview of the individual's proficiency in different languages at a given point in time; the overview is defined in terms of skills and the common reference levels in the Common European Framework; it records formal qualifications and describes language competencies and significant language and intercultural learning experiences; it includes information on partial and specific competence; it allows for self-assessment, teacher assessment and assessment by educational institutions and examinations boards; it requires that information entered in the Passport states on what basis, when and by whom the assessment was carried out. To facilitate pan-European recognition and mobility a standard presentation of a Passport Summary is promoted by the Council of Europe for ELPs for adults.

Language Biography

The Language Biography facilitates the learner's involvement in planning, reflecting upon and assessing his or her learning process and progress; it encourages the learner to state what he/she can do in each language and to include information on linguistic and cultural experiences gained in and outside formal educational contexts; it is organised to promote plurilingualism i.e. the development of competencies in a number of languages.

Dossier

The Dossier offers the learner the opportunity to select materials to document and illustrate achievements or experiences recorded in the Language Biography or Passport.
All competence is valued, regardless whether gained inside or outside of formal education.

The European Language Portfolio is the property of the learner.
It is linked to the Common European Framework of reference for Languages.
A set of common principles and guidelines has been agreed for all Portfolios.

Aims

The European Language Portfolio seeks to promote the aims of the Council of Europe. These include the development of democratic citizenship in Europe through:
1. the deepening of mutual understanding and tolerance among citizens in Europe;
2. the protection and promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity;
3. the promotion of lifelong language and intercultural learning for plurilingualism through the development of learner responsibility and learner autonomy;
4. the clear and transparent description of competences and qualifications to facilitate coherence in language provision and mobility in Europe.
The Ministers of Education of all the member States of the Council of Europe have recommended that governments, in keeping with their education policy, support the introduction of a European Language Portfolio.

Junior and Adult European Language Portfolio Models

CILT organised pilots of 2 versions of the ELP in England, a junior model and an adult/vocational model, both of which have now been validated and accredited by The Council of Europe. Both models have, therefore, been published.

Further information on the Junior version is available at www.cilt.org.uk/primary/elp.htm

Further information on the adult portfolio is available at www.cilt.org.uk/qualifications/elp/adultelp.htm.

More information about the ELP, including links to models for different age groups from across Europe can be found on the Council of Europe website at: http://www.coe.int/portfolio