Key insights

• Language Proficiency Assessment and Impact in Canada

  • 🍁 Endorsed and recommended for adoption in Canada by the Council of Ministers of Education
  • 📖 Widely used as a reference tool for language teaching, learning, and assessment across the European Union and Canada
  • 📈 Growth of international language credentials and testing centers in Canada
  • 🏫 Alignment of language curricula in various Canadian provinces to the CEFR
  • ⚙️ Encouragement for educators to implement the CEFR in language classrooms
  • 👩‍🏫 Adoption of the CEFR seen as the future direction for language teaching and learning in Canada

• European Language Portfolio (ELP)

  • 📒 A means of recording and reflecting on skills and experiences in different languages acquired in school or outside
  • 🤔 Promotes metacognition and self-reflection for learners
  • 📘 Consists of three components: passport, biography, and dossier
  • 🔍 Guided reflection process focuses on A1 and A2 levels, considering adult context at higher levels
  • 📑 Components include: passport, biography, and dossier
  • 🔖 The dossier is a collection of items chosen by the learner to showcase their language proficiency and intercultural experiences

• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

  • 🌍 Development of the CEFR by the Council of Europe due to increased mobility within the European Union
  • 📚 Breakdown of language skills into reading, writing, spoken production, spoken interaction, and listening with levels ranging from A1 to C2
  • 🎯 Concrete examples and outcome-oriented approach of the CEFR
  • 📊 Proficiency-based and ranges from A1 to C2 levels
  • 💼 B2 level is considered the international standard for employment
  • 📝 Provides detailed categorization of language proficiency and offers evidence-based assessments through can-do statements

Q&A

• What impact is the CEFR having in Canada?

  The CEFR is widely used as a reference tool for language teaching, learning, and assessment across Canada, leading to a nationwide alignment of curricula to the CEFR. It is endorsed for adoption in Canada and has become a key focus for language assessment and education, with provinces and territories aligning their language courses and curricula to the CEFR.

• How does the ELP promote learner-centered reflection and goal setting?

  The biography component of the ELP encourages goal setting, self-assessment, and alignment with curriculum's 'I can' statements for communicative language proficiency. It reflects learner's progress and experiences.

• What does the dossier component of the ELP contain?

  The dossier is a collection of items chosen by the learner to showcase their language proficiency and intercultural experiences, such as emails, language interactions, cultural artifacts, oral samples, and language credentialing. It aims to promote metacognition and meaningful engagement with language learning across different language areas.

• What does the passport component of the ELP provide?

  The passport is like a snapshot of an individual's language proficiency and formal qualifications, including language credentials and significant language-related experiences. It is used for articulation purposes and can be in digital format, adaptable for different age levels.

• What is the European Language Portfolio (ELP)?

  The ELP is a means of recording and reflecting on language skills and experiences acquired in school or outside. It consists of three components: passport, biography, and dossier, promoting metacognition and self-reflection for learners.

• What is the purpose of the CEFR?

  The CEFR provides a common basis for describing language proficiency, offers evidence-based assessments through can-do statements, and helps employers and educational institutions direct individuals towards suitable jobs or classes.

• How does the CEFR categorize language proficiency?

  The CEFR categorizes language proficiency into reading, writing, spoken production, spoken interaction, and listening, with levels ranging from A1 to C2. It provides concrete examples and is outcome-oriented.

• What is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)?

  The CEFR is a proficiency-based framework validated for many languages, ranging from A1 to C2 levels. B2 is considered the international standard for employment. It offers a simple, concrete, and linear progression approach, taking years to progress through the levels.

• 00:02 This segment discusses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the European Language Portfolio, addressing the issue of shared language proficiency understanding and the need to describe language skills. The CEFR was developed for vocational and economic purposes due to increased mobility within the European Union. The document breaks down language skills into reading, writing, spoken production, spoken interaction, and listening, with levels ranging from A1 to C2. It provides concrete examples and is outcome-oriented.
• 08:53 The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a proficiency-based framework validated for many languages. It ranges from A1 to C2 levels, and B2 is considered the international standard for employment. The framework is meant to be simple, with concrete examples and a linear progression. It takes years to progress through the levels.
• 17:32 The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) provides a detailed categorization of language proficiency, and can-do statements offer evidence-based assessments. The framework is helpful for employers and educational institutions in directing individuals towards suitable jobs or classes. It also offers a common basis for describing language proficiency and can be understood by all users. The European Language Portfolio (ELP) is a way of recording and reflecting on language skills and experiences.
• 25:40 The European Language Portfolio (ELP) is a tool for learners to reflect on their language skills and experiences. It includes three components: passport, biography, and dossier. The passport provides an overview of language proficiency and formal qualifications.
• 34:17 The guided reflection process primarily focuses on levels A1 and A2. The passport component provides an overview for learners to share with others, while the biography component is learner-centered, encouraging goal setting and self-assessment. It can be aligned with curriculum's 'I can' statements.
• 42:46 The video segment discusses the importance of language proficiency assessment, the use of can-do statements, and the components of the European Language Portfolio, including the passport, biography, and dossier.
• 51:26 The dossier is a collection of items chosen by the learner to showcase their language proficiency and intercultural experiences. It can include emails, language interactions, cultural artifacts, oral samples, language credentialing, and collaboration between language teachers. The ELP aims to promote metacognition and meaningful engagement with language learning across different language areas.
• 59:55 The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is being endorsed and used in Canada, impacting language teaching, assessment, and curriculum development. It is becoming a central tool for language learning, leading to a nationwide alignment of curricula to the CEFR.