Gazette 46 - March-April 2019

There are just over two weeks left to respond to the European Centre for Modern Languages’ Call for its forthcoming programme, entitled Inspiring innovation in language education: changing contexts, evolving competences.

The Call is based on a wide range of possible themes, so if you have innovative ideas on language teaching and learning it represents an excellent chance to make a positive contribution to this increasingly important area at a European level. Don’t just take our word for it – you can see what some of the current project coordinators say about their experiences with the ECML!

You can apply either as a coordinator of a project or as a team member:

• As a coordinator, you are invited to propose an outline for a language education project, based on the priority areas determined by the 33 ECML member states, as well
as details of your experience and expertise in this area
• To apply as a team member, you are simply invited to outline your expertise and experience in the area for which you are applying

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to share and enrich your ideas on language education through European cooperation, with the support of a renowned Council of Europe institution!

Further details on the forthcoming ECML programme, its priorities and on how to apply are available at: www.ecml.at/call

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 22 April 2019.

Teacher competences relating to language teaching and languages in education are crucial factors in the quality and effectiveness of education. Several previous projects have generated frameworks and descriptions of many of these competences. However, no overview of these frameworks and their potential uses, and no overarching framework covering all aspects of languages in teaching yet exist. This project seeks to bridge these gaps.

• What need is there for a future resource that describes the competences of language teachers and the language-related competences necessary for teaching other subjects?
• Is it feasible to propose a model with common competences for all teachers, and specific adaptations for different kinds of teachers?
• In what ways could the development of such a resource be of concrete value for teacher education and professional development?

All project outputs are in the process of finalisation and will be made available online in the course of 2019:

• an online user guide to instruments describing language teacher competences and selected practice examples of instruments in use;
• an overview of teacher competences (the ‘inventory’);
• a needs and feasibility report of a future framework (summary of insights from the project, consultations, the online survey etc.);
• a glossary.

The expert teams of the ECML activities “Working with an electronic European Language Portfolio for better language learning” and “Use of ICT in support of language teaching and learning” prepared their 2019 training workshops with local organisers from Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Montenegro, and Sweden at the ECML in Graz. More information on the individual training sessions are now available on the dedicated websites:

• Electronic European Language Porfolio
• Online technology


• Full news item

Based on seven years experience with the ECML, the ECML training and consultancy team “A pluriliteracies approach to teaching for learning” revised and fully animated their model of Pluriliteracies Teaching for Deeper Learning. This video is now available on the ECML website. The model offers a holistic view of integration that transcends the issue of content vs. language. The video highlights that deeper learning and personal growth only occur when all the four dimensions of the model are active simultaneously:

• (Co-) constructing knowledge
• Demonstrating understanding
• Learner mindset
• Mentoring learning

This fully searchable directory is intended to facilitate collaboration between professionals from different language teacher associations and other language organisations, as well as across different languages, regions and countries. The directory can be used, for example, to find partners at national and international level for projects, events, competitions, to publicise your activities and publications, to campaign for languages or to seek sponsorship, etc.

The directory currently lists only a small proportion of the language associations and institutions - mainly based in Europe. If you wish your organisation to be added to the directory or to recommend other missing organisations/associations please contact us.

Kirwan Deirdre, ILLEY – Inspiring language learning in the early years", In Touch, April 2019, pp. 52-53.
Article written by Déirdre Kirwan, team member of the ECML project "Inspiring language learning in the early years - Why it matters and what it looks like for children age 3-12" for the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) magazine In Touch. This magazine is delivered in hard copy to primary teachers on the island of Ireland every month and is also distributed to all tertiary education establishments.

Find all the news on the 24th edition of the Week of the French language and of Francophonie: website

Revue internationale d'éducation de Sèvres no. 79

Dossier « Enseigner le français aux enfants »

Newsletters

"La lettre du CIEP": no. 61, February 2019

"Veille et ressources documentaires du CIEP": January 2019 - March 2019

"Veille sur les ressources pédagogiques pour l’enseignement du français": March 2019

Newsletter edited by the Délégation générale à la langue française et aux langues de France : February 2019

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is one of the most comprehensive treaties designed to protect the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.

Resolutions

Resolution CM/ResCMN(2019)4 on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by Lithuania (adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 27 March 2019 at the 1342nd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

Resolution CM/ResCMN(2019)5 on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by North Macedonia (adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 27 March 2019 at the 1342nd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

Advisory Committee Opinions, State Reports

Albania: publication of the 4th Advisory Committee Opinion
Azerbaijan: publication of the 4th Advisory Committee Opinion
Croatia: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report
Cyprus: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report
Denmark: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report
Finland: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report
Germany: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report
Hungary: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report
Lithuania: publication of the 4th Advisory Committee Opinion
Russian Federation: publication of the 4th Advisory Committee Opinion
Slovak Republic: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report
Spain: receipt of the 5th cycle State Report

Advisory Committee: adoption of three (restricted) Opinions under the implementation of this convention in Netherlands, Georgia and Montenegro

"On 8 April, we will celebrate International Roma Day. This is a day to celebrate Roma culture and Roma contributions to European societies, and the cultural diversity of Europe." (Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights).

Languages play a crucial role in the daily lives of people not only as a tool for communication, education, social integration and development, but also as a repository for each person’s unique identity, cultural history, traditions and memory. But despite their immense value, languages around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate. With this in mind, the United Nations declared 2019 The Year of Indigenous Languages (IY2019) in order to raise awareness of them, not only to benefit the people who speak these languages, but also for others to appreciate the important contribution they make to our world’s rich cultural diversity.

https://en.iyil2019.org/

Trends Shaping Education 2019

Measuring innovation in education 2019: What has changed in the classroom?

Helping our youngest to learn and grow: Policies for early Learning, International Summit on the teaching profession

Getting skills right: Future-ready adult learning systems

Leading together: insights from ministers and teachers on the future of education (blog article)

OECD Education Working Papers:
The lives of teachers in diverse classrooms

Education Indicators in Focus:
Why does the Sustainable Development Goal on Education (SDG 4) matter for OECD countries?

Podcast:
How will technology and artificial intelligence (A.I.) affect education?