Gazette 47 - May-July 2019

18 years ago on 26 September 2002, the first ever European Day of Languages took place. In the subsequent years the Day has gone from strength to strength. This year more events than ever are planned around Europe and indeed the world, organised by schools, universities, cultural institutes, associations, municipalities, businesses and many other organisations and by many very dedicated individuals. If you are involved in the organisation of an event this year, you can showcase your creative ideas and activities through the EDL calendar which listed activities from over 50 countries in 2018. On the EDL website (http://www.coe.int/edl) you will also find a treasure trove of ideas for activities and resources to help you celebrate the rich diversity of Europe’s languages and make the 26 September a very special day!

What do you dare to do in a foreign language? The EDL language challenge

The language challenge handbook contains a series of 51 ‘challenges’ which encourage learners (or ‘special agents’ in training as we call them in the handbook…) to go a little outside their comfort zone and take advantage of the many opportunities available to practice or learn more about a language. The handbook offers a range of fun challenges that can either be taken independently or in the classroom, so that the ‘special agents’ are fully prepared for their next mission! Some are easy and don’t involve much time, whilst others are a bit more demanding – hopefully there is something for everyone. Anyone completing 20 challenges or more can reward themselves with a certificate from the website.

To add an extra incentive to the initiative, the 51st challenge is “What do you dare to do in a foreign language?” and invites users to create a short video clip, either based on the one of the challenges in the handbook or on one of their own invention and upload it to the EDL website.

The handbook, which is inspired by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute’s (University of Ottawa) Linguistic Risk-Taking initiative, is currently available in English and French and we hope to have it in 20+ languages well in advance of the Day.
https://edl.ecml.at/languagechallenge

• "Europäischer Tag der Sprachen: 'Wir feiern die sprachliche Vielfalt Europas'": article published on the website of Goethe Institut (available in German and English)
• EDL website (accessible in 38 languages)
• Follow us on Facebook European Day of Languages

The Roadmap is aimed at primary and secondary schools seeking to help all their students to succeed academically. The focus is primarily on the students who depend on the school to develop their competences in the language of schooling, i.e. the language usually used to teach the different school subjects. The lack or limited access to this language in a family context, for whichever reasons can hinder these students from gaining access to knowledge on the same basis as others.

During 2018, the project team, in collaboration with a large number of experts, developed an online self-assessment tool as the first step of the Roadmap. 2019 will see the finalisation of the Roadmap with the establishment of a database of promising practices, gathered from the ECML projects and from teacher practice from different countries in Europe. The schools using the Roadmap will receive a complete feedback on their strengths and level of progress.

• Full news item
• Project website (available in English, French and German)

In the last six months, the team members of the "Towards a common European framework for language teachers" project have been engaged in an intensive final round of review and consultation. The online Guide to instruments and frameworks describing teacher competences for language education will be finalised over the summer. The analysis of 40 competence frameworks has inspired the team to propose a model of teacher competences which, while related to learners’ language and intercultural competences, are common to all teachers.

• Full news item
• Project website

In September 2019, the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, plan to launch another round of activity within the joint action on Innovative methodologies and assessment in language learning.

The action includes two initiatives: RELANG and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms. RELANG focuses on relating foreign/second language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and Supporting Multilingual Classrooms focuses on the linguistic integration of migrant learners in schools across Europe. The activities are scheduled to take place from 21 September 2019 to 20 September 2020, each initiative offering up to 9 national workshops during this period.

The call is open to current European Union member states and the additional member states of the ECML until 5 July 2019.
For further information, please contact Adelina Rosca (adelina.rosca@ecml.at), the ECML-EC cooperation agreement coordinator.

Latest newsletter edited in German by the Austrian Language Competence Centre (ÖSZ), the national Contact Point for the ECML in Austria: "Sprachbox no. 2" (June 2019) focuses on the European Language Festival in Graz (25 September 2019)

Latest online news

Norway is committed to a high quality and equitable education system and has started to implement the new competence development model that sets out to develop teacher professionalism with in-service professional development.

The OECD report Improving school quality in Norway. The new competence development model aims to support Norway in this effort. It proposes concrete actions to adapt the implementation strategy for impact. It is valuable not only for Norway, but also to the many countries that are looking to promote school-based professional development and bridge the gap between policy design and effective implementation.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is the European convention for the protection and promotion of languages used by traditional minorities. Together with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities it constitutes the Council of Europe's commitment to the protection of national minorities.

Impressions on minorities and minority languages in a changing Europe
The conclusions and impressions of the 20th anniversary conference of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (18-19 June 2018) are now available in the form of a brochure.

70 years of advocacy for minority rights in Europe: strengthening the monitoring mechanism of the Charter
On 28 November 2018, the Ministers' Deputies adopted changes to be made in the operation of the Charter's monitoring mechanism with a view to strengthening it. These will enter into force on 1 July 2019.
Learn more about the preliminary discussions and the details of the reform.

Recent national developments: reports and recommendations
Czech Republic
Hungary
Serbia

More information about the Charter

The Council of Europe has recently published an Issue Paper on human rights aspects of immigrant and refugee integration policies based on a comparative assessment of 11 Council of Europe member states. The Issue Paper focuses on specific integration policies such as learning the language or acquiring knowledge about the political institutions, society and democratic values of the receiving country, as well as residency requirements, income thresholds or housing requirements in the context of family reunification.

• Press release, 16 April 2019

Ready for future challenges: reinforcing the Council of Europe, April 2019
Annual report by Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, for the 129th Ministerial Session in Helsinki, 16-17 May 2019.
Press release

Annual report on ECRI's activities covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2018
Hate speech and xenophobic populism remained major concerns in Europe in 2018
Press release

New series of didactic and awareness videos addressing local governments wishing to evolve as intercultural municipalities.
What interculturalism is about?
The video introduces policy makers, practitioners and local authorities’ staff to the main principles of the intercultural approach as both a philosophy and a policy paradigm for inclusive integration. Examples of good practices drawn from ICC member cities are also showcased.

Manual on community policing launched by the Intercultural Cities (ICC) programme.
The Manual provides local police, including high-rank police managers, public safety directors, managers, and decision makers, with guidance to implement policing principles to design new procedures, protocols, structures and specialised units in their police community, to effectively address the challenges that diversity may pose to the achievement of peaceful coexistence, in the medium and long term.
Press release

Digital citizenship... and your child - What every parent needs to know and do
We are all taught at home, at school and through our daily activities how to become responsible citizens, but today it is vital that we, and our children, also become digital citizens.

European Council Recommendation on a comprehensive approach to the teaching and learning of languages

Language skills are at the heart of the ambitious vision to create a European Education Area. Being able to speak foreign languages is not only a skill needed for studying abroad, but also on increasingly international job markets. Learning languages enables people to both discover foreign cultures and to broaden their perspectives.

• boost language learning by the end of compulsory education by focusing on achieving specific competence levels, based on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR);
• introduce into education and training the concept of language awareness, which provides an inclusive framework for language learning taking into account individuals’ language skills;
• ensure that more language teachers have the opportunity to learn and study abroad;
• identify and promote innovative, inclusive and multilingual teaching methods using tools and platforms at the EU-level, such as the School Education Gateway and eTwinning.

The Council welcomed the European Commission's intention to "strengthen cooperation with the Council of Europe, and the European Centre for Modern Languages, in the field of language learning to enhance innovative methods in teaching and learning of languages and increase awareness of the crucial role of language learning in modern societies".

Bucharest Declaration on the role of culture in building Europe’s future
The EU Ministers of Culture adopted the declaration within the framework of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union during their informal meeting on 16 April 2019.
Among others, they acknowledge "the need to ensure a holistic and strategic approach to cultural policies at EU and MS level in order to highlight the diversity and wealth of Europe’s cultures and languages, the vitality and sustainability of the European cultural and creative sectors, as well as a shared cultural heritage creating a sense of common belonging to the EU". They believe that promoting linguistic diversity will facilitate the circulation of works, ideas and knowledge across Europe and beyond. And they emphasise the importance of EU support for the mobility of artists and of cultural and creative professionals, as well as for the cross-border exchange of artistic and cultural works. They believe that this helps promote cultural cooperation and exchanges, intercultural dialogue and language skills.
Full version of the Declaration
Press release of the Informal Meeting of the Ministers of Culture in Bucharest (16 April 2019)

Recent resources

European Commission

Vocational mobility in Europe: analysing provision, take-up and impact

Brussels statement on multilingualism: multilingual communication, a vehicle to bring international organisations closer to the citizens

European Council
The dictionary "EU terms in English to Finnish" is very useful when you need to find the translation of EU words and expressions in English and Finnish. It contains words and expressions from all policy areas, but also more general language.

CEDEFOP
Vocational education and training systems in Europe at a glance

EPALE
Can adult learning create active citizens?

EURYDICE
Recommended annual instruction time in full-time compulsory education in Europe – 2018/19

School Education Gateway

Watch the webinar on "Literacy skills", recorded on 30  April 2019 with Christine Garbe, Universität zu Köln, to gain an overview of the required literacy instruction in schools, and how teachers can prepare themselves for introducing these skills in their classrooms.

Watch the webinar "Teacher vs. game - who is the real game-changer?", recorded on 28 May 2019 with Daniela Hau, to learn more about how to get the best out of games in classrooms, and what are the benefits games have for both teachers and students.

Watch the webinar "Social and emotional learning - Fostering skills for today’s classrooms", recorded on 11 June 2019 with Carmel Cefai, Rita Arundel, Kelly Roberts et Lisa Greenough, to learn what social and emotional learning (SEL) means for both students and teachers in the classroom.

Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning, hosted by the Fryske Akademy, researches multilingual education and language learning in Europe. For policy makers and professional workers, it is an independent and recognized reference centre.

Newsletter: Issue no. 151, May 2019 | Issue no. 152, June 2019