The Council of Europe’s Language Policy Unit has just launched of thenew website dedicated to the linguistic integration of adult migrants (LIAM):www.coe.int/lang-migrants. The aim of the website is to help member states develop and implement policy in this area. It draws on the outcomes of the LIAM project, which complements Council of Europe normative instruments and recommendations.

The aim of the website is to offer guiding principles as well as practical support: in addition to guidelines concerning language policy and innovative reference instruments to aid the implementation of policy, the website also provides resources designed to help both decision-makers and practioners.

Background papers on main aspects, practical instruments and the various other resources available on the website are complemented by a list of “key terms”, each of which links to short informative items relating to challenging issues in the field (see also “Overview of the section content''). 

It is not the aim of the LIAM website to promote any specific approach to the provision of language support for migrants or the assessment of their language proficiency. Rather its aim is to facilitate reflection and wider discussion of policies and to share best practice at European level. In contexts where language tests are obligatory, the website aims to support transparency, high quality, and equity in line with internationally accepted codes of practice. The attached document offers some examples of the LIAM website’s contents.

The Language Policy Unit is about to launch its 3rd survey on integration and language policies for adult migrants to gather information on language-related prerequisites for granting migrants entry to the host country, residence permits or work permits, and citizenship. The purpose of the survey is to identify developments in member states in the assessment and support of adult migrants’ language proficiency. Summaries of the results of previous surveys (in 2008 and 2010) are available on the new website.

You are invited to disseminate this information among interested colleagues and partners.

http://www.coe.int/t/DG4/LINGUISTIC/liam/default_en.asp