EAQUALS-ALTE e-ELP Barbara Stevens Trevor Lawrence October 2004

2 A Europe of Knowledge A Europe of Knowledge … an indispensable component to consolidate and enrich European citizenship, … to give its citizens the necessary competences to face the challenges of the new millennium

3 Issues Raised Language study - need to define Clear objectives mother tongue + 2 Learning outcomes Quality assurance at National/ European/ International level European Accreditation

4 Association of Language Testers in Europe Members 28 Basque /Basque Government Catalan /Generalitat de Catalunya Danish /Danish Language Testing Consortium Dutch /CITOgroep /Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (CNaVT ) English /University of Cambridge ESOL Finnish /University of Jyväskylä French /Alliance Française Centre international d’études pédagogiques German/Goethe-InstitutInter Nationes Spanish/ Instituto Cervantes /Universidad de Salamanca

5 New full members Estonian: National Examination and Qualification Centre Hungarian: Idgennyelvi Továbbképzö Központ Latvian: Naturalisation Board of Latvia Lithuanian : Vilnius University Polish: Jagellonian University Instytut Polonijny Slovenia: University of Ljubljana ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Russian: Russian Language Testing Consortium Bulgarian: Sofia University:

6 Aims of ALTE To establish common levels of proficiency in order to promote the transnational recognition of language certification in an enlarged Europe To establish common standards for all stages of the language-testing process: QA To collaborate on joint projects and in the exchange of ideas and know-how

7 ALTE Framework To establish common levels of proficiency in order to promote the trans-national recognition of language certification in Europe ALTE Framework of Levels

8 ALTE Framework of Language Examinations CEFR Language A1 A2 B1B2C1C2 BasqueEGA CatalanCertificat nivell basic Certificat nivell elemental Certificat nivell intermedi Certificat nivell suficiencia Certificat nivell superior DutchPTITPMTPPTPAT-

9 ALTE Framework of Language Examinations CEFR Language A1 Breakthrough A2B1B2C1C2 French - CEFP 1CEFP2 Diplome de Langue Francaise DL DSDHEF German Start Deutsch 1 Start Deutsch 2ZD-ZMPZOP KDS Spanish--Diploma Nivel inicial Diploma Nivel intermedio -Diploma Nivel Superior

10 ALTE Framework The Framework provides a tool for mobility in an enlarged Europe Trans-national recognition of qualifications Offers “the graded certification of language competence on an international level”

11 European Language Portfolio To collaborate on joint projects and in the exchange of ideas and know-how ALTE INGO COUNCIL OF EUROPE + EAQUALS EAQUALS/ALTE European Language Portfolio EAQUALS/ALTE validated paper based ELP: Focus on LLL learner autonomy and self assessment For adult 16 + learners in Fr De En It Spanish, Basque, Croatian Russian and Polish

12 Lifelong Language Learning as well as Certification Plurilingualism Reflection on language learning progress Mobility in Europe Aims of the Portfolio

13 CEFR levels Transparency Self assessment Reflection Concepts of the Portfolio

14 ALTE/EAQUALS Portfolio Contains A passport Reporting function A language biography Records language learning experiences A dossier Contains samples of material

15 Background Investigate feasibility of creating an electronic version of the European Language Portfolio (ELP) Meeting in February 2004 between representatives from ALTE and EAQUALS

16 Considerations Small Budget Pilot Project – Small user base – Test waters Replicate current hard copy ELP – Reduce the potential for GUI Design creativity – Breaking Design standards for Windows Maintain Pedagogical Aims

17 The solution Downloadable application that runs on the desktop. – Allows electronic capture and maintenance of all language learner experiences in all European languages – Publication of PDF version of Language Passport Summary – Import and export of data via XML – User Profiles allows multiple users on a single computer – English and French are languages of administration for pilot

18 Advantages Lightweight Solution – no database or other connection dependencies Accessible to all – Java application runs on any computer Portability of data – Use of XML Minimum Maintenance Costs – Only small site for download of application (minimises hosting considerations)

19 Project Status Pilot version is in development Testing Stage – Later this year Release Pilot – Q1 Next Year – Available as download from ALTE/EAQUALS websites and

20 Next Steps Review Pilot – Look and feel – Use on local computer – Data transfer, Interoperability Monitor emerging ePortfolio standards – IMS Specifications, OSPI, EIfEL Ongoing discussions with related organisations

21 In Closing Demonstration of development of pilot system to date Questions and Answers