Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria A short overview Strategic considerations

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 2 ELP Models ELP for Young Learners (Age 6-10) ELP for Lower Secondary (10-15) ELP for „Young Adults“ (15-19+)

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 3 Common characteristics Designed as to stimulate and support –modern, functional language teaching, –language and intercultural awareness –learning and research techniques –Introspection, self-awareness (matched to age group) –autonomous planning, goal setting Developing pluri-/multilingualism –Plurilingualism (e.g. dialect, migrant background) –Multilingualism in the classroom / community Getting used to an „international“ instrument

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 4 Testing and evaluating.. Each Portfolio was –piloted by 40 teachers & 800 – 1000 students –evaluated systematically by both target groups –revised after evaluation Topics of Evaluation were –General acceptance, usability, layout, preferences for parts of ELP, etc. –Actual work in the classroom, influence on teaching and learning behaviour (ESp 15+), changes in teaching methodes and styles –Teacher-student interaction, teacher-cooperation –Conditions for dissemination of ELP to a wider public; –Necessary conditions for teachers to (learn to) introduce the ELP into their classrooms

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 5 Strategies of dissemination & implementation Pilot teachers  multipliers/TT  database on ÖSZ website Teacher training (in-service) Design of teacher education courses Offer of ELP „free of charge“ for interested schools Connect ELP to innovations widely known in the public (educational standards) CROMO (intercultural supplement; It/SLO/AT) PR (educational electronic platforms) Project „SEMLANG“ (ELP in European teacher education – „Kelly report“)

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 6 Strategies: Publications Designed as „help for self-help“-materials: Special focuses (e.g checklists for slower learners; „CROMO on intercultural learning)) Practical teaching examples Materials for Multipliers Step-by-step guides for the practical use of ELP in the classroom

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 7  It‘s all not enough!

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 8 Supporting / impeding factors + ELP meets interest of motivated teachersELP meets interest of motivated teachers Makes „pedagogical dreams“ come trueMakes „pedagogical dreams“ come true „European“ instrument„European“ instrument-- Preaching to the convertedPreaching to the converted No intrinsic need for ELP feltNo intrinsic need for ELP felt Not widely knownNot widely known Price (costs)Price (costs) Challenging (complexity, text load)Challenging (complexity, text load) Little interest from the side of parents, school inspectionLittle interest from the side of parents, school inspection

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 9 Impact on language teaching and learning Very hard to estimate! More discussion about pedagogical/ methodological issues, such as –learner autonomy / self-directed learning –Assessment, (self-)evaluation –CEFR (tertiary colleges; universities) –Interest of publication houses –BUT: more conservative language textbooks! (???) Pluri- and Multilingualism high(er) on the agenda –Conferences, meetings –LEPP-process in AT –Working programme of the Minister

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria 10 The future … … is not ours to see, BUT: Embed ELP in current school development initiatives (e.g. „Neue Mittelschule“) Some flexibility in ELP application to be considered … (reduce complexity?) Link to schoolbooks Electronic versus palimpsest …?? From „ELP-couples“ to whole school approach (cf. John Trim: „If in doubt, small is beautiful…“)

Dissemination and Implementation of ELP in Austria Merci für Ihre attention! Gunther Abuja