2. Training teachers to use the European Language Portfolio
ECML-short term project
ELP_TT2
Ülle Türk, Estonia

3. The common reference levels of the CEFR
Developed by Dick Meijer, adapted by Ülle Türk

4. CEFR levels
The Common European Framework of Reference (Council of Europe 2001) defines communicative proficiency
At six levels, arranged in three bands
A1 A2
B1 B2
C1 C2
in relation to five skills: listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production, writing
in the form of “can do” statements

5. Getting to know the levels
The self-assessment grid is not enough
More specific scales:
CEFR Ch 4: descriptors of communicative activities
CEFR Ch 5: descriptors of linguistic competence
Familiarisation activities:
Filling in the gaps
Sorting the descriptors

6. Self-assessment using the CEFR levels
Questions to be answered:
How do I know which level I am at?
How can I prove it?

7. Working with the CEFR levels
Gaining experience with the ELP:
Assess your own competence in a foreign language you know but don’t teach
What criteria did you apply in assessing yourself?
What would you do to improve your competence?
What learning activities would help you?
What are the three most persuasive solutions in your group?

8. Steps to be followed in the workshop:
Step 1: Complete the checklist on spoken interaction for a foreign language you know but don’t teach.
Step 2: Note down the reasons why you think you are at this level.
Step 3: Make a note of the evidence you can give to support your self-assessment.

9. Step 4: Working in groups of three or four, discuss the reasons you have come up with and select those which could be used by teachers introducing the ELP
Step 5: Are the different kinds of evidence you noted down related to particular CEF levels?
Step 6: ”Translate” the evidence into a learning activity and describe it briefly to the others.