7/20/2016

CommonEuropeanFrameworkofReferenceforLanguages:Learning,teaching,assessment(CEFR)

EducationandLanguages,LanguagePolicy
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CommonEuropeanFrameworkofReferenceforLanguages:Learning,Teaching,
Assessment(CEFR)

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TheCEFRonline:FULLTEXT
LanguagePolicyUnit
Fieldsofactivities
Contacts

PolicyInstruments

www.coe.int/langCEFR

TheCEFRexistsin40languageversions

PrefatoryNote
NotesfortheUser
Synopsis

Towardsplurilingual
education:TwoGuidesand
Studies
Developmentofpolicies
Developmentandimplementation
ofcurricula

CommonEuropean
FrameworkofReferencefor
languages(CEFR)
TheCEFRandlanguage
examinations:atoolkit
ReferenceLevelDescriptionsfor
nationalorregionallanguages
(RLD)

LanguageEducationPolicy
Profiles

TheCEFR:transparent,coherentandcomprehensive

The result of over twenty years of research, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching,
assessment(CEFR)isexactlywhatitstitlesaysitis:aframeworkofreference.Itwasdesignedtoprovideatransparent,coherent
andcomprehensivebasisfortheelaborationoflanguagesyllabusesandcurriculumguidelines,thedesignofteachingandlearning
materials, and the assessment of foreign language proficiency. It is used in Europe but also in other continents and is now
availablein40languages.

Sixlevelsofforeignlanguageproficiency

LanguagesofSchooling
Romani
MIGRANTS
InterculturalEducation
Events

The CEFR describes foreign language proficiency at six levels: A1 and A2, B1 and B2, C1 and C2. It also defines three plus
levels (A2+, B1+, B2+). Based on empirical research and widespread consultation, this scheme makes it possible to compare
tests and examinations across languages and national boundaries (see the section The CEFR and language examinations: a
toolkit).Italsoprovidesabasisforrecognisinglanguagequalificationsandthusfacilitatingeducationalandoccupationalmobility.
The CEFRs illustrative scales of can do descriptors are available in a bank of descriptors together with many other related
descriptors.

Resources
Recommendations/
Resolutions
PublicationsandDocuments
Links
Dedicatedwebsites
Platformofresourcesand
referencesforplurilingualand
interculturaleducation
LinguisticIntegrationofAdult
Migrants
EuropeanLanguagePortfolio
AutobiographyofIntercultural
Encounters
EuropeanDayofLanguages

TheCEFRismuchmorethanproficiencyscales

TheCEFRsscalesofforeignlanguageproficiencyareaccompaniedbyadetailedanalysisofcommunicativecontexts,themes,
tasksandpurposesaswellasscaleddescriptionsofthecompetencesonwhichwedrawwhenwecommunicate.Thishelpsto
explainwhytheCEFRisincreasinglyusedinteachereducation,thereformofforeignlanguagecurriculaandthedevelopmentof
teachingmaterials(inthisconnectionseetheresultsofasurveycarriedoutin2006amongCouncilofEuropememberstates).

UsingtheCEFRinspecificcontexts

TheCEFRdoesnotofferreadymadesolutionsbutmustalwaysbeadaptedtotherequirementsofparticularcontexts,for
example,theteachingandlearningofRomaniandofFrenchSignLanguage.Theneedforcarefulinterpretationandadaptationis
especiallyacutewhentheCEFRsdescriptiveapparatusandproficiencylevelsareusedtoexplorethecommunicativeneedsof
adultmigrantsandtoguidetheassessmentoftheirproficiencyinthelanguageoftheirhostcommunity(seetherelevantstudies).

ResponsibilityofmemberstatesintheuseoftheCEFR

In2007theCouncilofEuropeorganisedanintergovernmental forum on The

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the
developmentoflanguagepolicies:challengesandresponsibilities.Thisgave
memberstatesanopportunitytodebateanumberofpolicy issues raised by
the rapid adoption of the CEFR in Europe and the increasingly widespread
useofitsproficiencylevels(seetheforumreportandproposedfollowup).

The2007Forumhadsignificantconsequences.Besidesa
RecommendationontheuseoftheCEFR(seetextbox),new
initiativesaimedtodeveloptherichnessoftheCEFRbeyond
theproficiencyscales.Aplatformofresourcesandreferences
forplurilingualandinterculturaleducationhasbeenestablished
tothisendandisgraduallybeingdevelopedbytheproject
Languagesineducation/Languagesforeducation.

Recallingthatineducationalmattersresponsibilitylieswiththememberstates,theforumconcludedthatrather than visvis the

CouncilofEurope,itistowardsone'sownlearnersandone'sEuropeanpartnersthatonehasaresponsibilityformakingcoherent,
realisticuseoftheCEFR.AccordinglyaRecommendationontheuseoftheCEFRhasbeen addressed to the governments of
memberstates(seetextbox).

http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/cadre1_en.asp

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CommonEuropeanFrameworkofReferenceforLanguages:Learning,teaching,assessment(CEFR)

AEuropeanIndicatorofLanguageCompetence

Recommendationstomemberstateson
theCEFR
CouncilofEurope:
EuropeanUnion:

FollowingthecalloftheBarcelonaEuropeanCouncil(March2002),theEuropean
CommissionhasdevelopedasurveybasedontheCEFRtomeasuretheforeign/second
languageproficiencyofpupilsattheendofcompulsoryeducation.Thepurposeofthesurvey
istoestablishaEuropeanIndicatorofLanguageCompetence,providingmemberstateswith
internationallycomparabledataontheresultsofforeignlanguageteachingandlearninginthe
EuropeanUnion.

Supportingmaterialandpublications

List:PublicationsrelatedtotheCEFRandsupportingmaterial(seealsotheonlineversion)
TheCEFRandlanguageexaminations:atoolkit
TherelationbetweentheCEFRandtheEuropeanLanguagePortfolioisexplainedindetailontheELPwebsite:
www.coe.int/portfolio
Publishers
ThecopyrightbelongstotheCouncilofEurope.RequestsconcerningthetranslationorthereproductionofallorpartoftheCEFR
shouldbeaddressedtotheLanguagePolicyUnit(Strasbourg).TheCommonEuropeanFrameworkofReferencefor
LanguagesispublishedinEnglishbyCambridgeUniversityPressISBNHardback0521803136Paperback:0521005310
www.cambridge.org
TheFrenchversionispublishedbyEditionsDidier:
Cadreeuropencommunderfrencepourleslangues:apprendre,enseigner,valuer
ISBN:9782278058136www.didierfle.com

DisclaimerCouncilofEurope2014photocreditWebmaster

http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/cadre1_en.asp

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