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Language Learning in Higher Education

Journal of the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education (CercleS)

Editor-in-Chief: Szczuka-Dorna, Liliana / O’Rourke, Breffni

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The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the European Language Portfolio, and language teaching/learning at university: An argument and some proposals

David Little
Published Online: 2016-10-06 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2016-0014

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Abstract

I begin this article by briefly explaining why I think CercleS should encourage university language centres to align their courses and assessment with the proficiency levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and why they should use a version of the European Language Portfolio (ELP) to support the development of students’ skills of self-management and reflective learning. I then summarize the CEFR’s action-oriented approach to the description of language proficiency and consider the implications of this approach for language teaching and learning. After that I explain how the ELP is meant to mediate the CEFR’s ethos and approach to learners and draw attention to some of the factors that shape its effective use. I conclude by proposing three tasks that could usefully be undertaken by the CercleS CEFR/ELP Focus Group.

Keywords: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR); European Language Portfolio (ELP); university language curricula; university language exams; constructive alignment; action-oriented approach; self-assessment checklists

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About the article

David Little

David Little established the Centre for Language and Communication Studies at Trinity College Dublin in 1978 and retired in 2008. His principal research interests are the theory and practice of learner autonomy in language education, the exploitation of linguistic diversity in schools and classrooms, and the application of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to the design of L2 curricula, teaching and assessment. He was president of CercleS from 1995 to 2000 and has been one of the editors-in-chief of Language Learning in Higher Education since it was founded in 2011.

Published Online: 2016-10-06

Published in Print: 2016-10-01

Citation Information: Language Learning in Higher Education, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages 283–296, ISSN (Online) 2191-6128, ISSN (Print) 2191-611X, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2016-0014.

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