The European Language Portfolio
The European Language Portfolio is a tool developed by the Council of Europe to improve language learning. By discussing and negotiating the aims, content and processes of their work at regular intervals, students gradually take more responsibility for their own progress. The Portfolio helps to develop a reflective approach to language learning and to develop language-learning strategies which promote independent learning The Language Network Graz is a network of organisations sharing expertise in the field of languages.
With the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe at its centre, it is committed to the promotion of plurilingualism. Concurrently with the official founding of the network by the City of Graz in the autumn of 2009, the successful initiative: “Improving language learning with the European Language Portfolio” was launched across Styria, thus supporting the local implementation of this European tool.
As an accompanying measure, the Language Network Graz supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, the Arts and Culture decided to produce a short promotional film in order to better illustrate the concept of the European Language Portfolio. The film displays the basic ideas behind the Language Portfolio, showing its origin and development as well as its dissemination and implementation across Europe. The film is intended to provide initial information for school governing boards, parent-teacher associations, as well as student teachers. The European Centre for Modern Languages has also produced an English and a French version so that the film can be introduced throughout Europe.
Video: The European Language Portfolio
PRESS RELEASE
Graz is positioning itself as a European city of excellence dedicated to languages
Graz, 17th November 2009 - The Language Network Graz (Sprachennetzwerk Graz) was founded today. Its aim is to enhance Graz's position as a European city of excellence by promoting research into language teaching, pre-service teacher training, and content-based language teaching. Nine institutions representing European, national and regional levels, have decided to pool their skills and, through common activities, pass on their knowledge to the general public. The Network has formed around the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), a Council of Europe institution situated on Nikolaiplatz. The ECML actively supports its 34 member states in all issues related to plurilingualism, and in developing innovative approaches to language teaching.
The City of Graz enthusiasticallysupports the Network. “We, the City of Graz, are proud of our competence when it comes to languages. Only by promoting language learning can we ensure knowledge transfer beyond our city. It is exactly this transfer of knowledge that makes us fit for the future, both as a business location and a centre of education“, said Graz city councillor Mag.a Sonja Grabner at today's press conference.
The Language Network started its first initiative today in order to “wet pupils’ appetite for learning languages”, said Waldemar Martyniuk, Executive Director of the ECML. 2,500 free copies of the European Language Portfolio (ELP) have been distributed in 22 schools all over Styria. The ELP was developed by the Council of Europe, and helps language learners to plan and assess their progress. The aim is to help self-motivated pupils to learn as many languages as possible, and to increase their awareness of their personal portfolio: both their language learning skills and their knowledge of their mother tongue(s). According to the ELP, the role of the teacher is that of a learning coach who helps pupils, in the best way possible, reach the goals they have set for themselves (so-called individualisation).
The Provincial School Board of Styria distributed the Language Portfolios. The initiative was co-ordinated by the University of Teacher Education Styria (Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark), the Austrian Centre for Language Competence (ACLC/ÖSZ) provided 2,500 free copies.
Today the Network also presented its work on the “City of Graz’s language kaleidoscope”: 159 nationalities who speak at least 150 languages. The University of Graz, one of the Network’s partners, is currently collecting and processing information on the languages that are spoken in Graz. Information on alphabets, diffusion and language families will soon be made available online at www.sprachennetzwerkgraz.at . A glossary is already available on this site under the heading “Languages A-Z”. It explains the most commonly used terms in the field of language learning and teaching.
Common projects 2009
1. “Improve language learning” – A contribution to the promotion of plurilingualism in schools throughout Graz and Styria through the Language Network Graz
- Background and idea: In autumn 2009, the Austrian Association of the ECML (Verein EFSZ in Österreich) is set to hold an important international conference on the European Language Portfolio (ELP). The ACLC will subsequently hold an Austria-focused meeting: in autumn 2009, a number of events that will focus on the ELP will be organised in the Graz/Styria area. On this occasion, leading international and national representatives will be invited to Graz. Local schools will also profit from this initiative. The Language Network intends to support and encourage schools in the Graz/Styria area to make increasing use of the ELP.
- Through this initiative, the Council of Europe’s and the ECML’s work on languages will be directly linked to education work carried out in the region, and will thus be made available to the relevant institutions.
- It is also hoped that this “overall ELP package” will be promoted and advertised beyond the participating institutions. “The interested public” and politicians alike should be kept informed about this contribution to plurilingualism through ongoing media coverage.
- Objective: Introduction of the ELP at schools that are involved in the project through an “accompanying initiative” organised by the University of Teacher Education Styria, with the aim of securing a long-term use of the ELP.
2. Expanding the website: "Improve language comprehension" – A contribution with the aim of promoting plurilingualismamong the interested public through the Language Network Graz
New offers:
- Graz at a glance: this text about Graz will be made available in as many languages as possible and also, ultimately, as an audio text.
- Graz, a city of languages: a list of as many of the languages that are spoken in Graz as possible, including brief information about each of them.