Overview
This lecture explains the European Language Portfolio (ELP), its structure, its development by the Council of Europe, and its roles in language education.
Structure of the European Language Portfolio
- The ELP has three main sections: Language Passport, Language Biography, and Dossier.
- The Language Passport summarizes language skills, identity, and intercultural experiences.
- The Language Biography helps learners set goals, reflect on learning, and track their progress.
- The Dossier contains samples of the learner's work, both completed and in progress.
Development and Adaptation
- The ELP was created by the Council of Europe as a concept, not a single model, allowing adaptation for different countries.
- Instead of one template, guidelines were provided for member states to develop portfolios suited to their local contexts.
- Pilot projects were run from 1998 to 2000 before the broad launch in the European Year of Languages.
Relationship with the Common European Framework (CEF)
- The ELP supplements the Common European Framework, which defines six levels of language proficiency.
- ELP helps learners self-assess according to the CEF reference levels, especially in the Language Passport and Biography.
Functions of the European Language Portfolio
- The pedagogical function develops learner autonomy, goal-setting, reflection, and evaluation, supporting lifelong learning and democratic citizenship.
- The recordkeeping function documents and reports language competencies, including languages beyond the mother tongue.
Implementation and Oversight
- Over 60 validated ELP models exist, tailored for various contexts and subject to council validation.
- The Language Policy Division in Strasbourg developed both the CEF and ELP concept, coordinating pilot programs and continued policy work.
- The European Center for Modern Languages in Graz implements projects on ELP use, including teacher training and monitoring implementation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- European Language Portfolio (ELP) — a tool for recording and reflecting on language learning and intercultural experiences.
- Language Passport — provides an overview of a learner's language abilities and experiences.
- Language Biography — section for self-reflection, goal-setting, and tracking progress.
- Dossier — collection of work samples showcasing language skills.
- Common European Framework (CEF) — system defining six proficiency levels for languages.
- Learner Autonomy — the ability for learners to manage and reflect on their own learning.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the three sections of the ELP and their purposes.
- Understand how the ELP aligns with the CEF proficiency levels.
- Consider how learner self-assessment is tracked in the ELP.