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35 participants from 16 countries attended a workshop in Bucharest
on "Quality assurance and self-assessment for schools and teachers"
from September 21 - 23. The countries represented in the project ranged
from the Netherlands to Russia (Siberia) and from Finland to Cyprus.
This was the first phase of a three-year project which is part of the
medium-term programme of the European Centre for Modern Languages in
Graz (Austria).
The workshop brought together educators from both state and private
sectors involved in the teaching of English, French and German. This
international forum provided an excellent opportunity for the exchange
of experience among teachers, inspectors, teacher trainers, presidents
of national associations in the region and directors of language schools
from different countries.
A wide range of issues was covered:
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the assurance and control of the quality of schools,
of teachers, of teaching materials,
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collaborative approaches to achieving quality
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the role of self-assessment for learners, teachers
and institutions in quality procedures.
The crucial role of the Common European Framework, the European
Language Portfolio and the European Quality Guide as factors
in developing common standards was stressed.
The next phase in the project is the preparation by participants of
a guide, with case studies and worksheets, on the theme of the workshop.
The regional workshop was an example of international cooperation,
with support from the ECML in Graz, from the Romanian Ministry of Education,
QUEST Romania, the British Council, the Goethe Institut, l'Institut
Français, PROSPER - ASE Language Centre and the Academy of Economic
Studies Bucharest. The workshop was co-ordinated by Dr. Laura Muresan
from PROSPER - ASE and QUEST Romania, with Maria Matheidesz of the Bell
Language School, Budapest and NYESZE Hungary, and Frank Heyworth, EAQUALS,
as co-facilitators. This regional event was also attended by Michael
Armstrong, representative of the ECML in Graz.
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