The ECML is closed from 23 December 2008 (afternoon) to 4 January 2009.

At its 17th meeting on 23-24 October 2008 the ECML Governing Board elected the new composition of its Bureau. After two terms in office as Chair of the Governing Board Gábor Boldizsár (Hungary) stands down at the end of 2008. Alan Dobson (United Kingdom) was elected to the post for the period 2009-2010.

The full composition of the Bureau of the Governing Board in 2009 will be:

• Alan Dobson, Chair (UK)
• Mireille Cheval, Vice Chair (France)
• Irena Mašková, Vice Chair (Czech Republic)
• Jutta Gehrig, Member (Germany)
• Eyjólfur Már Sigurðsson, Member (Iceland)
• Eva Engdell, Member (Sweden)
• Vesselina Ganeva, Member (Bulgaria)

The Bureau is specifically responsible for:

• monitoring the execution of the medium-term programme adopted by the Governing Board;
• adopting the annual programme of activities and monitors its implementation;
• preparing the meetings of the Governing Board.

It also carries out the tasks which are entrusted to it by the Governing Board.

More information on the ECML Governing Board

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Montenegro has now officially joined the Partial Agreement on the European Centre for Modern Languages. The accession took effect from 7 August 2008. This now brings the number of member states of the Centre to 34.

In announcing the decision the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Milan Rocen, highlighted the importance of strengthening dialogue, better communication and understanding among countries in creating a stable and democratic environment as well as the role which the Centre plays in encouraging quality and innovation in language teaching.

Montenegro has been a member state of the Council of Europe since 11 May 2007.

Official ECML contacts in Montenegro
Factsheet on Montenegro and the Council of Europe

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Piloting and Implementing the European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages (EPOSTL 2) (Workshop)

From 11-13 June 2008 the central workshop of the project EPOSTL2 took place at the ECML. Participants considered how the EPOSTL could best be disseminated at a national level including case studies, examples of good practice and specific research projects focusing on aspects such as the outcomes of using the EPOSTL among student teachers, teacher educators and mentors.

Latest project developments in 2008
Download the publication: English (PDF) - Other languages (French, German, Polish)
More information on the project

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - level estimation grid for teachers (CEF-ESTIM) (Workshop)

Latest developments in 2008: Workshop (Graz, 20-21 November 2008)
CEF-ESTIM project description (PDF)
More information on the project

Quality training at grassroots level (QualiTraining 2) (Network meeting)

This project is a follow-up to the ECML project "QualiTraining - A Training Guide for Quality Assurance", with the aim to contribute to a wider dissemination of project publication. The first network meeting in June 2008 was to identify potential partners for the dissemination activities and to plan concrete dissemination opportunities, including national events in ECML member states.

Latest developments in 2008
Download the publication: English - German ( PDF)
More information on the project

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Developing Online Teaching Skills (DOTS) (Workshop)

The project will develop an online platform for delivering teacher training at a distance.

Latest project developments in 2008
More information on the project

The European Language Portfolio in whole-school use (ELP-WSU) (Workshop)

"Linguistic diversity in contemporary European societies is a fact. The challenge for modern educational systems is to find ways of exploiting people’s plurilingualism", says David Little, the co-ordinator of ELP-WSU. The project is concerned with the use of the ELP to support the learning and teaching of languages on a whole-school basis: all languages from the beginning to the end of the curriculum.

Latest project developments in 2008
More information on the project

Training teachers to use the European Language Portfolio - Follow-up project (ELP-TT 2) (local events)

The project team is organising training events aimed at ELP multipliers and teacher trainers from different cultural backgrounds and educational settings in several ECML member states to disseminate the ELP training kit developed during the original "ELP-TT" project run in the ECML’s second medium-term programme (2004-2007). The events in 2008 were carried out in co-operation with local organisers in the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Cyprus, Andorra and Greece.

Latest project developments in 2008
More information on the ELP-TT 2 project
Download the teacher training kit
Other materials resulting from the ELP-TT project
European Language Porfolio implementation website

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Content based teaching and plurilingual/cultural awareness (ConBat+) (Workshop)

Developments in second and foreign language teaching aiming to use languages to teach other content subject areas need to take plurilingual concepts into account, if Europe is to succeed in creating a 'language culture' (Candelier et al. 2004, p.20). The aim of the "ConBaT+" project is to produce materials for content-based teaching complemented with activities enhancing plurilingualism and pluriculturalism. Thus, a key activity at the workshop in September 2008 was to engage participants in the development of content-based activities which incorporated a plurilingual approach.

Latest project developments in 2008
More information on the ConBat+ project

Related ECML projects:
Project LEA - Language Educators Awareness
Project ALC - Across Languages and Cultures
Project CARAP - A framework of reference for pluralistic approaches

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A Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches (CARAP) (Network meeting)

This project aims to produce, on the basis of the CARAP, a tool for use by teachers helping to raise their awareness about the necessity of a global approach to resources that the learner must construct for him/her-self in the process of developing plurilingual and pluricultural competence. The network meeting in June 2008 launched the trialling phase of the tool during teacher education sessions, followed by a period of trialling in classrooms.

Latest project developments in 2008
Download the CARAP (PDF)
More information on the project

Minority Languages, Collateral Languages and Bi-/plurilingual Education (EBP-ICI) (Regional workshop)

Based on European objectives to favour linguistic diversity and plurilingual and pluricultural education, the project aims at developing activities and didactic tools at primary school level which, in an integrated didactic framework, would highlight links between dominant languages, minority or regional languages in various European regions where language contact is a reality.

Latest project developments in 2008: regional workshop (Lyon, France, 27-28 November 2008)
More information on the project

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ECML programme of activities 2008: Brochure (PDF) - Online

ECML calendar of activities 2008: PDF - Online calendar

Press review on ECML activities in 2008 (PDF)

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The Day proved more popular than ever. Major media initiatives were organised in several European countries around the theme of the Day with more events recorded in the EDL database of activities by 26 September than in any other year to date.

• in total 618 events from 44 countries in Europe and worldwide were registered on the EDL database for 2008 (almost 100 events were registered each from Austria and the United Kingdom and 50 from France, 40 the Czech Republic, 40 Lithuania, 40 Romania, 30 Germany, 30 Portugal);
• 2/3 of all events were targeted (among others) at children, pupils or students, and 1/3 (among others) at language teachers;
• 7,000 posters, 40,000 sheets of ‘Talk to me’ stickers and 40,000 buttons were sent out to activity organisers and Proposals for 2009 and beyond.

Favourite word

In the EDL 'language treasures' database the Portuguese word 'saudade' topped the polls for 2008.

The idea of the database, which was set up in 2006, is to compile a list of words from different languages which no translation can do justice to. Saudade was submitted more often than any other word to the database in 2008. In Portuguese it (roughly!) expresses a feeling of missing and longing for something or someone.

Of course, if you have another 'untranslatable' word, which you prefer, the database is still open....

EDL website - 'Language treasures'
Statement of the Council of Europe General Secretary Terry Davis

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The ECML has a special agreement with Canada, as a non-member state of the Partial Agreement, whereby the Official Languages and Bilngualism Institute (OLBI), based at the University of Ottawa, acts as the National Contact Point for Canada (for further details see the memorandum of understanding between the ECML and the University of Ottawa). Canadian experts are contributing as team members and associate partners in the following projects:

• ELP-WSU: Marnie Beaudoin, Edmonton Public Schools
• ECEP: Alister Cumming, University of Toronto
• DOTS: Aline Germain-Rutherford , University of Ottawa
• ConBaT+: Peter MacIntyre, Cape Breton University
• EBP-ICI: Diane Dagenais, Simon Fraser University
• LACS: Nicole Thibault, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT)

The fruitful and positive developments of this co-operation with the medium-term objective of Canada becoming a full member of the ECML have been greatly supported by Hilaire Lemoine of OLBI, acting as Contact Point for Canada.

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On Tuesday, 25 November 2008, the Council of Europe Secretary General opened an exhibition on the Council of Europe's work in the field of language education and policy. The results of the activities of the Language Policy Division, the European Centre for Modern Languages and the Secretariat of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages were displayed in the lobby of the Parliamentary Assembly until Friday, 28 November. At the opening the Secretary General reminded the audience of "the key role which languages play in a diverse Europe - diverse linguistically and diverse culturally". He also paid tribute to Austria for having supported the European Centre for Modern Language in Graz ever since its creation in 1995.

The ECML section of the exhibition, promoting the outcomes of each of the projects of its (2004-2007) 'Languages for social cohesion' programme, has travelled to 27 venues across Europe and North America in 2008. The results present practical support to innovation in language education.

Council of Europe photo gallery

The ECML travelling exhibition is composed of 22 display stands giving brief information on the projects run within the Centre's programme 2004-2007, as well as of the project publications, CD-Roms and bilingual flyers (English-French or English-German) produced by each co-ordinating team. All of the ECML’s partners (institutions, organisations, pedagogical institutes, experts etc. working in the field of language education) interested in presenting the Centre’s work are invited to use this exhibition.

Contact us if you would like to use the ECML travelling exhibition

The 35th ALTE Meeting, EAQUALS/ALTE Meetings and Joint Conference Day: "Quality and Assessment for Language Learning" took place at the University of Lisbon from 12-15 November 2008. Waldemar Martyniuk, Executive Director of the ECML, delivered one of the keynote speeches focusing on "Empowering language professionals: the new programme of activities of the European Centre for Modern Languages".

More information and programmes of the events

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On 27 and 28 October 2008, a joint conference between the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO) and the Council of Europe took place in Tunis on the theme "Euro-Arab Days for a better mutual understanding: history, languages, media and intercultural challenges". For the Council of Europe, this conference was an opportunity to reassert that intercultural dialogue and education is the mainstay of the co-operation with ALECSO. The concept of ‘intercultural challenges’ was a thread which ran through all three sections - the media, the teaching of history and the teaching of languages.

A small group of Council of Europe experts was appointed to represent work of the Council of Europe in each area. The language related topics presented by Council of Europe delegates were: the work of the ECML and the EPOSTL project (David Newby), the Common European Framework of Reference and the European Language Portfolio (Daniel Coste), and the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters (Martyn Barrett),

At the conclusion of the conference, a list of statements and recommendations were drafted, including co-operation with the ECML in Graz and benefiting from its experience and services. Co-operation possibilities will also be examined within the framework of the EPOSTL2 project of the ECML.

Presentation by David Newby [Powerpoint]
Conference programme (PDF)
Memorandum of understanding between ALECSO and the Council of Europe signed in 2005
ALECSO website

A symposium with six ECML experts - Antoinette Camilleri Grima, Michel Candelier, Johann Fischer, Marianne Nikolov, Joanna McPake, and Dick Meijer - and a stand presenting the ECML's publications marked the presence of the Centre at the 15th World Congress of Applied Linguists in Essen, Germany (25-29 August 2008). Among the experts contributing to the ECML´s programmes and participating in the event, Laura Muresan presented an individual paper on "QualiTraining at grassroot level".
 
The AILA Congress 2008 focused on “Multilingualism: challenges and opportunities” and brought together around 2 000 experts in the field of applied linguistics.

AILA is the international federation of national and regional associations of applied linguistics, founded in Nancy, France, in 1964, with the financial support of the Council of Europe.

Presentation of the ECML by Susanna Slivensky, Deputy Executive Director / Head of Programmes: English - German (Powerpoint)
Website of the AILA World Congress

The National Contact Points (NCPs) disseminate the ECML's project results and supply information on the Centre's work within the member states and Canada via national networks working in the field of language education.  

In line with needs expressed by the Contact Points, a new platform was initiated at a workshop held in Graz in September. The platform will be officially launched in February 2009. It is intended to inform the general public on relevant developments in the area of language education in the member states and on the specific  services  of the ECML Contact Points. The platform will also enable the NCPs to share examples of national promotion strategies, access reference documents and information useful for their work.

ECML Contact Points website (from February 2009)

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Waldemar Martyniuk: new Executive Director of the ECML

Waldemar Martyniuk took up his functions of Executive Director of the ECML on 1 October 2008. Mr Martyniuk was Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics at the Centre for Polish Language and Culture of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. He is a teacher trainer and an author of textbooks, curricula and testing materials for Polish as a foreign language. He translated the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages into Polish (2003). He was seconded to the Council of Europe’s Language Policy Division in 2005-2006.

ECML trainees

In 2008 the Secretariat of the ECML benefited from the excellent support of its trainees. Urszula Bolcun (Poland) and Christina Fleischhacker (Austria) devoted all their energy to the cataloguing of the library collection as well as to the promotion and information activities. Emmanuelle Audureau (France), Patricia Saez Lahuerta (Spain) and Stefanie Öttl (Austria) provided great help in the logistics of ECML meetings. The ECML is grateful to Myrto Gatsiou (Greece) and Mircea Racoviceanu (Romania) for their valuable support, IT-skills, and engagement in contributing to the development of the Centre's website. Damien Meyer (France), who focused on the European Day of Languages, and Aleksandra Zivkovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the administration trainee, also joined the team in 2008. The ECML staff would like to say a big thank you and offer their best wishes to all of them.

In January 2009 the ECML will welcome its three new trainees:

• Website: Aleksandra Dedic (Serbia)
• Programme: Vesna Lusicky (Slovenia)
• Documentation and resource centre: Stefanie Öttl (Austria)
• Fellowship for the ECML project "CARAP - A Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches": Karine Witvitzky (France).
  

Apply for an ECML traineeship from July-December 2009

The ECML offers traineeships for recent graduates with an excellent command of at least one of the working languages of the Council of Europe (English and French). Traineeships last 6 months (January to June or July to December) and candidates must apply for one of the areas of the Centre's work: its programme activities, its communication, information and documentation services or its website. The Centre also offers traineeships in its administration once a year from September to February.

More information on trainees' profiles, duties and tasks, on living and working conditions in Graz, together with the application procedure and form can be found on the ECML traineeship web pages.
The deadline for applying to be among the intake of trainees for the period July to December 2009 is 31 March 2009.

ECML web pages on traineeships

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The fact that the Graz Centre is one of the external Council of Europe offices has made it an obvious choice for events organised by or in cooperation with the Council of Europe, such as the workshops held in the framework of its “Pestalozzi” training programme for education professionals.

Module A of Media literacy based on human rights took place at the European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz (Austria) from 8-10 October.

Both the ECML’s programme of activity "Empowering Language Professionals" and the Pestalozzi Programme stress the necessity to support trainers, teachers and other educational actors in their role as professionals in the heterogeneous and multicultural societies in which we live. Both bring teachers together to work collaboratively on projects of shared thematic and pedagogic interest and contribute to a strengthening of personal and professional relationships across the continent as well as to an increased awareness of the key role of education for social cohesion and human rights.

This is an important potential for synergies which could be further explored in 2009.

Pestalozzi Programme

Events like this one can be held at the ECML - outside the ECML’s own programme of activities. They are managed by the Austrian Association and add to the profile of the Centre as an international meeting point within the region.

Website of the Austrian Association
Contact: Ursula Newby

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The ECML toolkit for promoting the Centre's work includes materials developed to meet the needs of specific target groups, and could be adapted to different contexts and used in different ways:

• Support with public relations: new promotional film on the ECML, general information material, newsletter, PowerPoint presentation;
• Support with press relations: use of copyright-free photos, free distribution of Council of Europe or ECML press releases, possible synergy with Council of Europe information offices, interviews with national experts;
• Support with the use of ECML services: downloadable promotional material and publications, virtual catalogue..

ECML public relations toolkit [PDF]
New ECML image film - See "ECML video" (6 minutes)

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Polish translation of the European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages (EPOSTL) - A reflection tool for language teacher education:
Europejskie portfolio dla studentów - przyszlych nauczycieli jezyków: Narzedzie refleksji w ksztalceniu nauczycieli jezyków, Centralny Osrodek Doskonalenia Nauczycieli, Europejskie Centrum Jezyków Nowozytnych, ISBN 978-83-60814-13-0
Polish version

Other language versions available: English - French - German - Romanian (currently no electronic version available)
EPOSTL will also be translated into Greek, Italian, Lituanian, Russian and Spanish.

Related ECML projects:
Piloting and Implementing the European Portfolio for Student Teachers of Languages (EPOSTL2) (2008-2011)
From Profile to Portfolio: A framework for reflection in language teacher education (FTE) (2004-2007)

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Languages for social cohesion: language education in a multilingual and multicultural Europe: European Centre for Modern Languages 2004-2007 - A review of the second medium-term programme of the European Centre for Modern Languages and a summary of the ECML Conference 2007, Council of Europe / European Centre for Modern Languages, 2009.
Conference website

Les langues pour la cohésion sociale: l'éducation aux langues dans une Europe plurilingue et multiculturelle: le Centre européen pour les langues vivantes 2004-2007 - Bilan du deuxième programme à moyen terme du Centre européen pour les langues vivantes et de la Conférence 2007 du CELV, Strasbourg / Graz: Conseil de l'Europe / Centre européen pour les langues vivantes, 2009.
Conference website

Fischer, Johann (ed.), LCaS: Language case studies - Teacher training modules on the use of case studies in language teaching at secondary and university level - A handbook, Strasbourg / Graz: Council of Europe / European Centre for Modern Languages, 2008, ISBN 978-92-871-6490-2 [book published, CD-Rom to be published].
Project website

Fischer, Johann (ed.), LCaS - Etudes de cas linguistiques. Modules de formation des enseignants pour l'utilisation d'études de cas dans l'enseignement des langues dans le secondaire et à l'université, Strasbourg / Graz: Conseil de l'Europe / Centre européen pour les langues vivantes, 2009, ISBN 978-92-871-6495-7, [livre et CD-ROM à paraître].
Project website

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The list of publications presents the results of all of the ECML’s work (books, CD-Roms, websites, flyers, brochures). All ECML products are downloadable free of charge from the Centre’s website.

ECML publications list (Word document)
Order
Access the resources section

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The Division pursues the development of Language Education Policy Profiles for countries, regions and cities. The results were approved by the education authorities in Valle d’Aosta (11th) and in Austria (12th), where the Profile was officially launched at a national conference in Graz. In Estonia, the Council of Europe team carried out a one week visit to meet relevant partners and stakeholders in view of the preparation of their report. The process was also launched in Ukraine. A transversal analysis on main results was initiated.

Country/Regional Reports and Profiles are published by the Council of Europe and made available online.

Website - Section ‘Language Education Policy Profiles’

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The development of competences in the languages of schooling is essential for ensuring that all learners have equal access to quality education - a fundamental right. Education systems, which are responsible for guaranteeing equal opportunities for learners regardless of their situation or origin, face very real challenges.

In 2008 the project has concentrated on drafting the central elements of a reference instrument for the Languages of Education. This term includes the languages of schooling but also the other languages in the school (modern languages, minority languages, mother tongues/first languages..). A number of modules have been elaborated, and work is continuing on a series of competence descriptors for the languages of schooling (language both as subject and as a medium for teaching other subjects). Among the various documents, attention is drawn to a description of language competences expected at the end of pre-primary school which will be made available shortly.

Events

A European conference on Languages of Education took place in Slovenia in September 2008. The aims of the event were twofold: language policies in general and the roles of the Slovenian language in Slovenian education. The Language Policy Division was also contacted by Croatia, Lithuania and Norway for presentations of the Languages of Education project at national conferences. A regional conference involving the CIS countries was held in Moscow in October 2008 thanks to the support of Moscow State Linguistic University. This project has to date benefited from the particular support of Norway, the Czech Republic, the Russian Federation and Luxembourg.

Website - Section ‘Languages of Schooling’

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A new Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to the member States concerning the use of the CEFR and the promotion of plurilingualism (Recommendation (2008)7) was adopted by the Committee of Ministers. It describes the Council of Europe policy on the use of the CEFR and its support tools, and takes into account the conclusions of a major intergovernmental Forum held in 2007 in Strasbourg.

In response to requests among others from the representatives of the member States at the Forum, work was undertaken to define the contents and structure of a Guide for the development and implementation of curricula for plurilingual and intercultural education.

Linking national and European examinations to the CEFR levels of proficiency

A cross-language rating seminar (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) was organised in Sèvres (France) resulting in the production of calibrated samples of oral production (by learners aged 13-18). They will be extremely useful for teacher and examiner training sessions in the context of the forthcoming European Indicator of language competence survey of the European Union (based on the CEFR). This Indicator will measure, every three years, the language competences of learners at the end of compulsory education.

The Division prepared and piloted a draft Manual for Relating language examinations to the CEFR, which is accompanied by illustrative material for several languages on DVD, CD-ROM and on the web. The revised document has been completed and will be made available on the Division’s website in early 2009.

Website - Section “CEFR / Manual”

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The European Language Portfolio Validation Committee validated further models submitted for accreditation, bringing the total number of different validated models to 97.

Since the launch of Europass (CEDEFOP/European Commission) in December 2004, the site, which includes the Council of Europe language proficiency scale contained in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and also in the European Language Portfolio, has been visited over nine million times (downloads increased by around 25% in 2007).

ELP website

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A growing number of countries are organising language and knowledge of society tests for applicants of residence permits or citizenship status, often basing the language training they provide and the language tests themselves on the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). However, the levels of competence required vary greatly and a reference to the CEFR is not necessarily a guarantee either of appropriate assessment or of adequate training.

Survey and tools

The Language Policy Division organised a survey among member states in 2008 to find out what their conditions of entry are (residence permits, citizenship, etc.) and establish the conditions and content of the training available to migrants. The results are available online.

A number of reference documents were elaborated, in particular a Concept Paper and a series of Thematic studies which address issues such as the CEFR's potential for policies for the linguistic integration of migrants, quality assurance in training and in language tests, migrants’ needs. Case studies were also prepared. These documents are available on line as well as the presentations made at the seminar.

International seminar

In order to address issues related to the linguistic integration of adult migrants with the states concerned, an international seminar was organised by the Language Policy Division in Strasbourg in June 2008, in co-operation with other relevant Council of Europe instances.

This seminar, which attracted more participants than expected, was addressed to persons involved in decisions concerning language requirements for adult migrants and to those responsible for language training and language tests for adult migrants.

Relevant documents, studies and results are available online.

Website - Section “Event” and “Minorities and Migrants”

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A draft Curriculum Framework for Romani was first introduced during a seminar organised in May 2007, which gathered delegates from ten countries. A piloting phase followed the event.

A follow-up seminar open to member states concerned by the teaching of Romani was organised in November 2008 by the Language Policy Division, in co-operation with the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF). Practitioners, deciders and material developers from 17 countries attended this seminar.

The revised version of the Framework was presented and new tools were introduced, consisting of a European Language Portfolio produced in two versions (age groups 6-11 and 11-16) accompanied by a Handbook for teachers. These documents are available online in English and in Romani.

The Language Policy Division developed this material specifically to support the teaching of Romani as well as the development of didactic material to be adapted to local contexts and needs.

The European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) is directly involved and follows this work with interest. This project is funded by the Finnish authorities.

Website - Section “Event” and “Minorities and Migrants”

In October 2008, the Council of Europe celebrated in Luleå (Sweden) the 10th anniversary of the European Charter. The Council of Europe has actively promoted the fifth edition of the Liet Lavlut pan-European song contest for minority languages and the Secretariat of the Charter organised a conference on "Minority languages as instrument for the cultural development of regions". Eleven artists participated, representing minority languages across Europe, from Brittany and Wales to Galicia, northern Scandinavia and the Republic of Mordovia (Russia). The song contest was won by the Corsican Jacques Culioli with his song "Hosanna in Excelsis". Many participants underlined the positive approach of mixing a scientific seminar and a series of cultural activities.

More information can be found on this website
Conference programme (PDF)
Présentation d'Alexey Kozhemyakov (PDF)
Site du Liet Lavlut

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The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers made public reports on

• the situation of minority languages in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain; and
• the application of the Charter in Luxembourg, and in Liechtenstein.

State reports and recommentations

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The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: Legal Challenges and Opportunities (Regional or Minority Languages, No.5) (2008), ISBN 978-92-871-6333-2.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the media (Regional or Minority Languages, No.6) (2008),
ISBN 978-92-871-6431-5

Council of Europe podcast on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (4:44'', MPEG audio file)

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The Council of Europe can proudly point to many milestones as Europe´s leading human rights organisation in the fight for human rights, for the safeguard of democracy and the rule of law. 2009 also marks 50 years since the foundation of the European Court of Human Rights, the 20th anniversary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and a decade of the Commissioner for Human Rights.
To mark the anniversary, a special Ministerial Session will be held in Madrid on 12 May followed by a commemorative event in Strasbourg in the autumn. There will also be other events throughout 2009 that review the many achievements of our organisation and look to the future.

60th anniversary of the Council of Europe – Committee of Ministers Document

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Special issue "A child view of human rights", September 2008 (PDF)
All issues

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Global Education News is an electronic newsletter issued by the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity, Lisbon. National global-education co-ordinators can share global education news and events, useful thematic links and educational materials. It provides interesting resources in the field of intercultural learning.
Issues no. 60, 61 and 62 provide relevant information and resources on intercultural dialogue.

Lastest Global Education News no. 60 (Summer 2008), 61 (September 2008), no. 62 (October 2008)
Website of the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity

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