Commission working document - Report on the implementation of the Action Plan "Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity" {COM(2007) 554 final}
Date: 2007-09-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: action programme, cultural promotion, impact study, language policy, language teaching, multilingualism, report













EUR-Lex - 52007SC1222 - EN






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52007SC1222

Commission working document - Report on the implementation of the Action Plan "Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity" {COM(2007) 554 final}  /* SEC/2007/1222 final */  








[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |Brussels, 25.9.2007SEC(2007) 1222COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying theCOMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT Report on the implementation of the Action Plan "Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity" {COM(2007) 554 final}COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENTTable I: status by actionThis table reflects the status of each action set out by the Action Plan "Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity". The numbering on the left refers to the action numbers, which stands for the action as listed in Section 2 of the Action Plan (for example, I.1.1 refers to action 1 of chapter 1, paragraph 1). Nearly finished actions will be completed by the end of 2007.In addition to the 47 actions, the Action Plan contained recommendations to Member States. Although not included in the original numbering of the Action Plan, are here listed in the relevant policy section, ending with 0 . As indicated in the Action Plan, the reforms in the Member States will exceed the timeframe of the Action Plan. They are, therefore, marked as “in progress”.Status |Action | Completed [pic] | Nearly finished [pic] | In progress [pic] |I.0.1 | Socrates and Leonardo Programmes: to increase take-up of linguistic preparation before mobility. | ⎫ |I.1.0 | Member States: adjustments to primary school curricula and teacher training provisions. | ⎫ |I.1.1 | Study: Main pedagogical principles underlying teaching languages to the very young. | ⎫ |I.1.2 | Information for parents about early language learning. | ⎫ |I.1.3 | Seminar on early foreign language learning; network of practitioners. | ⎫ |I.1.4 | Socrates - Lingua 2: to develop materials for teaching language awareness and foreign languages to learners at primary level | ⎫ |I.1.5 | Socrates – Comenius Language Assistantship: to increase take up, especially at primary level. | ⎫ |I.2.1 | Socrates – Comenius School Language projects: to raise funding to 25% and to improve take-up. | ⎫ |I.2.2 | Study: Linguistic and intercultural skills relevant to each stage of education or training. | ⎫ |I.2.3 | Socrates - Comenius action 2 to increase take up of projects developing training in multilingual comprehension. | ⎫ |I.2.4 | Socrates - Lingua 2 to fund new, specific methods for teaching subjects through other languages than lingua francas. | ⎫ |I.2.5 | Socrates - Comenius action 1 (school projects) priority to schools wishing to introduce a Content and Language Integrated Learning via extended exchanges of teachers. | ⎫ |I.2.6 | Conference on Content and Language Integrated Learning. | ⎫ |I.2.7 | Eurydice information on availability of CLIL in European education and training systems. | ⎫ |I.3.1 | Socrates - Erasmus intensive language preparation courses. Increase take up to 10% of Erasmus students going to LWULT countries by 2006. | ⎫ |I.4.1 | Languages web portal for the general public and for language professionals | ⎫ |I.5.1 | Study: Collecting and disseminating information about good practice in the teaching of foreign languages to learners with special needs | ⎫ |I.6.0 | Member States: adequate information to parents on the choice of languages, arrange for the teaching of a wider range of languages | ⎫ |II.1.1 | Socrates – Comenius action 1: to increase take-up of school development projects on holistic school language policies | ⎫ |II.2.1 | Socrates and Leonardo: Commission and NAs to increase the use of Lingua and Leonardo language products by end users | ⎫ |II.2.2 | eLearning Programme: eTwinning action to foster language learning and intercultural dialogue. |II.3.0 | Member States: to ensure a better access to appropriate initial training and to paid in-service training for language teachers. |II.3.1 | Socrates and Leonardo Programmes: information campaigns about mobility schemes for teachers and their trainers. To increase take-up of Comenius 2 projects for language teachers and their trainers. | ⎫ |II.3.2 | Study: core pedagogical / linguistic skills for language teachers, and a framework for assessment. | ⎫ |II.4.1 | Study: analysis of obstacles to mobility of language teachers, including their own perceptions and attitudes and recommendations for Member States. | ⎫ |II.4.2 | Symposium on supply of qualified language teachers in Europe. | ⎫ |II.6.0 | Member States to set up systems of validation of linguistic competence based on the Common European Framework of reference for languages. | ⎫ |II.6.1 | Test of language skills to be designed and administered across the European Union to samples of pupils at the end of compulsory education. | ⎫ |II.6.2 | To take stock of benefits of including assessment of language skills in Copenhagen Declaration/ Europass. | ⎫ |II.6.3 | Study: Inventory of language certification systems in Europe. | ⎫ |II.6.4 | Conference to devise mechanisms to support effective and transparent use of scales of Common European Framework in language testing and certification. | ⎫ |III.1.1 | Conference: ‘regional’ and ‘minority’ languages in education systems. | ⎫ |III.1.2 | Study: Euromosaic report on regional and minority languages of new Member States. | ⎫ |III.1.3 | Culture Programme: to monitor the implementation of mainstreaming approach with respect to regional and minority languages. | ⎫ |III.2.0 | Member States to give special attention to language communities with a decreasing number of native speakers, according to the principles of the European Charter on Regional and Minority languages. | ⎫ |III.2.1 | Town-twinning Projects: to make multilingualism an eligible topic for meetings and conferences. | ⎫ |III.2.2 | Study: the potential for greater use of sub-titles. | ⎫ |III.3.1 | Socrates – Grundtvig: to give priority to language teaching and learning, in particular to the languages of migrants. | ⎫ |III.3.2 | Socrates - European Language Label to be re-focused and strengthened with new activities. | ⎫ |III.3.3 | Study: five-yearly monitoring report on the state of diversity in the supply of language teaching in the EU. | ⎫ |IV.1.1 | To set up a permanent high-level languages group of representatives of Member States and other stakeholders to stimulate public debate about language learning and linguistic diversity and to monitor change in language learning and linguistic diversity in the EU | ⎫ |IV.1.2 | Study: on requirements for language skills in the Union, and personal benefits of language learning. Ways of motivating more citizens to learn languages | ⎫ |IV.1.3a | Study: on costs of non-multilingualism | Cancelled but partially resumed by IV.1.3b |IV.1.3b | Study: effects on the economy of business lost due to a lack of foreign language skills | ⎫ |IV.1.4 | Sixth Framework Research Programme – Priority 7: to undertake research on multilingualism issues. | ⎫ |IV.1.5 | Eurydice: to publish a separate volume on key data on language teaching in schools (update every two years). | ⎫ |IV.1.6 | To publish information on the extent to which EU programmes promote language learning and linguistic diversity. | ⎫ |IV.2.1 | To support a European network of language Inspectors / advisers etc | ⎫ |IV.2.2 | Socrates - Arion to support study visits by Language inspectors/ advisers | ⎫ |IV.3.1 | Lifelong Learning Programme: to propose concrete measures to take the Action Plan forward. | ⎫ |IV.3.2 | Member States to report to the Commission in 2007 on the national follow-up to the Action Plan and other relevant national policy activities. | ⎫ |IV.3.3 | Commission to present a communication to the Parliament and the Council to propose adjustments or further action where necessary. | ⎫ |TABLE II: THE DELIVERABLESAction | Downloads | Printed copies | Languages |I.0.1 | Socrates and Leonardo Programmes: to increase take-up of linguistic preparation before mobility. | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |I.1.0 | Member States: adjustments to primary school curricula and teacher training provisions. | Independent Report: Relaunching multilingual education in Europe and national reports on the follow-up of the Action Plan http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN,FR |I.1.1 | Study: Main pedagogical principles underlying teaching languages to very young learners. | Main pedagogical principles underlying teaching languages to very young learners http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | DE,EN,FR, (executive summary) DE,FR,EN (full text) |I.1.2 | Information about early language learning to parents. | http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | Available in 2008 | All official languages |I.1.3 | Seminar on early foreign language learning; network of practitioners. | http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html http://www.socleo.pt/old/menu/socrates/novidades.htm | EN,FR PT |I.1.4 | Socrates - Lingua 2: to develop materials for teaching language awareness and foreign languages to primary learners. | http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/lingua/products_en.html | & | DE, EN, ES FR, IT |I.1.5 | Socrates – Comenius Language Assistantship: to increase take-up, especially at primary level. | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |I.2.1 | Socrates – Comenius School Language projects: to raise funding to 25% and to improve take-up. | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |I.2.2 | Study: Linguistic and intercultural skills relevant to each stage of education or training. | Available in January 2008 http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | DE,EN,FR, (executive summary) DE,FR,EN (full text) |I.2.3 | Socrates - Comenius action 2 to increase take up of projects developing training in multilingual comprehension. | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |I.2.4 | Socrates - Lingua 2 to fund new, specific methods for teaching subjects through other languages than lingua francas. | http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/lingua/products_en.html http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/doc/clilbroch_en.pdf | & & | DE, EN, ES FR, IT DE, EN, FR |I.2.5 | Socrates - Comenius action 1 (school projects) priority to schools wishing to introduce a Content and Language Integrated Learning via extended exchanges of teachers. | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |I.2.6 | Conference on Content and Language Integrated Learning. | http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/teach/clil_en.html | All official languages |I.2.7 | Eurydice information on availability of CLIL in European education and training systems. | Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) at School in Europe http://www.eurydice.org/portal/page/portal/Eurydice/showPresentation?pubid=070EN http://www.eurydice.org/portal/page/portal/Eurydice/ByTopicsResults?topicCode=aacm&subTopicCode=aajg | & | EN,FR (printed edition) EN,ES,FR,HU,IT,LT,SK (online database) |I.3.1 | Socrates - Erasmus intensive language preparation courses. Increase take up to 10% of Erasmus students going to LWULT countries by 2006. | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/erasmus/stat_en.html#eilc | EN |I.4.1 | Languages web portal for the general public and for language professionals | http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages_en.html | All official languages |I.5.1 | Study: Collecting and disseminating information about good practice in the teaching of foreign languages to learners with special needs | Insights & Innovation Special Educational Needs in Europe. The Teaching and Learning of Languages http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | & | EN,FR (executive summary) EN (full text) |I.6.0 | Member States: adequate information to parents on the choice of languages, arrange for the teaching of a wider range of languages | Independent Report: Relaunching multilingual education in Europe and national reports on the follow-up of the Action Plan and national reports on the follow-up of the Action Plan http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN,FR |II.1.1 | Socrates – Comenius action 1: to increase take-up of school development projects on holistic school language policies | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |II.2.1 | Socrates and Leonardo: Commission and NAs to increase the use of Lingua and Leonardo language products by end users | Lingua Community Newsletters http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/lingua/community_en.html Lingua Products Brochures http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/lingua/products_en.html Dissmark Project http://www.eeuroinclusion.org/Cover_Page_Dissmark_Kit.htm | & | DE,EN,FR (depending on each article) DE,EN,ES,FR,IT EN |II.2.2 | eLearning Programme: eTwinning action to foster language learning and intercultural dialogue. | eTwinning portal http://www.etwinning.net | All official languages + NO |II.3.0 | Member States: to ensure a better access to appropriate initial training and to paid in-service training for language teachers. | Independent Report: Relaunching multilingual education in Europe and national reports on the follow-up of the Action Plan http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN,FR |II.3.1 | Socrates and Leonardo Programmes: information campaigns about mobility schemes for teachers and their trainers. To increase take-up of Comenius 2 projects for language teachers and their trainers. | Action Plan Report: Commission Technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |II.3.2 | Study: core pedagogical / linguistic skills for language teachers, and a framework for assessment. | European Profile for Language Teacher Education – A Frame of Reference http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | & | DA, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IT, NL, PT, SV (introduction) DE,EN,FR (executive summary and full text) DE,EN,FR,PL (brochure) |II.4.1 | Study: analysis of obstacles to mobility of language teachers, including their own perceptions and attitudes and recommendations for Member States. | Detecting and Removing Obstacles to the Mobility of Foreign Language Teachers http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | DE,EN,FR |II.4.2 | Symposium on supply of qualified language teachers in Europe. |II.6.0 | Member States to set up systems of validation of linguistic competence based on the Common European Framework of reference for languages. | Independent Report: Relaunching multilingual education in Europe and national reports on the follow-up of the Action Plan http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN,FR |II.6.1 | Test of language skills to be designed and administered across the European Union to samples of pupils at the end of compulsory education. | Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council : The European Indicator of Language Competence Brussels, 1.8.2005 COM(2005) 356 final http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/legislation_en.html Communication from the Commission to the Council: Framework for the European survey on language competences Brussels, 13.4.2007 COM(2007) 184 final http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/legislation_en.html | & & | All official languages |II.6.2 | To take stock of benefits of including assessment of language skills in Copenhagen Declaration/ Europass. | http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu | & | 26 languages! All official languages + IS, NO, HR, TR. |II.6.3 | Study: Inventory of language certification systems in Europe. | Inventory of Language Certification Systems in Europe http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | EN (study report) DE,EN,FR,PL (searchable on-line inventory) |II.6.4 | Conference to devise mechanisms to support effective and transparent use of scales of Common European Framework in language testing and certification. | The Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) and the development of language policies : challenges and responsibilities7 http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Forum07_webdocs_EN.asp#TopOfPage | EN,FR |III.1.1 | Conference: ‘regional’ and ‘minority’ languages in education systems. | Conference on Regional and Minority Languages in Education Systems http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/langmin/conference_en.html | DA, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IT, NL, PT, SV (introduction) EN,FR (full text) |III.1.2 | Study: Euromosaic report on regional and minority languages of new Member States. | http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/langmin/euromosaic/index_en.html | & | EN,FR (printed edition and on-line database) Some parts of the online database are also available in DA, DE, EL, ES, IT, NL, PT, FI, SV |III.1.3 | Culture Programme: to monitor the implementation of mainstreaming approach concerning regional and minority languages. | Culture Portal http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/culture2007/cult_en.html Decision No 1903/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 establishing the Culture Programme (2007-2013) http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_378/l_37820061227en00220031.pdf | & | EN,FR (website) All official languages (Decision) |III.2.0 | Member States to give special attention to language communities with a decreasing number of native speakers, according to the principles of the European Charter on Regional and Minority languages. | Independent Report: Relaunching multilingual education in Europe and national reports on the follow-up of the Action Plan http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=148&CM=&DF=&CL=FRE | EN,FR EN,FR |III.2.1 | Town-twinning projects: to make multilingualism an eligible topic for meetings and conferences. | Active European Citizenship Golden Starts Awards 2006 http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/doc/brochuregoldenstars_en.pdf Decision n. 1904/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 establishing for the period 2007 to 2013 the Programme ‘Europe for Citizens’ to promote active European citizenship http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/action1/measure1_en.html | & | EN DE,EN,FR (website) All official languages (text of the Decision) |III.2.2 | Study: the potential for greater use of sub-titles. | Available in January 2008 http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | EN,FR (executive summary) EN (full text) |III.3.1 | Socrates – Grundtvig: to give priority to language teaching and learning, in particular the languages of migrants. | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |III.3.2 | Socrates - European Language Label to be re-focused and strengthened with new activities. | http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/awareness/label_en.html | All official languages |III.3.3 | Study: five-yearly monitoring report on the state of diversity in the supply of language teaching in the EU. | Available in January 2008 http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | EN,FR (executive summary) EN (full text) |IV.1.1 | To set up a permanent high-level languages group of representatives of Member States and other stakeholders to stimulate public debate about language learning and linguistic diversity and to monitor change in language learning and linguistic diversity in the EU | Working Group on Languages http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/expert_en.html High Level Group on Multilingualism http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | All official languages |IV.1.2 | Study: on requirements for language skills in Union, and personal benefits of language learning. Ways of motivating more citizens to learn languages | Study on ways of motivating Europeans to learn languages Brochure - "LINGO: 50 ways to motivate language learners" http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | & | EN (study report and executive summary) DE, EN, ES, FR, IT, PL (brochure) |IV.1.3a | Study: on costs of non-multilingualism |IV.1.3b | Study: effects on the economy of business lost due to a lack of foreign language skills | Effects on the European Economy of Shortages of Foreign Language Skills in Enterprise http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/studies_en.html | DE,EN,FR, (executive summary) DE,FR,EN (full text) |IV.1.4 | Sixth Framework Research Programme – Priority 7: to undertake research on multilingualism issues. | www.linee.info www.dylan-project.org http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm | DE,EN DE,EN,FR EN |IV.1.5 | Eurydice: to publish a separate volume on key data on language teaching in schools (update every two years). | Key Data on Teaching Languages at Schools in Europe – 2005 Edition http://www.eurydice.org/portal/page/portal/Eurydice/showPresentation?pubid=049EN | & | DE,EN,ES,FR (printed edition) CZ,DE,EN,ES,FR,IT,LT, SK (online version) |IV.1.6 | To publish information on the extent to which EU programmes promote language learning and linguistic diversity.[1] | Decision N 1719/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing the ‘Youth in Action’ Programme for the period 2007 to 2013 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_327/l_32720061124en00300044.pdf Youth portal: http://www.europa.eu/youth/ | & | All official languages (official documents and website) |IV.2.1 | To support a European network of language Inspectors / advisers etc | http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | All official languages |IV.2.2 | Socrates - Arion to support study visits by Language inspectors/ advisers | Action Plan Report: Commission technical annexes and figures http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN |IV.3.1 | Lifelong Learning Programme: to propose concrete measures to take forward the Action Plan. | Decision n° 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/index_en.html | & | All official languages |IV.3.2 | Member States to report to the Commission in 2007 on the national follow-up to the Action Plan and other relevant national policy activities. | Independent Report: Relaunching multilingual education in Europe and national reports on the follow-up of the Action Plan http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html | EN,FR |IV.3.3 | Commission to present a communication to the Parliament and the Council to propose adjustments or further action where necessary. | Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - A New Framework Strategy for Multilingualism Brussels, 22.11.2005 COM(2005) 596 final http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/key/legislation_en.html | & | All official languages |[1] Information listed here concerns programmes and initiatives not targeted by other specific actions.