European Language Portfolio - Promoting automy

Summary

This video provides an overview of the European Language Portfolio (ELP), a tool for learners to document their language learning journey, self-assess their skills, and reflect on their progress. The ELP promotes learner autonomy and lifelong learning. It includes templates for creating portfolios, while ready-made versions are also available. The video highlights different sections of the portfolio, such as personal information, learning strategies, and self-assessment grids based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels. A step-by-step guide is provided to locate self-assessment grids online.

Takeaways

• 📚 The European Language Portfolio (ELP) is a tool designed for learners to document their language learning journey and self-assess their skills.
• 📝 The ELP allows learners to track their progress in learning different languages and cultures, encouraging autonomy in their learning.
• 🌍 The ELP includes personal information sections, such as 'Me and the World,' and prompts for reflecting on how learners acquire new languages.
• 🗂️ While there are online portfolios available, most ELPs are still paper-based and can be purchased for classroom use in some countries.
• 🇩🇪 An example of a German ELP is shown, which is structured to help first-year foreign language students reflect on their learning process and abilities.
• ✅ The ELP is linked to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), using descriptors like A1 to help students assess their skills across different levels.
• 🔍 Self-assessment grids for various languages are available, but finding them online can be difficult due to multiple steps involved in navigating the website.
• 🌐 Self-assessment grids can be found through the 'How to develop an ELP model' link on the Council of Europe website, under the 'language passport' section.
• 🔄 The self-assessment grids allow learners to evaluate their abilities in listening, reading, speaking, and writing across six CEFR levels.
• 🎯 The ELP promotes lifelong language learning and helps learners take ownership of their progress and motivation.

Q & A

What is the European Language Portfolio (ELP)?

The European Language Portfolio (ELP) is a tool for learners to document their language learning journey, self-assess their skills, and track their progress in acquiring a foreign language and understanding its culture.

Who owns the European Language Portfolio?

The ELP is owned by the learners themselves, allowing them to actively manage and document their language learning experiences.

What are the available formats of the European Language Portfolio?

The ELP can be paper-based, like a physical folder, or in some cases, electronic portfolios are available online. However, most portfolios are still paper-based.

What kind of ready-made ELPs are available, and where can they be found?

Ready-made ELPs can often be found through school book publishers and other educational resources in various countries, which have developed versions suited for classroom use.

What are the main sections of the European Language Portfolio in a school context?

In the school context, the ELP contains sections such as personal information (me and the world), the student's learning strategies, how languages are used globally, and a reflective section where students assess their progress over time.

How does the ELP relate to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)?

The ELP is linked to the CEFR by using its language proficiency descriptors. For example, students can assess their language skills at levels such as A1 by checking their progress against CEFR standards.

What is the self-assessment grid in the ELP, and how is it used?

The self-assessment grid allows learners to evaluate their proficiency in areas like listening, reading, speaking, and writing. It includes CEFR levels (A1-C2) and descriptors for each skill, which learners can tick off as they assess their abilities.

Where can learners find the self-assessment grids on the Council of Europe’s website?

The self-assessment grids are somewhat hidden on the Council of Europe’s website. To find them, learners need to navigate to 'How to develop an ELP model,' then to 'Guide to compiling an ELP,' and from there, go to the 'Language passport' where the self-assessment grids are located.

How can the self-assessment grid help learners from different linguistic backgrounds?

The self-assessment grid is available in multiple languages, allowing beginners to assess themselves in their native language. This makes it easier for learners from diverse backgrounds to understand and evaluate their language skills.

What is the ultimate purpose of the European Language Portfolio?

The ELP aims to promote learner autonomy, encourage lifelong language learning, and provide a practical tool for learners to reflect on and document their language acquisition journey.