Johanna PANTHIER

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The political implications of linking language
examinations to common reference levels
ALTE meeting, Cardiff, 9-10 November 2005
Johanna PANTHIER Language Policy Division
Council of Europe Strasbourg, France
www.coe.int/portfolio www.coe.int/lang
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Council of Europe and European Union
Council of Europe Strasbourg 46 members
States
European Union Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg
25 members States
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Standards Common European Framework of Reference
for Languages learning, teaching, assessment
(CEFR)- excellent descriptive and reflection
tool, to be built on ? CEFR KIT - Manual
for Relating language examinations to the
CEFR (pilot version) - Material illustrating
CEFR levels - Item bank (reading and listening
B1 EU) - Grids for analysing reading and
listening items and oral and written
performances - Reference supplement .
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• Wash-back effect of (language) examinations
• - on young learners
• - on adults

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• Construction of Europe and globalisation in
  general have led to the use of common standards
• EU Lisbon Strategy Europe should become the
  most competitive society in the world by 2010 ?
  Indicators to measure proficiency of citizens in
  a number of domains
• Barcelona indicator indicator of language
  proficiency
• ? based on CEFR
• Europass (for the transparency of qualifications
  and mobility)
• ? language skills reported according to CEFR

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Ministries of Education and private sector fix
objectives in terms of CEFR Textbook writers
and examination providers claim links to CEFR
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• Council of Europes mission democracy and human
  rights
• Therefore, the Council of Europe is concerned
  with the use of its standards
• Because of the wash-back effect of examinations,
• the major concern is with the reliability and
  validity of tests and examinations

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• Major advantages of common European standards
• - coherence of language programmes
• - feasible, realistic objectives
• - transparency of qualifications
• - mobility
• - involvement of learners in their learning
  process ? autonomy, confidence, lifelong
  learning
• Potential danger Harmonisation ? loss of
  linguistic and cultural diversity
• Language examination providers have a major
  responsibility vis-à-vis
• - test takers
• - European society
• Standards for unity in diversity !