More than twelve years after its publication, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR) remains one of the best known and most used Council of Europe policy tools. Since its official publication in 2001, an impressive ‘toolkit’ has been built around the CEFR: samples illustrating the reference levels in a number of languages, a databank of descriptors, manuals for examination bodies, guides for different categories of users. A number of policy documents also further develop the underlying principles and education objectives of the CEFR. And, of course, the European Language Portfolio has largely contributed to the implementation of these principles, strongly promoting objectives such as reflective learning and learner autonomy.

Regardless of all the support material provided, the Council of Europe frequently receives requests to continue to develop various aspects of the CEFR, among other things by complementing the existing illustrative scales of language proficiency, such as, for example, descriptors for mediation. Descriptor scales for mediation activities and mediation strategies would indeed be an extremely valuable contribution for all professionals using the CEFR, enhancing the quality of implementation and reinforcing cooperation in Europe, and indeed beyond, around this widely used reference framework.

While the status of the CEFR will remain unchanged, the Language Policy Unit intends to build on the dynamic created by its widespread use by incorporating specific relevant work on descriptors developed since its 2001 publication into an extended set of descriptors that would complement the original illustrative set contained in the body of the CEFR text, including, descriptors for mediation.

The work relating to the maintenance and updating of the CEFR will not impact on its current status. In that spirit and in order to ensure coherence and continuity with the existing scales in the CEFR, the Eurocentres Foundation has agreed to take responsibility for coordinating the selection and preparation of these extra sets of descriptors on behalf of the Council of Europe. Dr Michael Gerber, Director of Eurocentres Foundation, has given his permission for Dr Brian North to co-ordinate this work.

If you are interested in participating in a series of activities to finalise and validate the draft set of descriptors for mediation, send a short letter of interest to the head of the research group Irina Golubeva (veab.imnb@gmail.com) before Friday March, 13th 2015.  

The work will involve two workshops with validation activities, followed by participation in an online survey. The first workshop is planned for Friday March 20th, 2015 at 2.30 p.m., the second one will take place in May 2015, and the online survey will be carried in September 2015.  

Irina GOLUBEVA
Invited Coordinator and Workshop Moderator