BCLTS Conference, Edinburgh 1 July 2011 George X Zhang European - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BCLTS Conference, Edinburgh 1 July 2011 George X Zhang

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Common European Framework of References for Languages: Learning, teaching assessment European Benchmarking Chinese Project Challenges and Opportunities

Common European Framework of References for Languages: Learning, teaching assessment � User oriented – learners - language users – teachers – assessors - institutions � European context – pluralingual in a multicultural Europe (European citizens) � Functional – activities /competence based (can do) � Framework of REFERENCES only � A framework For European languages or for languages used in Europe (Chinese)?

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) � Background � Objectives � Implications � Project team � Work done so far

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Backgrounds to the project - Increasing demand and provision for Chinese language in Europe - Increasing collaboration between Europe and China - CEFR and CEFF based Language Portfolio - Need for some coherence in Chinese language learning, teaching and assessment - Interest in CEFR from outside Europe - Shared interest from colleagues and institutions

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Objectives - A framework of competence descriptors for Chinese in European context - Raised awareness of social and linguistic differences between Chinese and European languages - Network in Europe and beyond for universities, teachers, and other institutions concerned - A dynamic database of universities in Europe that offer Chinese language courses

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Implications - Comparability of learning outcomes - Course and syllabus design - Material/textbook development - Assessment contents - Quality of information and services

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Project team Partner Institutions : � Rennes II, France � Freie University Berlin, Germany � La Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy � School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK Associated partners : � Collège-Lycée Emile Zola de Rennes, France � Geschwister Scholl Gesamtschule, Germany � The Convitto Nazionale di Roma "Vittorio Emanuele II", Italy � Kingsford Community School, UK

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Work done so far - Survey of European universities and use of CEFR for their teaching of Chinese – Rome Seminar 19-20 May 2011 - Survey of existing descriptors and proposed ones for A1/2 by mid October – Paris Seminar 14-15 Oct 2011 - Project website: www.ebcl.eu.com

CEFR: Competence range CEF Ext context C2 Notions Texts C1 Sub-themes Notions Operations B2 Themes Notions Events Objects B1 Notions Persons A2 Sub-themes Notions Institution A1 Notions Location Domains Personal Public Educational Occupational

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Practical implications � Domains do not necessarily exclude each other � Choice of vertical (language/competence etc) and horizontal parameter (activity range) and skills User/use of language � Course and syllabus design – tourist/business Chinese � Material/textbook development/selection � Assessment contents/methods � Quality of information and services

3. Challenges and Opportunities � European Context � Use of Chinese in Europe vs. use of Chinese in China � Chinese of different backgrounds � Intercultural awareness/skill � Language of medium at individual level/small group � Language use out of its natural environment � Reading/writing cf. listening/speaking � Distance between them – form and style � Any recommended number of characters � Collaboration and continual development

European Benchmarking Chinese Project (EBCL) Thank you! Questions? g.zhang@soas.ac.uk