1. ECML European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe in Graz

2. The Council of Europe www.coe.int www.coe.int  Strasbourg, founded 1949  Oldest and geographically largest European institution in the area of intergovernmental co-operation  47 member states Areas of action  Human rights (European Court of Human Rights)  Democracy (Building a democratic culture – Education and Languages)  Rule of Law

3. Languages at the Council of Europe www.coe.int/lang www.coe.int/lang Languages are the basis of: communication intercultural dialogue social cohesion democratic citizenship Promotion of: Plurilingualism of citizens Linguistic diversity in Europe

4. 1.Good quality education is a pre-requisite for: social cohesion democratic citizenship intercultural dialogue economic progress 2. Adequate language skills are a pre-requisite for unrestricted access to and an important outcome of good quality education 3. The (growing) linguistic and cultural diversity in European societies are not problems to be solved but offer a potential to benefit from 4. Task for language education: to support European citizens in their linguistic development in such a way that they grow as confident and successful individuals and as efficient and responsible social agents – in a lifelong learning process Council of Europe and language education

5. Language Policy Unit, Strasbourg: policy development European Centre for Modern Languages, Graz: capacity building Directorate of Human Rights and Antidiscrimination: European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Directorate of Democratic Citizenship and Participation, Department of Education:

6. Examples of publications and ongoing work Common European Framework of Reference for Languages European Language Portfolio Guide for the development of language education policies in Europe Current project: Languages of schooling – Language as a subject – Language across the curriculum Language Policy Unit www.coe.int/lang www.coe.int/lang

7. European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages www.coe.int/minlang www.coe.int/minlang The only international treaty specifically devoted to the protection and promotion of regional or minority languages Aim: To enable speakers of Minority Languages to use them in public life

8. European Day of Languages www.coe.int/edl www.coe.int/edl Online resources “Input your events”-calendar Posters Stickers Interactive games Greeting cards And much more... Celebrating plurilingualism cultural diversity lifelong language learning

9. European Centre for Modern Languages www.ecml.at Founded in Graz, Austria, 1994 Enlarged partial agreement of the Council of Europe 32 member states Support of language education policies through: Dissemination of good practices Promotion of innovation Training of multipliers Development of expert networks

10. European Centre for Modern Languages www.ecml.at Structure: Governing Board Bureau National Nominating Authorities National Contact Points INGO Professional Network Forum Austrian Association ECML Secretariat

11. 17 years of experience in initiating and supporting international cooperation 17 years of accumulated expertise in language education Extensive professional network Extensive structural network in all member states Training and consultancy offered to member states Over 120 publications offering practical solutions and advice Over 15 000 language educators from 32 member states trained so far Comprehensive on-site and interactive on-line resources Fully equipped conference premises with professional service ECML: the added value

12. All publications are available online in downloadable format free of charge Books CD-ROMs Project websites Project flyers Travelling exhibition available for conferences and fairs ECML programme 2004-2007 www.ecml.at/socialcohesion

13. Empowering Language Professionals: ECML programme 2008-2011 23 projects, 4 thematic areas: Evaluation and assessment Continuity in language learning Content and language integrated education Plurilingual education Four objectives: to enhance the professional competence of language teachers to strengthen professional networks and the wider community of language educators to enable language professionals to have greater impact on reform processes to contribute to better quality of language education in Europe

14. ECML programme 2012-2015: Learning through languages. Promoting inclusive, plurilingual and intercultural education www.ecml.at/learningthroughlanguages www.ecml.at/learningthroughlanguages Innovative development Mediation Training and consultancy for Member States Expert meetings, workshops, contribution to conferences, publications, interactive project websites, on-line and on-site resources

15. Enhancing the professional competence of language educators Strenghtening professional networks and the wider community of language educators Enabling language professionals to have greater impact on reform processes Contributing to better quality of language education in Europe ECML: Empowering language professionals

16. Want to stay informed? On-line newsletter published twice a year on: ECML events developments in the Division for Language Policy other relevant sectors of the Council of Europe’s work Subscribe to www.ecml.at/gazette