1. ELI MOE, UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN, NORWAY ECML project: Language descriptors for migrant and minority learners’ success in compulsory education

2. Project details Project period: 2012 - 2013 Main focus: the language of schooling Research question: What level of language competence do migrant/minority pupils need in order to do well in compulsory schooling, i.e. minimal standards? Focus group: Migrant and minority students Learning history/civics and mathematics Age groups: 12/13 and 15/16 years old

3. Project group Five project members Eli MoeUniversity of Bergen, Norway Marita Härmälä Finnish National Board of Education, Finland José Pascoal University of Lisbon, Portugal Meilute Ramoniene Vilnius University, Lithuania Paula Kristmanson University of New Brunswick, Canada

4. Outputs -1 144 validated descriptors targeted at levels A2-B2 in six languages (English, Finnish, French, Lithuanian, Norwegian and Portuguese) CEFR levels, indicated by teachers, as minimal standards for 12/13 (B1) and 15/16 (B2) year old students in history/civics and mathematics Practical examples of how the descriptors could be used. Guidelines (and ideas) on how to describe minimal language standards in other subjects and for other age groups

5. Outputs - 2 A project report in English and French Language skills for successful subject learning Compétences linguistiques pour des apprentissages disciplinaires réussis

6. Overall findings History/civicsMathematics 12/13 year old pupils B1 15/16 year old pupils B2 (or «approaching B2»- for a few lang. functions) B2 (or «approaching B2» for a few lang. functions)

8. Interact in teamwork – example of speaking descriptors CEFR levelDescriptor B2 Can contribute to a project work by reporting and explaining detailed information on topics that he/she finds interesting. B2Can help organise the work, give feedback to team members and suggest how to proceed the work. B1Can help to solve practical problems that arise, e.g. while working on a project, explain her/his opinion and ask for classmates’ views. A2Can ask and answer simple questions on subject topics that s/he knows well.

9. The future How can such descriptors be used? By teachers to raise awareness of the language-related aspects of various school subjects and tasks to determine language objectives for lessons to use as formative assessment criteria to use as self-assessment criteria for students By researchers/ teacher trainers / teachers – a starting point for developing descriptors for other subjects and age groups developing teaching materials developing context specific descriptors and teaching materials