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SUMMARY:Comparing language learning and proficiency across Europe - Karen 
 Ashton\, Project Manager\, European Survey on Language Competences\, Cambr
 idge ESOL\, Cambridge Assessment
DTSTART:20110124T170000Z
DTEND:20110124T183000Z
UID:TALK28322@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ewa Illakowicz
DESCRIPTION:This presentation will introduce and discuss the European Surv
 ey on Language Competences (ESLC) which is an EU initiative scheduled for 
 February to March 2011. Approximately 50\,000 students in over 2\,000 scho
 ols across\n14 European countries will participate in the survey which wil
 l test and compare proficiency in English\, French\, German\, Italian and 
 Spanish. The survey derives from EU policy objectives such as Barcelona an
 d Lisbon where further action was called for to improve the mastery of bas
 ic skills\, in particular by teaching at least two foreign languages from 
 an early age. This survey will act as one measure of progress towards this
  goal by providing information on the general level of foreign language kn
 owledge of students in participating countries.\n\nClearly\, to measure an
 d compare language proficiency levels in school settings across Europe is 
 quite a challenge. Languages are introduced at very different ages\, taugh
 t with differing duration and intensity\, and as compulsory or optional su
 bjects. Exposure to languages outside school varies\, as does the impact o
 f the culture which the language represents.\nMeaningful comparisons will 
 therefore not be straightforward\, and will be based on two kinds of data:
  from the language tests and from questionnaires administered at student\,
  teacher\, school head and country level. The questionnaires will investig
 ate how educational outcomes relate to malleable processes (such as age of
  introduction and teaching\nmethods) and antecedent or contextual conditio
 ns (such as socio-economic status)
LOCATION: Faculty of Education\, 184 Hills Road\, Cambridge\, CB2 8PQ\, DM
 B\, Room GS4
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