Studies concerning language learning and teaching

2008

• A Rewarding Challenge - How the multiplicity of languages could strengthen Europe ( pdf, 359 KB) Proposals from the Group of Intellectuals for Intercultural Dialogue set up at the initiative of the European Commission
• Promotion of multilingualism in the 31 countries of the lifelong-learning programme (pdf, 0,3 MB) [310 KB]

2007

• High Level Goup on Multilingualism (pdf, 649 KB) - final report Short version

• Report on the implementation of the Action Plan "Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity 2004-2006"

• LACE - The Intercultural Competences Developed in Compulsory Foreign Languages Education in the European Union Language courses are privileged opportunities to develop sensitivity towards cultural differences and to understand the ways in which culture and language interlock. By helping to acquire the skills of discovering and interpreting other cultures, other values, beliefs and behaviours, language learning and teaching can make a substantial contribution to the development of these intercultural skills alongside linguistic skills. This study identifies and assesses the nature, scope and extent of intercultural skills currently taught in compulsory foreign language education in the European Union. (http://www.lace2007.eu/) Full reportSummaryAnnexes

• Report on the diversity of language teaching offered in the European Union Linguistic diversity is one of the distinctive features of the European Union. Respect for the diversity of the Union’s languages is a founding principle of the European Community. This report sheds new light on the diversity of language teaching in the European Union and paves the way to help broaden the range of languages taught in European educational systems, in order to reflect more accurately the linguistic diversity of the European Union. Full report Summary (all languages)

• Effects on the European Economy of Shortages of Foreign Language Skills in Enterprise - Full report (pdf, 0,1 MB) [364 KB] A significant amount of business is being lost to European enterprise as a result of lack of languages skills.This report, commissioned by the Multilingualism Policy Unit and undertaken by CILT (the UK National Centre for Languages) in collaboration with InterAct International and an international team of researchers, provides practical information and analysis of the use of language skills by SMEs and the impact on business performance.
• Effects on the European Economy of Shortages of Foreign Language Skills in Enterprise - Summary (pdf, 0,1 MB) [27 KB]
• The main pedagogical principles underlying the teaching of languages to very young learners - Full report (pdf, 1,2 MB) [2 MB] An early start can confer considerable advantages on children by activating such natural languages acquisition mechanisms as they possess, by affording them more time overall and by providing them with a linguistic and intercultural experience which can have a beneficial formative influence on their cognitive, social, cultural, acoustic, linguistic and personal development (including qualities of persistence and participation) and on their sense of self.
• The main pedagogical principles underlying the teaching of languages to very young learners - Summary (pdf, 0,5 MB) [417 KB]

2006

• Detecting and Removing Obstacles to the Mobility of Foreign Language Teachers (pdf, 0.6 MB) [539 KB]
• Inventory of Language Certification Systems in Europe - Report (pdf, 0.8 MB) [788 KB]
• Inventory of Language Certification Systems in Europe - Searchable online inventory
• Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) at School in Europe (pdf, 2.0 MB)

2005

• Foreign language learning: a European priority (pdf, 1.5 MB)
• Key Data on Education in Europe 2005 (pdf, 15,6 MB)
• "LINGO: 50 ways to motivate language learners" - Brochure (pdf, 2.4 MB) [3 MB] Study on ways of motivating Europeans to learn languages
• LINGO - Executive Summary (pdf, 0.4 MB) [401 KB]
• LINGO - Methodology (pdf, 0.3 MB) [296 KB]
• Feasibility study concerning the creation of a European Agency for Linguistic Diversity and Language Learning - Final report (pdf, 2.6 MB) [3 MB]
• Feasibility study - Executive Summary (pdf, 0.1 MB) [32 KB]
• Insights & Innovation Special Educational Needs in Europe. The Teaching and Learning of Languages (Jyväskylä University, Finland) (pdf, 6.0 MB) [6 MB]
• Insights & Innovation Special Educational Needs in Europe - Executive Summary (pdf, 0.1 MB) [205 KB]
• Key Data on Teaching Languages at Schools in Europe – 2005 Edition (pdf, 4.2 MB) First edition of a special Eurydice Key Data report on language teaching uses 37 indicators to portray the situation in 30 countries in the Eurydice Network. How many pupils speak one language at home and another at school? How is language teaching organized (in terms of when compulsory provision begins and ends, which languages are taught, how many have to be learnt for what amount of time and what are the official teacher/pupil ratio requirements)? What are the language learning participation rates? How many languages are learnt on average? What are the qualifications of those who teach them? These are just some of the questions examined in the present publication.

2004

• European Profile for Language Teacher Education - A Frame of Reference (pdf, 0.5 MB) [411 KB] Study by Michael Kelly, Michael Grenfell et al, Southampton University, UK. This ground-breaking European study analyses the essential components of language teacher education in twenty-first century Europe. Conceived as a frame of reference for policy makers and language teacher educators, the European Profile should become an essential checklist for all who are involved in language teacher training and education. Based upon in-depth research from across the European Union, and drawing on the advice of experts in the field and numerous case studies, the report offers examples of good practice together with practical guidance for implementation.
• Appendices (pdf, 0.6 MB) [566 KB]
• Executive Summary (DE) (pdf, 0.1 MB) [79 KB]
• Brochure (pdf, 0.1 MB) [860 KB]
• Introduction (DE) (pdf, 0.1 MB) [47 KB]

2002

• CLIL - Content and Language Integrated Learning (pdf, 0.9 MB) [866 KB] Report compiled and authored by David Marsh, University of Jyväskylä, Finland - Full version of the report
• The Training of Teachers of a Foreign Language: Developments in Europe (pdf, 0.5 MB) [433 KB] University of Southampton in the UK and examines both initial training and in-service training of teachers of a foreign language in Europe - Full version of the report.
• The Impact of Information and Communications Technologies on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and on the Role of Teachers of Foreign Languages (pdf, 1.1 MB) [2 MB] Full version of the report.

2001

• Foreign Language Teaching in Schools in Europe (pdf, 5.0 MB)

2000

The European Language Learning Materials Survey is a reference tool for all those concerned with the provision of materials for learning the Community languages in the countries of the European Union.

It presents the results of the "Study of requirements relating to material for language learning and teaching" which was put out to tender by the European Commission. It provides facts and figures on requirements in the development of materials for language teaching and learning. It identifies gaps in provision for specific languages and highlights areas where Community support could be effective in contributing to meet the needs in the countries of the European Union.

It covers 15 languages – Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Letzebuergesch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Polish (separate study) – and has been conducted in 12 EU countries, in Norway and Poland. The provision for French was covered by the Preliminary Study which was conducted in Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal and the results of which are attached to the National reports for these countries.

Below is the complete set of reports, the three main parts being:

• Consolidated Report (pdf, 0.2 MB) [203 KB] This report presents the findings of the Study in a comprehensive way.

Individual Reports which cover the countries in which the Study was conducted, as well as the situation for Polish as one example of a language of the candidate countries and the state of the art regarding web-based online resources and finally.

• Report for Austria (pdf, 0.1 MB) [89 KB]
• Report for France (pdf, 0.2 MB) [238 KB]
• Report for Germany (pdf, 0.3 MB) [338 KB]
• Report for Greece (pdf, 0.5 MB) [504 KB]
• Report for Ireland & Irish as a Foreign Language (pdf, 0.1 MB) [102 KB]
• Report for Italy (pdf, 0.1 MB) [156 KB]
• Report for the Netherlands (pdf, 0.2 MB) [236 KB]
• Report for Norway (pdf, 0.1 MB) [59 KB]
• Report for Portugal (pdf, 0.1 MB) [66 KB]
• Report for Spain (pdf, 0.1 MB) [118 KB]
• Report for Sweden (pdf, 0.1 MB) [77 KB]
• Report for the United Kingdom (pdf, 0.2 MB) [172 KB]
• Provision of Polish as a foreign language (pdf, 0.1 MB) [106 KB]
• Web-based On-line Resources (full report) (pdf, 0.1 MB) [78 KB]
• Examples of Good Practice (pdf, 3.5 MB) [4 MB] This provides a collection of samples using quality indicators, which can serve as models for materials still to be developed in other languages.

1999

• Foreign languages in Primary and Pre-School Education: context and outcomes (pdf, 0,1 MB) [30 KB]