ELI MOE, UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN, NORWAY

ECML project:Language descriptors for migrant and minority learners’ success in compulsory education

Project detailsProject period: 2012 - 2013Main focus: the language of schoolingResearch 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

Project groupFive project membersEli Moe University of Bergen, NorwayMarita Härmälä Finnish National Board of

Education, FinlandJosé Pascoal University of Lisbon, PortugalMeilute Ramoniene Vilnius University, LithuaniaPaula Kristmanson University of New Brunswick, Canada

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

Outputs - 2• A project report in English and French

Language skills for successful subject learning

Compétences linguistiques pour des apprentissages disciplinaires réussis

Overall findingsHistory/civics Mathematics

12/13 year old pupils

B1 B1

15/16 year old pupils

B2 (or «approaching B2»- for a few lang. functions)

B2 (or «approaching B2» for a few lang. functions)

Thank you!

Interact in teamwork – example of speaking descriptors

CEFR level Descriptor

B2 Can contribute to a project work by reporting and explaining detailed information on topics that he/she finds interesting.

B2 Can help organise the work, give feedback to team members and suggest how to proceed the work.

B1 Can help to solve practical problems that arise, e.g. while working on a project, explain her/his opinion and ask for classmates’ views.

A2 Can ask and answer simple questions on subject topics that s/he knows well.

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 studentsBy 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