Training teachers to use the European Language Portfolio

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Training teachers to use the European Language
Portfolio

• Short-term project 2008-2009
• ELP_TT2
• Project coordinator Margarete Nezbeda, Austria

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ELP and intercultural aspects

• Based on a workshop held by Dick Meijer in Skopje
  (adapted by Margarete Nezbeda)

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ELP and interculturality

• In Principles and Guidelines (2000) the ELP
  'reflect?s? the Council of Europe's concern with
  respect for diversity and ways of life.
• ELP is a 'tool to promote plurilingualism and
  pluriculturalism.

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Some definitions

• Big C Culture versus little c culture
  (Halverson, 1985)
• Collective programming of the mind which
  distinguishes the members of one group or
  category of people from another. (Hofstede)
• ? Pyramid model 3 levels universal cultural
  - personal

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Some definitions

• Iceberg analogy (Brembeck) Only the tip is
  visible (e.g. language, food, appearance)
  biggest part invisible (communication style,
  attitudes, beliefs, values, perception)
• Culture hides more than it reveals (Hall,
  1959)

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Some definitions

• Enculturation cultural learning in a native
  context
• Acculturation cultural learning in a non-native
  context ? culture bumps and culture shock may
  occur

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Some more definitions

• Multicultural (society) Different cultures exist
  side by side vs. pluricultural A person becomes
  pluricultural when she/he has gained access to
  more than one culture
• Intercultural situation two or more
  pluricultural individuals interact
• Intercultural communicative competence (ICC)
  the ability to cope with ones own cultural
  background in interaction with others (Beneke,
  2000)

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What does intercultural awareness mean?

• Intercultural awareness includes an awareness of
  diversity. Intercultural skills and know-how
  include
• Ability to bring culture of origin and foreign
  culture into relation with each other
• Cultural sensitivity/ability for a variety of
  strategies for contact
• The role of cultural intermediary
• Ability to overcome stereotyped relationships
• (Common European Framework of Reference, 2001)

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The challenge of intercultural competence

• Note Cultural knowledge is not the same as
  intercultural competence (Little/Simpson, 2003)
• Intercultural competence needs relevant cultural
  knowledge (including knowledge of culture of
  origin)
• Intercultural competence also depends on other
  factors (e.g. the individuals affective and
  attitudinal orientation and personal skills)
• It is difficult to judge ones own intercultural
  competence

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ELP and intercultural aspects

• Language Passport reports . significant language
  and intercultural learning experiences.
• Language Biography is organised to promote
  plurilingualism
• Dossier offers the opportunity to select
  materials to document and illustrate
  experiences
• (Principles and Guidelines, 2004)

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Role of the ELP

• ELP could and should play an important role in
  stimulating thinking about
• Cultural differences
• Reflexion on experiences (in terms of location
  and intensity)
• Location work, travel,study
• Intensity frequency, duration, involvement,
  significance for oneself.
• (Little and Simpson, 2003)

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Recording and reflecting intercultural experiences

• Questions to be considered in order to record
  intercultural experiences in the ELP
• Where, with whom and in what context (location)?
• What kind of experience (intensity)?
• What was my response?
• Why did I respond the way I did?

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In the classroom

• Possibilities of bringing the target culture into
  the classroom
• Native speakers (neighbourhood, international
  companies, language assistants)
• Media (journals, newspapers, internet)
• Correspondence projects (e-mail, letters,
  chat-sessions)
• Virtual exchanges
• Simulations
• But Take account of cultural similarities and do
  not just focus on cultural differences!

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Task

• Think of the differences and similarities among
  your grandparents, your parents and yourself
  concerning
• Familiy and generational relationships
• Gender roles
• Religion
• Politics
• Talk about it with your group
• (Cf. Bernaus, Mercé, The transmission of
  culture, p. 46, adapted.)

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References

• Bernaus, Mercé et al. (eds.), 2007. Plurilingual
  and pluricultural awareness in language teacher
  education. A training kit. Graz ECML. Council of
  Europe.
• Groenewold,P.,1997'Land in Sicht'. Landeskunde
  als Dialog der Identitäten am Beispiel des
  deutschen-niederländischen Begegnungsdiskurses,
  Groningen. Dialogue of identities Dutch-German
  imagological discourse.
• Lázár, Ildiko et al. (eds.), 2007. Developing and
  assessing intercultural communicative competence.
  A guide for language teachers and teacher
  educators. Graz ECML, Council of Europe.
• Little,D. and B.Simpson, 2003. European Language
  Portfolio. The intercultural component and
  Learning how to learn. Strasbourg Council of
  Europe.
• Schneider,G. and P.Lenz, 2001. European Language
  Portfolio Guide for developers. Strasbourg
  Council of Europe.

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