The CEFR and Practical Resources

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the Council of Europe (COE)’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (2001), and the European Language Portfolio (ELP) (COE 2019c) through key resources, literature, and implementation guidelines related to these documents. In Sects. 1.1 and 1.2 readers are provided with an overview of the CEFR and the ELP, including key aspects that serve as their foundation. These include CEFR’s descriptive scheme of language use and competence, which informs implementation and practice. This overview is followed by an account of the historical events that explain and justify its emergence, reasons for its widespread adoption, and refinement as evidenced by the publication of the Companion Volume (CEFR/CV) (COE 2018). Criticisms of the CEFR are addressed next. The current state of CEFR adoption in Europe will be explored later in the chapter as well as its use outside of Europe and the flexibility stakeholders exercised when adapting the CEFR to local conditions and needs. The chapter will conclude with a summary of available practical resources which have been organized thematically. In subsequent chapters, more detailed information will be provided concerning curriculum and course design (Chap. 2), assessment (Chap. 3), ELP and learner autonomy (Chap. 4), integration of learning, teaching and assessment through Task-Based Language Teaching (Chap. 5), and teacher autonomy (Chap. 6) as well as exercises to guide readers in applying this information for their individual purposes and contexts. Various aspects of the CEFR will be discussed throughout the book, building on the foundation of background knowledge laid out in this chapter.