Language Policy Division: A brief history
Early programmes of international co-operation in Strasbourg focused on the democratisation of language learning for the mobility of persons and ideas, and on the promotion of the European heritage of cultural and linguistic diversity. Projects assisted member states in implementing reforms aimed at developing learners’ communication skills and encouraged innovation in language teaching and teacher training, with an emphasis on a learner-centred approach. While continuing to promote innovation for successful communication and intercultural skills, more recent projects have increasingly addressed the social and political dimensions of language learning, focusing on language education for democratic citizenship, diversification in language learning, improving coherence and transparency in language provision, and the language education rights of minorities. The European Year of Languages (2001) led to further initiatives to support member states in developing policy responses to the new challenges to social cohesion and integration.
The results of these projects have been embodied in a Resolution and a number of Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). More...
Key moments in history |
|
1957 |
First intergovernmental conference on European co-operation in language teaching |
1963 |
Launch of first major Project on language teaching |
1975 |
Publication of first ‘Threshold Level’ specification |
1989 |
New member states begin to join intergovernmental projects |
1994 |
European Centre for Modern Languages established |
2001 |
European Year of Languages |