Curriculum development, assessment of linguistic achievement, materials development, educational standards – for more than 15 years, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages has been considered an established framework which provides orientation and ideas for the various contexts in which learning and teaching foreign languages takes place.

Argument

Curriculum development, assessment of linguistic achievement, materials development, educational standards – for more than 15 years, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages has been considered an established framework which provides orientation and ideas for the various contexts in which learning and teaching foreign languages takes place.

On a practical level, limitations to the applicability of the CEFR have also become apparent, and there are certain aspects which the present scales and theoretical descriptions of the CEFR do not (sufficiently) take into account as yet, such as the specific features of language teaching at universities. These limitations and gaps must be discussed on both the practical level and also in relation to its theoretical foundations in order for there to be constructive further development.

The 6th Bremen Symposium would like to offer a platform to present possible approaches for solving the problem of how to deal with the limitations and gaps of the CEFR. Contributions could focus on task-based language learning, dealing with heterogeneity, plurilingualism, interculturality or learner autonomy, for example. Empirical, practical or theoretical approaches can also be presented and discussed.

We therefore invite you to present your work in the form of talks, work-in progress presentations, workshops or poster presentations which take a critical look at the achievements, challenges and limitations of the CEFR in relation to the topic areas listed below. The research should relate clearly to language teaching at universities.

Possible forms of presentation

• Talk in one of the seven sections (25 min talk + 10 min discussion)
• Workshop (90 min)
• Poster presentation

Intended sessions

• Session 1: Considerations on the theoretical foundations of the CEFR
• Session 2: CEFR in curriculum development
• Session 3: CEFR usage in testing and examining 
• Session 4: Materials development and CEFR
• Session 5: CEFR and plurilingualism
• Session 6: CEFR in language and literature studies
• Session 7: “Extra-linguistic” aspects and CEFR: interculturality, mediation, strategies…

Languages for talk

German, English, other languages after prior consultaion with the organising team

Registration for talks

Submission of an abstract : 

30 April 2016 to 15 October 2016

May only be done online

Conference fee

• Before 31 December 2016 75 €/ reduced fee 60 €
• From 1 January 2017 90 €/ reduced fee 75 €
• Speakers: 60 €

Registration and further information

www.fremdsprachenzentrum-bremen.de/symposion

(Registration possible as of  1 September 2016)

Organiser

Fremdsprachenzentrum der Hochschulen im Land Bremen (FZHB) in cooperation withthe Association of language centres at German universities (AKS)

Organisation

• Prof. Dr. Claudia Harsch (Fremdsprachenzentrum Bremen/ University of Bremen)
• Anikó Brandt, M.A. (Fremdsprachenzentrum Bremen)

Contact

Prof. Dr. Claudia Harsch

Fremdsprachenzentrum der Hochschulen 

im Land Bremen (FZHB)

Universität Bremen

Bibliothekstraße 1

28359 Bremen

Tel.: 0421-218-61967

symposion@fremdsprachenzentrum-bremen.de

www.fremdsprachenzentrum-bremen.de/symposion