The ELP is developed by the Council of Europe .The
decisive impetus to develop the ELP came from
the Rüschlikon Symposium of 1991 in collaboration with the Swiss Conference
of Cantonal Directors of Education.Between 1998 and 2000 versions of ELP were
developed and piloted in fifteen member states of the Council of Europe.The
Swiss pilot project served as an indispensable reference for all the pilot
projects.It was related to the CEFR and included detailed self-assessment
checklists for the five communicative activities(Listening , Reading , Writing,
Speaking Interaction and Speaking Production) at all six reference
levels(A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2)
The ELP has three parts : Language Passaport ,
Language Biography and a Dossier.The ELP has two main functions: reporting and
pedagogical.IT was no doubt that the seminars should focus more on the ELP’s
pedagogical function than on its reporting function.Reporting function refers
to the certificates and diplomas by presenting additional information about the
owner’s language learning experience.Moreover it concretes evidences of a
second foreign language proficiency and achievements.Pedagogical function is
the practice of learners autonomy and the use of ICT in the second and foreign
language learning.It takes place outside as well as inside formal education.The
two functions merge in the ongoing process of self-assessment that is
fundamental to make effective the ELP use through a set of learning
target/goals and the evaluation of the process.
From my experience the main advantages of using
the ELP would be :
1.It promotes and facilitates cooperation
among Educational Institutions in
different countries.
2.It provides a mutual recognition of Language
Qualifications.
3.It guarantees transparency and coherence in
Language Learning in Europe .
4.It is designed to promote plurilingualism and Language Learning in Europe.
5.It increases the self-assessment awareness through a set of targets (I cant/I can't) in the five different skills (reading, writing, listening , speaking production and speaking interaction) at the different levels A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2 depending on the level of your student.
5.It increases the self-assessment awareness through a set of targets (I cant/I can't) in the five different skills (reading, writing, listening , speaking production and speaking interaction) at the different levels A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2 depending on the level of your student.
6.It fosters the development of learner
autonomy.
7.It improves your communicative skills.
8.It motivates to continue studying languages
managing life long learning.
9.It implements your possibilities of making
your own linguistic profile in order to find a job.
10.Fostering self-assessment awareness.
11.There is a version to make it accessible
from whatever place.
12.It is for you. It is NOT imposed.It is your
property.
13.It fosters the mobility of teachers and
students around Europe .
14.It refers to a reflective work.
15.It develops a standard language.Unity in
diversity.
16.It fosters critical thinking.
16.It fosters critical thinking.
On the
other hand, we could talk about some disadvantages of the ELP:
1.It
implies Universities and Administration in order to train the teachers to use
the ELP in a correct way.Teachers need to be trained in recycling and
participating in methodogical courses from the CONSELLERIA.
2.Using ELP
could/should be extended to other disciplines.
3.The
teacher has to be a guide instead of the person who knows all the contents.
4.It means
to increase the responsibility and autonomy of the student.Many times , it is not easy.
5.The
criteria of self-assessment of the students could not be the same of the
criteria from the teacher and European Framework.
6.Educative
Centers have to apply for ELP to the CONSELLERIA after being asked to the
CONSELL ESCOLAR .The School Committee must grant permission before it is enforced.
7.Educative
Inspection will guarantee the normal and correct use of the ELP .
8.The
CONSELLERIA will organize sessions for sharing experiences especially in the
e-PEL(+14) ELP.
In
conclusion teaching through the ELP can be an enriching experience for learning
to learn and to make the students more aware of their assessment .
