THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE PORTFOLIO: TIME FOR A FRESH START?

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Published: Jul 9, 2016

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David Little
Trinity College

Abstract

This article is based on the plenary talk I gave at the 2016 GlobELT Conference (Antalya, 14–17 April). I begin by reminding readers of the structure of the ELP and pointing out that although it was greeted with enthusiasm in most Council of Europe member states, it is not widely used in most of them (Turkey and Albania are current exceptions to this general tendency). I then elaborate on the relation between the ELP and the CEFR and sketch the ELP’s history from 1998 to 2014. After that I offer answers to two questions: Why has the ELP been a relative failure in most countries? And why did the ELP succeed in Ireland with learners from immigrant backgrounds? Finally, I consider how we might make a fresh start.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2016)
Section
Articles

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Author Biography

David Little, Trinity College

David Little retired in 2008 as Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and Head of the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. His principal research interests are the theory and practice of learner autonomy in second language education, the exploitation of linguistic diversity in schools and classrooms, and the use of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to support the design of second language curricula, teaching and assessment. Starting in 1998, he played a leading role in the development and implementation of the European Language Portfolio, and he remains a member of several Council of Europe expert groups.

References

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