Looking forward -The European Centre for Modern Languages

NALA is delighted to welcome on its website an article by Sarah Breslin¹, Director of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), Graz, and Head of Language Policy of the Council of Europe

Members will already be aware of the work of the ECML through the European Language Gazette, which is publicised on the NALA website, but awareness of its work in the language teaching profession in the UK generally is limited, partly because the UK is not currently an ECML member state². In recent years, the range and depth of ECML’s resources have increased markedly and they are open to all on its website.

The ECML’s focus is on plurilingualism – on the teaching and learning of multiple languages, which, in the European context, usually means the learning of languages in addition to English as the first foreign language. The UK’s situation may be different, but the themes pursued by the ECML are similar and many of the issues identified will be familiar to school leaders as well as to language teachers. ECML resources are primarily in English and French, with a substantial number also in German, but the content is applicable to all languages. In recent years the offer of resources in other languages continues to increase.

The sheer weaIth of the ECML’s resources, spread across nine thematic areas, can result in information overload, so Sarah helpfully offers a way in, with illustrations from three of the nine areas: teacher and learner competences, plurilingual and intercultural education and new media. Obviously, there are other areas that will catch the eye of individuals, such as CLIL and early language learning.

¹ Sarah became Director of the ECML in 2013. Since 2023 she has also been Head of Language Policy for the wider Council of Europe. She is a former Director of SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages and Director of the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s schools; before that she was a subject specialist at Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). A graduate in French and German of the University of Glasgow, Sarah spent her teaching career in Scotland and Spain.

² Any member state of the Council of Europe may opt to join the ECML with payment of an additional contribution. The UK was an ECML member from 2002 to 2012 when the UK withdrew from membership. The UK continues to be a member state of the Council of Europe of which it was a founder member.

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