An Introduction to the European Language Portfolio : For Learner-centred Language Teaching

Abstract

Nekoda and Nekoda (2002) investigated the significance of the Common European Framework (CEF), which has been developed by the Council of Europe as a comprehensive framework of working meta-language concerning language learning and teaching in every member state of the Council of Europe. At the present time, a number of concrete innovations based on the CEF are being carried out co-operatively in several member states of the Council of Europe. One of the most spectacular innovations, in the sense of both the number of member states involved and actual impact on the national education systems of each member state, is the development of the European Language Portfolio (ELP). In this paper, as a follow-up of the study on the CEF, an attempt will be made to elaborate a description of the ELP and its impact on language education in Europe, and to explore some implications for current education reform in Japan.