At One’s Word Online we use the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) for students to assess their own levels of English.

About CEFR

Department of Humanities and Communication Studies in College of Humanities

About CEFR

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment) was developed by the Council of Europe to provide a method of learning, teaching and assessing which applies to all languages in Europe. Since 2001 when the Council recommended using the CEFR to set up systems of validation of language ability, it has increasingly been adopted as a guideline to describe foreign language achievements.

The theoretical background of the CEFR

The CEFR follows plurilingualism where each learner is identified as a social agent who is learning a foreign language for a social purpose. The emphasis is on the utility and especially on the communicative utility of that language as opposed to just learning everything there is to learn about that language for the sake of learning.

Self-assessment based on the CEFR

The CEFR breaks down language skills into understanding (listening and reading), speaking (communicating and expressing), and writing. It sets forth 6 levels of proficiency ranging from A1 (Breakthrough) to the highest C2 (Mastery). You can determine your level by assessing what of each aspect you can do to the degree corresponding to that level.

CEFR is useful for autonomous learning

CEFR considers that learning is a life-long process. As a consequence, it values autonomous learning where you set your own goals, plan your own progression, assess your achievements and adjust your approach. The ELP (European Language Portfolio) is proposed as a tool to record your progression, self-assessments, and works. It is a very convenient way to keep track of what you have done and where you are in order to better plan your future lessons.

Language is at the core of our identity and what enables us to communicate. By learning a new language, you can expand your possibilities by gaining new information, new insights, new perspectives, new friends, and new opportunities. You are the navigator of your life and this world is your stage. The key to reaching the hearts of people is by learning their language.