The result of over twenty years of research, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR) is designed to provide a transparent, coherent and comprehensive basis for the elaboration of language syllabuses and curriculum guidelines, the design of teaching and learning materials, and the assessment of foreign language proficiency. The Framework was developed by the Council of Europe as part of the project 'Language Learning for European Citizenship' between 1989 and 1996.
Action-oriented and Communicative
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages takes an “action-oriented” view of language use and learning.
...it views users and learners of a language primarily as members of society who have tasks (not exclusively language-related) to accomplish in a given set of circumstances, in a specific environment and within a particular field of action. While speech acts occur within language activities, these activities form part of a wider social context which alone is able to give them their full meaning.
Six levels of foreign language proficiency
The Framework describes foreign language proficiency at six levels: A1 and A2, B1 and B2, C1 and C2. It also defines three ‘plus’ levels (A2+, B1+, B2+). Based on empirical research and widespread consultation, this scheme makes it possible to compare tests and examinations across languages and national boundaries (see the section “The CEFR and language examinations: a toolkit”). It also provides a basis for recognising language qualifications and thus facilitating educational and occupational mobility.
The Framework is much more than proficiency scales
The CEFR’s scales of foreign language proficiency are accompanied by a detailed analysis of communicative contexts, themes, tasks, and purposes as well as scaled descriptions of the competences on which we draw when we communicate. This helps to explain why the Framework is increasingly used in teacher education, the reform of foreign language curricula, and the development of teaching materials. In November 2001 a European Union Council Resolution recommended using the Framework to set up systems of validation of language ability. The six reference levels (see below) are widely accepted as the European standard for grading an individual's language proficiency.
The Common European Framework levels
Level A - Basic Speaker
A1 Breakthrough or beginner
A2 Waystage or elementary
Level B - Independent Speaker
B1 Threshold or pre-intermediate
B2 Vantage or intermediate
Level C - Proficient Speaker
C1 Effective Operational Proficiency or upper intermediate
C2 Mastery or advanced
The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking, and writing at each level. This simple 'Global Scale' makes it easier to communicate the system to non-specialist users and will also provide teachers and curriculum planners with orientation points.