The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, abbreviated as CEFR, is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe. It was put together by the Council of Europe as the main part of the project "Language Learning for European Citizenship" between 1989 and 1996. Its main aim is to provide a method of assessing and teaching which applies to all languages in Europe. In November 2001 a European Union Council Resolution recommended using the CEFR to set up systems of validation of language ability. The six reference levels (see below) are becoming widely accepted as the European standard for grading an individual's language proficiency. Nonetheless, existing examination boards have retained their own naming conventions, e.g. "Intermediate", which are, arguably, easier for them, and their students, to remember.

• UNIcert (for different languages of both European and non-European countries), which is used in several European countries, is a university-language-education standard based on the CEFR.

Contents 1 Development 2 Levels 3 Use in language testing 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Development

In 1991 the Swiss Federal Authorities hold an Intergovernmental Symposium in Rüschlikon, Switzerland, on "Transparency and Coherence in Language Learning in Europe: Objectives, Evaluation, Certification". This symposium found that a Common European Framework for languages was needed to improve the recognition of language qualifications and help teachers co-operate, eventually leading to improved communication and cooperation generally in Europe.

As a result of the symposium, the Swiss National Science Foundation set up a project to develop levels of proficiency, to lead on to the creation of a "European Language Portfolio" - certification in language ability which can be used across Europe.

[edit] Levels

The Common European Framework divides learners into three broad divisions which can be divided into six levels:

A Basic Speaker

A1 Breakthrough

A2 Waystage

B Independent Speaker

B1 Threshold

B2 Vantage

C Proficient Speaker

C1 Effective Operational Proficiency

C2 Mastery

The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level.

level	description
A1	Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
A2	Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
B1	Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
B2	Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
C1	Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
C2	Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

These descriptors can apply to any of the languages spoken in Europe, and there are translations in many languages.

[edit] Use in language testing

The ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) "Can Do" project developed a simplified set of 400+ descriptors for language examinations which relate to the Common Reference Levels. These descriptors are in the form of "can-do statements", each saying more simply what a learner can do at every level. There are four sections: general, social/ tourist, work and study. The ALTE project also gave its own names to the CEF levels: "Breakthrough level" - "Level 5".

The ALTE was founded by the University of Cambridge in conjunction with the University of Salamanca so the first exams to be related to their "Can-Do" statements were the Cambridge EFL exams. However, today many more examining boards link their exams to the system. Below is a table of some examinations as an example.

Important warning Readers need to know that this table has no absolute truth value. Many of the relations of exams to the CEFR shown in this table are mere claims from the bodies owning these exams with no empirical evidence or very poor or indirect evidence (see:[1]

ALTE level	CEFR level	NQF (UK Only)	Versant	PTE General (formerly LTE)	PTE Academic	Goethe Institute	CIEP / Alliance française diplomas	Cambridge exam	IELTS	UNIcert (different languages)	TOEIC	TOEFL	DCL	YKI
Level 5	C2	Level 3	79-80	Level 5	85	Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung, Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom	TCF C2 / DALF C2 / DHEF	CPE	IELTS 7.5-9.0	Superior	UNIcert IV	900 + points	Certification IV	6.taso
Level 4	C1	Level 2	69-78	Level 4	76	Goethe-Zertifikat C1	TCF C1 / DALF C1 / DSLCF	CAE	IELTS 6.5-7.0		UNIcert III	800 - 900 points	Certification III	5.taso
Level 3	B2	Level 1	58-68	Level 3	59	Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf	TCF B2 / DELF B2 / Diplôme de Langue	FCE	IELTS 5.0-6.0	Intermedio	UNIcert II	650 - 800 points	Certification II	4.taso
Level 2	B1	Entry 3	47-57	Level 2	43	Zertifikat Deutsch	TCF B1 / DELF B1 / CEFP 2	PET	IELTS 3.5-4.5	Inicial	UNIcert I		Certification I	3.taso
Level 1	A2	Entry 2	36-46	Level 1	30	Start Deutsch 2	TCF A2 / DELF A2 / CEFP 1	KET	IELTS 3.0				Basic	2.taso
Breakthrough level	A1	Entry 1	26-35	Level A1		Start Deutsch 1	TCF A1 / DELF A1		IELTS 1.0-2.5	Acceso			Elementary	1.taso

[edit] See also

• Task-based language learning
• European Day of Languages - 26 September
• ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
• Canadian language benchmarks
• English as a Foreign Language
• Language education
• ILR or Foreign Service Level language ability measures

[edit] External links

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• Council of Europe: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• EALTA European Association for Language Testing and Assessment
• Association of Language Testers in Europe
• Common European Framework of Reference in the U.S.
• Goethe-Institut: The Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institution operational worldwide
• The European Language Certificates
• Criticism of the CEFR