ePortfolios for language learning

Since 2001 and the publication of the guidelines for the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), there has been a great deal of interest in the use of portfolios in language learning and teaching.  The main initiative here has been the European Language Portfolio, a product of the Council of Europe. A Swedish language guide to the Portfolio was released some 5 years ago, produced by the Department of In-service Training at Uppsala University. 

The idea is to help pupils in their language learning through the documentation of their developing language skills in accordance with the CEFR levels (A1- C2). The language portfolio has three main parts:

* the language passport (where pupils document their knowledge of foreign languages

* the language biography (where pupils can reflect on their language learning and knowledge of foreign language cultures in accordance with a checklist related to the CEFR levels)

* the language dossier (where pupils can collect samples of their performance in various spoken and written language tasks).

A more recent initiative is to digitalise the portfolio enabling documentation of pupils' work in terms of computer files and materials which can be stored on a server or computer hard drive.

If you have a spare minute, you might like to explore eportfolios for language learning by downloading the software available from the following page:

http://www.eelp.org/eportfolio/index.html

Have a good weekend!

Chris