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Visiting the ECML

Are you involved in education, perhaps as a learner, parent, trainee teacher, teacher, teacher educator or inspector? Are you looking for information and inspiring ideas in the areas of education for democratic citizenship, human rights and the contribution language education makes to these wider fields? If so, why not arrange a visit to the ECML, based in Graz, Austria?

Visiting request

If you would like to visit the centre, please fill in the form below and we will do our best to make your visit worthwhile.

Form in English - French - German

Are you involved in education, perhaps as a learner, parent, student-teacher, teacher, headteacher, teacher educator, curriculum developer, inspector or policy maker? Are you looking for information and inspiring ideas in the areas of education for democratic citizenship, human rights and the contribution language education makes to these wider fields? If so, why not arrange a visit to the ECML, based in Graz, Austria?

In our Communication and Resource Centre, we can introduce you to the ECML and the wider Council of Europe and provide input according to your specific needs.

Below you will find a typical visit programme with examples of additional input for the following target groups: language professionals including language researchers, primary and secondary teachers of all subjects and school pupils.

Once we know and understand your specific needs and areas of interest, the exact programme of your visit will be adapted accordingly.

A typical visit programme

The typical visit programme includes:

  • a presentation of the Council of Europe and its European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), with an overview of key developments in the field of education and language education, including the European Day of Languages
  • a visit to the Communication and Resource Centre where you can:
    • help yourself to a wide range of leaflets on education for human rights and democratic citizenship and on ECML resources;
    • consult the library collection of European Language Portfolios (ELP) and of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR);
  • browse the John Trim collection documenting the work of the Council of Europe in the field of languages between 1961 and 2002
  • a (digital) group photo, as a souvenir of your visit
  • an exchange of views and answers to your questions

Additional input for education professionals with a specific interest in language education

Language professionals can request additional input focusing on

  • A selection of the following ECML thematic areas:
    • Sign languages
    • Plurilingual and intercultural education
    • New media in language education
    • Migrant education and employment
    • Evaluation and assessment
    • Early language learning
    • Content integrated language learning (CLIL)
    • Languages of schooling
  • Specific ECML projects (www.ecml.at/programme)
  • Detailed information on the European Day of Languages including ideas for how to celebrate the day and access to a range of classroom resources
  • Languages professionals who are interested in the history of the Communicative Approach and the development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages might also be interested in requesting the workshop on the John Trim collection (for further details please see section entitled “Workshop: John Trim collection”)

NEWJohn Trim collection workshop A: for future and current language teachers

A workshop focusing on the “John Trim collection”, a collection of almost 11 000 resources documenting the work of the Council of Europe in the area of language education from 1961 and 2002. In addition to a presentation of the major contribution of the Council of Europe to language education (including the history of the Communicative Approach and developments leading to the CEFR), teachers will have a chance to critically examine examples of classroom activities and consider how they can be made more communicative and adapted to meet the needs of today’s learners.

NEWJohn Trim collection workshop B: for language education Master students and researchers

A workshop focusing on the “John Trim collection”, a collection of almost 11 000 resources documenting the work of the Council of Europe in the area of language education from 1961 and 2002. In addition to a presentation of the major contribution of the Council of Europe to language education (including the history of the Communicative Approach and developments leading to the CEFR), the potential use of the John Trim collection for research purposes will be explored. 

NEWAdditional input for teachers and trainee teachers of all subjects

On fixed dates and times there will be events organised by the Austrian Association of the ECML within the “CONTEXT” strand. These will include:

  • a presentation of Council of Europe pedagogical materials promoting its values (human rights, democratic citizenship …) with suggestions for classroom use
  • the European Day of Languages, its ideas and classroom implementation
  • introduction to workshops which can be booked for school classes (see section “School Pupils” below)

Duration: 1h30

Target group: teachers (primary, secondary) and trainee teachers of all subjects

NEWWorkshops for school pupils (age group: 10-14)

The workshops for school pupils will be implemented by the Austrian Association of the ECML in cooperation with the ECML and other local partner institutions within the so-called “CONTEXT Junior” strand.

Duration: 1h30

Group size: 25 Students

Frequency: two to three times a year on fixed dates and times that will be announced /communicated by the Austrian Association.

The workshops will include different modules and activities according to the individual needs of the visiting groups. 

Possible modules and activities:

  • Why language learning matters and ideas to celebrate the European Day of Languages (EDL)
  • Activities promoting day-to-day experience of plurilingualism in a fun and student-friendly way (language games, language challenge, etc.)
  • Youth activities around the Council of Europe values (human rights, democratic citizenship)

Activities for a wider public

Each year the ECML organises activities for a wider public including the European Day of Languages, colloquia, webinars and conferences. To find out more about these activities, please check the ECML’s online calendar of events. In addition to these activities, the Austrian Association of the ECML organises “CONTEXT” dissemination activities, taking advantage of international language experts who have come to Graz to work on ECML projects. These events are also included in the ECML online calendar. You can find further details here.

Practical information

Arrangements for visits:
  • Visits are free and last between 1 hour and 1h30.
  • Group visits: please return the request form (in English, French or German) to information@ecml.at at least 21 days before the desired date.
  • Individual visits: possible according to availability; please return the request form (in English or in French) to information@ecml.at at least 21 days before the desired visit date.
  • Additional input for teachers and trainee teachers of all subjects: fixed dates and times communicated by the Austrian Association.
  • Workshops for school pupils: two or three times a year target groups will be informed directly about fixed dates and times announced by the Austrian Association.
  • The ECML is open from Monday to Friday. It is closed on weekends and public holidays.

ECML visit leaflet can be downloaded here:

English - French - German

Contact us:

European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe
Nikolaiplatz 4
8020 Graz
Austria
Web: www.ecml.at
Phone: +43-316 32 35 54
E-mail: information@ecml.at 

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