ILL Workshop Overview

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What’s the purpose of the AOK Una introducción al ‘Independent Language Learning (ILL) Equation’ y el Pasaporte de Lenguas Europass

The purpose is to show professionals and staff how they can use ILL and the Europass Language Passport to strengthen their CV’s – ILL skills help when taking an English course or studying on your own.

It’s also to show administrators how they can use the Europass Language Passport to classify language proficiency for bilingual purposes.

If the results of the training are positive, they will also be used to encourage an international organization such as UNESCO to create an in-depth ILL website for public use.
Information about ILL is dispersed throughout the Internet. A centralized ILL website would help language learners who have finished their formal education and lack knowledge about ILL.

2. What is Independent Language Learning (ILL)?ILL is studying a foreign language on your own with your own chosen study team of friends, family, and exchange partners, or it´s taking a course and using it to support your studies with learning strategies and materials of your choice.

3. What is the CEFR?

The CEFR is the acronym for Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It’s a language curriculum overview/learning ladder with six levels of language learning objectives from beginner to advanced and can be used for any language.

The learning objectives are written in terms that students can understand and begin with ‘I Can…’.

For example, ‘I can describe myself, my family, and other individuals in simple terms.’ A2; ‘I can explain my point of view on a proposed plan of action, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.’ B2. (GLP)
It also divides languages into five categories – reading, writing, listening, spoken production and spoken interaction.
Because the CEFR is easy to understand, it can be used by students for self-assessments.
The CEFR is the basis of ILL, and the language portfolio (explained next) is the language learning tool used in the EU to learn it.

4. What is the European Language Portfolio (ELP)?

It’s a language learning approach/tool that serves functions at two levels:

First, as a portfolio the ELP belongs to the student and contains up-to-date paper or electronic samples of his/her work best work in studying a language.

Second, it’s used to develop autonomous learners. It is the official language learning approach used in the EU and presently in about half of N. America.
In N. America for the secondary level it’s called Linguafolio, and for university and adult level students it’s call the Global Language Portfolio.

An ELP is made up of three sections: the Passport, the Biography, and the Passport.
The Passport includes your CEFR self-assessments, when possible the scores from validated international exams, and a summary of a your linguistic experience.

The Biography shows where you are on the CEFR language learning ladder, indicates some of the ways you like to learn best, and contains self-assessments not only for the basic language skills of reading, writing, listening, spoken production, and spoken interaction, but also for intercultural competence.

The Dossier, like an artist’s portfolio, is an accumulation of your best and most up-to-date work, and is connected to CEFR ‘I Cans’. The AOK Workshop will include dossier formats participants can use to connect their on-the-job English accomplishments to their CEFR self-assessments to help prove their level of English.

5. What vital role does the ELP play in international business life in the EU?

The Passport Section of the ELP is what is summarized to make-up the Europass Language Passport section of the 2012 European Skills Passport (ESP).

The Language Passport summarizes your language skills. For this reason it can help administrators choosing staff for international assignments.

The ESP is the Internet job application prerequisite for EU citizens who are applying to work in EU related countries. It contains the Europass Language Passport, the Europass CV, and other documents.

For this reason, the ELP fulfills a role in both the language learning and employment processes for an EU citizen interested in working in an international situation.

(Please see the page on this website entitled: ‘The Development of ILL’ to learn more about ILL and language portfolios.)

6. How can you see an ELP exercise in terms of a learning equation?

A. Do a CEFR self-assessment and determine the ‘I Cans’ you want to work on. This information belongs to your Biography section.

B. Now set up the formula: CEFR/ALTE objective x reflective Planning x cognitive learning skills x language learning exercises = objective accomplished

C. The product can be put in Dossier section and connected to the ‘I Can’ through a form if very well done. Also, significant learning gains should be used to update the Passport section.

D. In the workshop, AOK will give an introduction in how to use the learning equation with links to free Internet English learning materials.

E. Because millions of people are learning English as their second language today, the number of free study sites on the Internet is growing significantly.

7. How are many adult education English students are presently using ILL?

Many adults are studying English on their own through their computers and mobile phones with Duolingo, a free Internet English course, and other various programs. With training, ILL learners can more effectively use this material. Most of the sites compete for advertising and are restricted to individual, noncommercial use.

8. How is ILL used in some universities today?

Today English as Foreign Language (EFL) students can study as ILL’s and request to take a formal exam to receive credit for their work – it´s not necessary to take a course.

Some universities have ILL learning centers that teach the students about strategies and how to access free materials on the Internet that are useful for them.
Duolingo is also currently being used as a support program for over 80,000 students studying English in the public schools in Costa Rica. Also, many are using Anki, a free vocabulary flashcard APP, to help them study.

Duolingo helps a lot, but it’s a ‘finished product’. Adults can do a lot better if they learn to use ILL strategies together with Duolingo and other free materials that are available on the Internet. This way they can concentrate on the basic skill/s of their choice.

9. The Plan of the Workshop

To provide an overview of how professionals and employees can use the ‘ILL Learning Equation’:

CEFR/ALTE Objective x reflective planning x cognitive learning skills x language learning exercises = Objective accomplished

and how professionals, employees and administrators can use the ‘Europass Language Passport’ and the ‘Dossier’, AOK will give an introduction in how to:

P-1 Determine your language learning objectives using the self-assessment systems of the CEFR and the Dialang, an informal test.

P-2 Use a Europass Language Portfolio (ELP) to:

P-2a Complete your Europass Language Passport and use it for administrative or professional purposes.

P-2b Take control of your learning through the Biography using reflective and cognitive strategies.

P-2c Show your English skills through the professional tasks exhibited in your Dossier and use it for administrative or professional purposes.

P-3 Choose effective learning applications for English.

P-4 Participate in learning communities for English, often at no cost.

P-5 Use free EFL learning websites for all levels and ages: AOK will distribute a large list.

10. How can I request a free ILL Workshop for my organization? To request a free workshop contact John Kirk at johnbkirk49@protonmail.com.

Bibliography

Global Language Portfolio (GLP). website: http://glp.elenes.com/glp-spoken-production.html; http://glp.elenes.com/cefr-spoken-prod.html . (accessed 3/1/17). The GLP is the N. American version of the European Language Portfolio for university and adult students.

´European Language Portfolio.’ website: http://elp.ecml.at/UsingtheELP/Understandingtheportfolio/tabid/2745/language/en-GB/Default.aspx. (accessed 5/13/17). This site is all about the European Language Portfolio.

Foreign Language Immersion Online. ‘52 Free Language Learning Websites That Are Almost Too Good to Be True.’ website: http://www.fluentu.com/blog/free-language-learning-websites/?lang=en (accessed 5/14/17). This site has a lot of ILL information.

LLAS. Centres for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies. ‘Supporting independent language learning: development for learners and teachers.’ website: https://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/gpg/1410.html (accessed 5/14/17). This is a useful handbook on ILL, especially Part 1: Skills for Independent Language Learning.

Riley, Kate. ‘Independent Language Learning.’ School of International Studies. http://hostingwin.unitn.it/riley/independent_language_learning %20an%20outline.htm. (accessed 5/14/17). This site is a summary of how to do ILL.

Study Guides and Strategies website. http://www.studygs.net/index.htm. (accessed 5/14/17). This site has a large number of study strategies usable for ILL.

Taber, Joan: ‘Instruction: Theories, Methodologies and Upheavals.’ website: http://seattlecentral.edu/faculty/jgeorg/TESLSCCC/ABriefHistory.htm. (accessed 5/14/17). A summary of language teaching methods.

Wikipedia. ‘Language Education. 4-Online and Self Study Courses.’ website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_education#Teaching_foreign_language_in_classrooms (accessed 5/19).

Wikipedia. ‘Common European Framework of Reference for Languages’. website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common European Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages. (accessed 5/14/17). This site is about the development of the CEFR.

Wikipedia. ‘Self access language learning centers.´ website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_access_language_learning_centers. (accessed 5/14/17). This article discusses different types of SALL Centers and gives examples of them at universities around the world.

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