Sign languages and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Descriptors and approaches to assessment
See more: CEFR
Authors: Lorraine Leeson Beppie van den Bogaerde Christian Rathmann Tobias Haug, 2016
The ECML’s PRO-Sign project set out to establish European standards for sign language proficiency for professional purposes, focusing specifically on sign language teaching in Deaf Studies and Sign Language Interpreting programmes (see also Leeson and Calle 2013, Leeson and Bowen 2013).
The project worked with associate partners and workshop and network participants who engaged in evaluating, testing and consolidating CEFR descriptors for sign language teaching, learning and assessment over the period 2012-2015. The result is the descriptors for sign language, aligned to the reference levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), presented in this document.
This resource establishes European standards for sign languages for professional purposes in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and provides an overview of assessment descriptors and approaches.
Resources
A website containing:
- definitions of CEFR proficiency levels for sign languages
- sign language videos and links to related projects and activities
- an assessment cycle for language proficiency in sign languages
- ideas for making good use of the CEFR (article by David Little)
