This was a paper presented in the "Language Education and TESOL Postgraduate Student Conference" on 3 July 2012 in the School of Education, University of Leeds, UK. The paper talks about Lantech English Courses Framework that was adapted from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Lantech Institute for Training and Education, Hodeidah, Yemen, developed their new framework in 2010. The video of this presentation is on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNKOj84keUM https://www.youtube.com/user/fadhlab

1. Adapting
the Common European Framework (CEF)
to the Local Context
Procedures, Challenges and Solutions`
TESOL Students Conference 3 July 2012
School of Education
University of Leeds
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

2. Content
The Context
The need for the change:
Procedures
The new framework
Challenges & solutions
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

3. ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

4. The context
1. English status in the community
2. The institute (Lantech Institute)
3. English courses
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

5. The need for the change
1. The ambiguity of the existing frameworks all
over the area.
2. The increasing demand for international exams.
3. The need for quality assurance of the English
teaching process.
4. The weak outcomes of the English teaching
programs all over the area.
The need for the reform
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

6. Procedures
1. Forming a committee
2. Searching for an international reference framework.
3. Consulting local and foreign experts.
4. Selecting a reference framework (CEFR).
5. Adapting the framework in form of leveled courses
6. Selecting/adapting/ designing the teaching materials
7. Consulting some experts to ensure the new
framework quality.
8. Piloting and applying the new framework
Meeting regularly and evaluating each stage
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

7. SELECTING A REFERENCE FRAMEWORK
The Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages (CEFR)
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

8. Selecting a reference framework
The Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages (CEFR)
1. a six-level framework of language
performance
2. states general objectives to be achieved for
each stage rather than examining them.
3. most of the well-known international
examination board claims the relationship
of their exams to the Framework.
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

9. Selecting a reference framework
The Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages (CEFR)
A1 Breakthrough
A Basic User
A2 Waystage
B1 Threshold
B Independent User
B2 Vantage
C1 Effective Operational
C Proficient User Proficiency
C2 Mastery
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

10. Selecting a reference framework
An example of the CEFR description:
Reading:
• A1: I can understand familiar names, words and very simple
sentences, for example on notices and posters or in
catalogues.
• C2: I can read with ease virtually all forms of the written
language, including abstract, structurally or linguistically
complex texts such as manuals, specialised articles and
literary works.
http://www.uta.fi/kielikeskus/CEF/CEF.htm
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

11. The New framework
• A 22-level framework comprising 1060
classroom hours
• Assumed 2120 hours for home and self study
the more advanced the course, the more self study hours
assigned
• Four exam-preparation courses of 40 hours
after each stage
Depends on the exam the learners would like to set for
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

12. Relationship with Period Samples of the relat.
Stage/ Level No. Course name**
CEF* (hours) With intl. exams
Access A Starters 30
(for children) B Movers
1. Beginners A 50
2. Beginners B 50
Basic
3. Elementary A 50
A1+ 4. Elementary B 50
5. Pre-Intermediate A 50
Independent
A2 6. Pre-Intermediate B 50 KET, IELTS(3),
7. Intermediate A 50
B1 8. Intermediate B 50
PET, IELTS(4),
Optional exam preparation course 40 TOEFL(57-86)
9. upper- Intermediate A 50
Advanced
10. upper- Intermediate B 50
11. Advanced A 50
B2 + 12. Advanced B 50
Optional exam preparation course 40 FCE, IELTS(5.5),
13. Proficient A 1 50
Proficient
14. Proficient A 2 50
A
15. Proficient A 3 50
C1 16. Proficient A 4 50
Optional exam preparation course 40 CAE, IELTS(6.5- 7.0),
17. Proficient B 1 50
Proficien
18. Proficient B 2 50
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)
B
19. Proficient B 3 50

13. The course materials
• Headway plus
• Supplementary materials assigned by the department
committee
• 20% of the time of each course left for free activities flexible
for the teacher’s and learners’ choice
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

14. The results
• Clear understanding of what we do
• Massive increasing rate of the numbers of learners
• Learners continues to take more courses
• More trust from the learners, parents and organisations
• More recognition to the institute certificate
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

15. Sample of the Certificate - Front
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

16. Sample of the Certificate - Back
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

17. The Main Challenges & Solutions
1. Assigning a sequenced series of levels
2. Giving a detail description to each level of our
framework
3. Selecting/adapting or designing the teaching
materials
4. Placement tests
5. Teachers
6. Learners and Community
7. Length of the program
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

18. Adapting the CEFR to the Local Context
The Context
The need for the change:
Procedures
The new framework
Challenges & solutions
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

19. Work with a clear
vision of the end
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)

20. Thanks for Listening
Questions
Fadhel Abdullah
fadhlab2@gmail.com
ADAPTING THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEF)