DUBAI: More than 500 language educators and specialists on Thursday were brought together at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Dubai Men's College, to attend a landmark conference to examine the expanding global use of European language standards for measuring language ability.

The first biennial CEFR Conference - The CEFR and its implication for the Gulf States , under the theme of The CEFR: Principles of Good Practice, will look at the increasing global use of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and how it is being, and can be, used in the MENA region. The CEFR is now used to set standards all over the world and has been pioneered by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL).

The two-day conference, which is the first of its kind in the region, will help to raise awareness in the MENA region of the CEFR and how it is being used around the world.

Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor, Higher Colleges of Technology gave the opening address at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Dubai Men's College.

The conference is jointly hosted by HCT and Cambridge ESOL, as part of ongoing collaborations between the two institutions.

"The initiatives by Cambridge ESOL are promising as they help our students command English. The promising researches at HCT into describing the achievements of learners of foreign languages will produce a unique and objective analysis of the reality of different levels of English teaching systems in terms of vocabulary and grammar.""This should eventually lead to a definition of the levels Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) which receive the attention of language educators and specialists, textbook authors, examiners, trainers of teachers and of course learners of foreign languages," he added.

"Under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we do understand the significance of acquiring the skills that further bolster the role the UAE plays in the knowledge global economy.""I do agree with the famous Italian film director Federico Fellini who once said 'A different language is a different vision of life. It is like buying a new pair of eyes and ears. Learning a foreign language transports you into the mind of another culture," Sheikh Nahyan added.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching & Assessment (CEFR) is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and in other countries.

Educational language practitioners from around the world will share practical information on how to make use of the CEFR in teaching, assessment, structuring curriculum, and in education policy, both at local and national levels. It will benefit education policy makers and professionals engaged in language education (Arabic & English) and it will give delegates a unique opportunity to hear global perspectives and see how the CEFR is implemented in different educational systems.

The keynote speaker will be Dr Mike Milanovic, Chief Executive of Cambridge ESOL, who will give an overview of the CEFR in the opening plenary session, which will set the scene for a number of related themes during the conference. Dr Milanovic will be joined by several other international and UAE-based language experts at the conference. Specialized case studies and workshops will cover how the CEFR is increasingly used in teaching, assessment and educational policy making.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching & Assessment (CEFR) is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and in other countries. The CEFR is a framework published by the Council of Europe in 2001 describing language learners' ability in terms of speaking, reading, listening and writing at six reference levels. Although originating in Europe, the CEFR's influence extends beyond Europe. Its main aim is to provide a method of assessing and teaching which applies to all languages in Europe, and other countries.

The CEFR describes language ability on a scale of levels from A1 for beginners, to C2 for those who have mastered the language. This system make it easy for anyone involved in language teaching and testing, including students, teachers and teacher trainers, to see the level of different qualifications. Additionally, employers and educational institutions can easily compare qualifications and see how they relate to exams they are familiar with in their own countries.

The CEFR for Languages has a growing relevance for language testers and examination boards, helping to define language proficiency levels and interpret language qualifications.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.