CEFR in the Norwegian Context
             Kirstin J. Reed, Oslo Metropolitan University
           Higher/adult ed 
           CEFR in English
    English education in the Norwegian 
    Context
  Background/mission statement of the Department of Education:
  • English as a subject is the study of an international language and cultural diversity. In Norway  
  the subject is linked to studies in language, literature, culture and didactics. In our tradition English is for 
  proficiency, communication, describe and discuss experiences and as an educational discipline. 
  • Norway is a small language community and good language skills are of crucial importance for 
  interpersonal contact, economic and cultural interactions beyond borders. English-
  language studies allow for greater understanding of cultural diversity, both nationally and internationally. 
  • English has become a professional language in many professions and is essentially the language of 
  research. In order to participate in an international research community it is necessary to have 
  a high English language competence. 
  • Media and data development and a large degree of internationalization and exchange has led 
  to increased need for English-speaking competence. 
  • The English course opens for increased insight into the Anglo-American cultural heritage, 
  as well part of our own cultural heritage, and 
  for new perspectives on our common knowledge, culture and culture core values.
       Existing national                                                                          For incoming students  from other 
                                                                                                  countries
       rubrics
     The curriculum in basic Norwegian for linguistic minorities is age-
     dependent and level based. It is structured in four main areas: 
     listening and speaking, reading and writing, language learning and 
     language and culture. For each of these areas there are 
     competence goals on three levels. These levels are largely 
     prepared on the basis of the first four levels of the European 
     Language Learning Framework (Common European Framework of 
     Reference for Languages). (See curriculum in basic Norwegian, p. 
     1)
                                                                              The student can:
                                                                              •   Make important requests
                                                                              •   Tell about themselves, about things in their 
                                                                                  surroundings, or describe a photograph
                                                                              •   Can take part in a conversation
                                                                              •   Has pronunciation that is easy to understand
                                                                              •   Uses a variety of vocabulary
                                                                              •   Write a text, such as what they see in a photograph
                                                                              •   Write with few grammar errors
                                                                              •   Write with few spelling errors
    Learning Aims
    • Learning Aims are listed for grades 1, 2, 4, 7, 10 and are based on 
     communicative competencies:
    Grade 4 (age 9)
    • Use some common word words and simple spelling and sentence patterns
    Grade 7, 10 (age 12 and 15) 
    Use central patterns for typing, word bending, sentence and text 
    construction in text production
    A more systematic referral to the CEFR scales would be useful in providing a 
    scale in which to measure student progress in smaller increments. 
     • What does progression mean? Learning aims for 7th and 10th years are the same. How 
      do you chart progression of the higher level student?