For what uses is CEF intended?
The CEF provides firm guidelines for the assessment of language competence.
The uses include:
The planning of language learning programmes in terms of:
- their assumptions regarding prior knowledge
- their objectives
- their content
The planning of language certification in terms of:
- content
- assessment criteria
The planning of self-directed learning, including:
- raising the learners’ awareness of their present state of knowledge
- self-assessment
- selection of material
These categories are based mainly on the four traditional language skills of:
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing
Within these areas the CEF defines a framework of language tasks extending over six internationally comparable levels of proficiency in three bands.