We frequently tend to divide language activities up into a set of four skills: two productive (speaking and writing) and two receptive (listening and reading) skills.
However, the Council of Europe’s CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) suggests an alternative way of dividing up the use of language, according to the way people are involved in the communication.
So, what’s new in this approach?
Below, you will see a graph that we developed based on CEFR, where we also highlighted the new elements in yellow!
Scroll down to see why this all may be relevant to you!
As you see, reception entails understanding language produced by others, whether in speech or in writing (also watching someone – see audio-visual reception), while production entails producing speech or writing. Interaction refers to spoken or written exchanges between two or more individuals, while mediation ( translation or interpretation) makes communication possible between individuals or groups who are unable to communicate directly. Interaction and mediation involve both reception and production.
Why is that relevant to me?
As you could see in our post CEFR levels explained – Now I know, there are several criteria you should meet in order to ‘jump’ one or more levels. Criteria starting with ‘Can use…’, ‘Can interact…’, ‘Can understand….’ all refer to one of the language activities decsribed above.
Please also NOTE: mediation (interpretation an translation) is considered as a separate activity (and skill) in this approach! Clearly, the general (mis)belief that everyone with a sound language knowledge can translate or interpret is pretty challanged here…
For more infos on translation-related topics, you are most welcome to check our website regularly!
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CEFR levels explained – Now I know
