Language

K 1 - Language as semiological system

K 1	Knows some of the principles of how languages work

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K 1.1

Knows that ° language is / languages are° composed of signs which form a (semiological) system

 

K 1.2	Knows that the relationship °between words and their referent, <the reality which they designate> / between the  *signifier* <the word, the structure, the intonation …> and the meaning° is a priori an arbitrary one
K 1.2.1	Knows that even cases of onomatopeia, where a link does exist between word and referent, retain a degree of arbitrariness and vary from one language to another
K 1.2.2	Knows that two words which may °have the same form / look alike° in different languages do not automatically mean the same thing
K 1.2.3	Knows that grammatical categories are not “the” replica of reality but one way of organising this in language
K 1.2.3.1	Knows that grammatical gender and sexual gender are not the same thing

 

K 1.3	Knows that the arbitrary link °between the word and the referent / between the signifier and the meaning° is established, most often implicitly, as a convention within the linguistic community
K 1.3.1	Knows that within the same linguistic community, individuals give approximately the same meaning to the same signifiers

 

K 1.4	Knows that languages work in accordance with ° rules / norms°
K 1.4.1	Knows that these °rules / norms° may vary in the °strictness / flexibility° of their application and that they may sometimes be intentionally broken because the speaker wishes to transmit an implicit content
K 1.4.2	Knows that these °rules / norms° may evolve in time and across physical distances

 

K 1.5

Knows that there are always variations within what one may consider to be the same language

 

K 1.6

Knows that a language functions differently in its spoken and written forms

 

K 1.7

Possesses knowledge of a linguistic nature about a particular language (/the mother tongue / the language of schooling / foreign languages/…)

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K 2 - Language and Society

K 2	Knows the role of society in the way languages work / the role of language in the way society works

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K 2.1	Has knowledge about synchronic variations in languages {°regional / social / generational / professional / specific-public related (international English, “foreigner talk”, motherese...) / ...° }
K 2.1.1	Knows that each one of these variations can be legitimate in certain contexts and under certain conditions
K 2.1.2	Knows that one must keep in mind the sociocultural characteristics of speakers using these variations in order to interpret them
K 2.1.3	Knows some categories of languages with regard to their status in society (/official language / regional language / slang / ...)

 

K 2.2

Knows that each individual belongs to at least one linguistic community and that many persons belong to more than one linguistic community

 

K 2.3

Knows that identity is °constructed / defined° in interaction with “the other” during the process of communication

 

K 2.4

Knows that the language one uses contributes, along with other phenomena, to one’s identity

 

K 2.5	Knows some of the characteristics of one’s own linguistic °situation / environment°
K 2.5.1	Has knowledge about the sociolinguistic diversity of own environment
K 2.5.2	Knows the role played by different languages in one’s environment (/everyday language / language of schooling / familiar language / ...)
K 2.5.3	Knows that one’s own linguistic identity may be complex (due to personal, familial, national history ...)
K 2.5.3.1	Knows the determining components of one’s own linguistic identity

 

K-2.6

Has knowledge about historical facts (linked to relations between °nations / people° , migrations ...) which have influenced / influence the origins or the evolution of some languages

 

K-2.7

Knows that in mastering knowledge about languages, one also acquires °historical / geographical° knowledge

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K 3 - Verbal and non-verbal communication

K 3	Knows some of the principles of how communication functions

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K 3.1	Knows that apart from linguistic communication, there are other forms of communication [that linguistic communication is but one of the possible forms communication can take]
K 3.1.1	Knows some examples of animal communication
K 3.1.2	Knows some examples of human non-linguistic communication (gestures, facial expression …)

 

K 3.2

Possesses knowledge about one’s own communicative repertoire {languages and varieties, discursive genres, forms of communication ...}

 

K 3.3

Knows that one must adapt one’s own communicative repertoire to the social and cultural context within which communication is taking place

 

K 3.4	Knows that there exists language means to facilitate communication {simplification / reformulation etc.}
K 3.4.1	Knows that one can try to resort to linguistic similarities {genealogical links, loans, universals} to facilitate communication

 

K 3.5	Knows that one’s communicative competence originates from (usually implicit) knowledge of a linguistic, cultural and social nature
K 3.5.1	Knows that in order to communicate, one has at his / her disposal implicit and explicit information / knowledge and knows that others have information / knowledge of the same order
K 3.5.2	Is aware of some of the aspects of the implicit knowledge upon which one’s own ability to communicate depends

 

K 3.6	Knows that in view of his / her plurilingual and pluricultural competence, a person who speaks a foreign language possesses a particular status in communication (a special status in communication)
K 3.6.1	Knows that a person who possesses partial knowledge of a foreign language may have difficulty in communication and that he °may need to / should be helped to° ensure better communication
K 3.6.2	Knows that a person possessing knowledge about at least another °language / culture° , may play the role of mediation towards that other °language / culture°

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K 4 - Evolution of languages

K 4	Knows that languages are continuously evolving

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K 4.1	Knows that languages are linked between themselves by so-called “kinship” relationships / knows that languages belong to families
K 4.1.1	Knows about some families of languages and of some languages which make up these families

 

K 4.2	Knows about the phenomenon of “loaning” from one language to another
K 4.2.1	Knows about the conditions which bring about linguistic “loans” {situations of contact, lexical / terminological needs linked to new °products / technologies°, swings of style ...}
K 4.2.2	Knows what differentiates a linguistic “loan” from linguistic “kinship”
K 4.2.3	Knows that certain “loans” have spread across a number of languages (taxi, computer, hotel, ...)

 

K 4.3

Possesses knowledge about the history of languages (/the origin of some languages / some lexical and phonological evolutions / ...)

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K 5 - Multiplicity, diversity, multilingualism & plurilingualism

K 5	Has some knowledge about language diversity / multilingualism / plurilingualism

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K 5.1

Knows that there are very many languages in the world

 

K 5.2

Knows that there are many different kinds of sounds used in languages {phonemes, rhythmic patterns ...}

 

K 5.3

Knows that there are many different kinds of script

 

K 5.4

Knows that °multilingual / plurilingual° situations vary according to °countries / regions° { ° number / status° of languages, attitudes towards languages ...}

 

K 5.5

Knows that °multilingual / plurilingual° situations are likely / liable to evolve

 

K 5.6	Knows that sociolinguistic situations can be complex
K 5.6.1	Knows that one must not confuse country with language
K 5.6.1.1	Knows that there are often °several languages used in one country / one same language used in several countries°
K 5.6.1.2	Knows that often the borders between languages and countries do not coincide precisely

 

K 5.7

Is aware of the existence of situations of °multilingualism / plurilingualism° in one’s own environment and in other places, near or far

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K 6 - Similarities and differences between languages

K 6	Knows that there are similarities and differences between °languages / linguistic variations° 2

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K-6.1	Knows that each language has its own system
K 6.1.1	Knows that the system which makes up one’s own language is only one possibility among others

 

K 6.2	Knows that each language has its own, partly specific, way of °perceiving / organising° reality
K 6.2.1	Knows that the particular way in which each language expresses / “organises” the world is influenced by culture
K 6.2.2	Knows therefore that in translating from one language to another there is rarely a word for word solution, a simple exchange of labels, but that one should see the process within the context of a different °perception / organisation of reality°

 

K 6.3

Knows that categories used to describe the workings of a language (/the mother tongue / the language of education/) may not necessarily exist in others {number, gender, the article ...}

 

K 6.4	Knows that even when these categories can be found in another language, they are not necessarily organised in the same way
K 6.4.1	Knows that the number of elements which make up a category may vary from one language to another { masculine and feminine / masculine, feminine, neuter ...}
K 6.4.2	Knows that the gender of the same word may vary from one language to another

 

K 6.5	Knows that each language has its own phonetic / phonological system
K 6.5.1	Knows that languages, regarding to their °sounds / sound system°, may be different to varying degrees from °one another / one’s own language(s)°
K 6.5.2	Knows that other languages may possess sounds which the untrained ear may not even perceive, but which permit the users of those languages to distinguish one word from another / words from others
K 6.5.3	Knows that different languages °may resemble each other / may vary° in their prosody (/rhythm / accentuation / intonation/)

 

K 6.6	Knows that there is no word for word equivalence from one language to another
K 6.6.1	Knows that languages may use a different number of words to express the same thing
K 6.6.2	Knows that what one language may express with one word may be expressed by two or more words in another language
K 6.6.3	Knows that certain aspects of reality may be expressed in words in one language, but not in others

 

K 6.7	Knows that words may be constructed differently in different languages
K 6.7.1	Knows that languages may use different ways to indicate °categories / relations° {agreement / plural / possession ...}
K 6.7.2	Knows that the order in which elements making up a single word are placed may differ from one language to another
K 6.7.3	Knows that what one language expresses through the use of a compound word may correspond to the use of a group of words in another language

 

K 6.8	Knows that the organisation of an utterance may vary from one language to another
K 6.8.1	Knows that the order of words may differ from one language to another
K 6.8.2	Knows that the relationships between the elements of an utterance (/ groups of words / words /) may be expressed differently from one language to another {through the word order, through endings, through prepositions / postpositions ...)

 

K 6.9	Knows that systems of script may function in different ways
K 6.9.1	Is aware of the existence of different forms of script {phonograms, ideograms, pictograms}
K 6.9.2	Knows that the number of units used in writing may be very different from one language to another
K 6.9.3	Knows that similar sounds may be expressed in completely different ways in different languages
K 6.9.4	Knows that the correspondence established between graphemes and phonemes in alphabetic systems is specific to each language

 

K 6.10	Knows that there are similarities and differences between °verbal / non-verbal° communication systems from one language to another
K 6.10.1	Knows that there are differences in the °verbal / non-verbal° ways in which feelings are expressed in different languages
K 6.10.1.1	Is familiar with some differences in the way feelings are expressed in some languages
K 6.10.2	Knows that some language functions (/the rituals of greeting / formulae of politeness /...) which may seem to be the same may not necessarily function the same way from one language to another
K 6.10.3	Knows that the rules of conversation [relating to the way one addresses others] may vary from one language to another {Who may take the initiative? Who may speak to whom? Who is addressed in formal manner or in familiar terms as in vous/tu in French?}

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K 7 - Language and °acquisition / learning°

K 7	Knows how one °acquires / learns° a language

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K 7.1	Knows some of the basic principles which underly the process of learning to speak a language
K 7.1.1	Knows that learning a language is a long and arduous process
K 7.1.2	Knows that it is normal to commit errors when one has not yet mastered a language
K 7.1.3	Knows that certain behaviours can help the learner, but that incessant correction or ridicule can in the same way “block” the process
K 7.1.4	Knows °that one never completely knows a language / that there are always things one does not know / that there is always room for improvement°

 

K 7.2

Knows that one can rely on the ( / structural / discursive / pragmatic / ) similarities between languages in order to learn languages

 

K 7.3

Knows that one can learn better if one has a positive attitude towards linguistic differences

 

K 7.4

Knows that the way one sees / perceives a language influences the learning of that language

 

K 7.5	Knows that there are different strategies for learning languages and that the different strategies are not equally relevant in view of the learning objectives of the learner
K 7.5.1	Knows about different strategies and their relevance {listening and repeating, copying out several times, translating, attempting to construct utterances by oneself}

 

K 7.6

Knows that it is useful to be well aware of learning strategies one uses in order to be able to adapt them to one’s specific objectives

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Culture

K 8 - Cultures: general characteristics

K 8	Possesses knowledge about what cultures are / how they work

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K 8.1

Knows that a culture is a grouping of °practices / representations / values° of all kinds shared (at least partially) by its members

 

K 8.2

Knows that a number of cultures, more or less different, exist

 

K 8.3

Knows that cultural systems °are complex / manifest themselves in different domains {social interaction, the relationship with the environment, knowledge of reality, language, table manners,…}°

 

K 8.4	Knows that the members of each culture define (partially) specific °rules / norms / values° about °social practices / behaviours°
K 8.4.1	Knows some °rules / norms / values° relative to social practices in certain domains in other cultures {greetings, everyday needs, sexuality, death, etc.}
K 8.4.2	Knows that some of these norms may constitute taboos
K 8.4.3	Knows that these °rules / norms / values° may be more or less °rigid / flexible°
K 8.4.4	Knows that these °rules / norms / values° may evolve in time and space

 

K 8.5

Knows that certain social practices in each culture may be arbitrary {rites, language3, table manners, etc.}

 

K 8.6	Knows that each culture °determines / organises° at least partly the °perception / view of the world / way of thinking° of its members
K 8.6.1	Knows that °facts / behaviours / speech° may be °perceived / understood° differently by members of different cultures
K-8.6.2	Is familiar with some schemes of interpretation specific to certain cultures as far as knowledge of the world is concerned {numbering, methods of measurement, ways of telling time, etc.}

 

K 8.7	Knows that cultures influence °behaviours / social practices / personal evaluations° (°of oneself / of others°)
K 8.7.1	Is familiar with some °social practices / customs° from different cultures
K 8.7.1	Is familiar with some °social practices / customs° from neighbouring cultures
K 8.7.2	Is familiar with some specificities of one’s own culture in relation to certain °social practices / customs° from other cultures

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K 9 - Cultural and social diversity

K 9	Knows that cultural diversity and social diversity are closely linked

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K 9.1

Knows that a culture is always complex and is itself made up of (more or less) different and °conflicting / convergent° subcultures

 

K 9.2	Knows that within a culture there exist subcultures corresponding to °social / regional / generational° groupings
K 9.2.1	Knows some examples of the variation of cultural practices according to °social / regional / generational° groupings
K 9.2.2	Knows (in one’s own culture or in other cultures) some norms related to social practices and which are specific to certain °social / regional / generational° groupings

 

K 9.3

Knows that every person forms part of at least one cultural community and that many persons form part of more than one cultural community

 

K 9.4	Knows some characteristics of one’s own °situation / cultural environment°
K 9.4.1	Knows (at least to some extent) which culture(s) one participates in

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K 10 - Cultures and intercultural relations

K 10	Knows the role of culture in intercultural relations and communication

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K 10.1

Knows that ° uses / norms / values ° specific to each culture make behaviour / personal decisions complex within a context of cultural diversity

 

K 10.2	Knows that culture and identity influence communicative interactions
K 10.2.1	Knows that °behaviours / words° and the ways in which they are °interpreted / evaluated° are linked to cultural references
K 10.2.2	Is aware of how cultures structure roles in social interactions

 

K 10.3	Knows that cultural differences may underly °verbal / non-verbal° °communication / interaction°
K 10.3.1	Knows that difficulties in communication caused by cultural differences may result in °cultural shock / cultural fatigue°

 

K 10.4	Knows that intercultural relations and communication are influenced by °knowledge / representations° one has of other cultures and those that others have of one’s own culture
K 10.4.1	Knows that knowledge one has of cultures often includes stereotypes < a simplified and sometimes useful way of grasping one aspect of reality, liable to lead to oversimplification and generalisation >
K 10.4.2	Knows some stereotypes of cultural origin which may affect intercultural relations and communication
K 10.4.3	Is aware of the existence of cultural prejudice
K 10.4.3.1	Knows some examples of °prejudice / misunderstandings° of cultural origin (especially in the case of the cultures of those communities whose language one is learning)

 

K 10.5	Knows that the interpretation that others give to one’s behaviour may be different from that which that same person himself / herself gives to that same behaviour
K 10.5.1	Knows that one’s own cultural practices may be interpreted by others through the application of stereotypes
K 10.5.1.1	Knows some stereotypes other cultures have about one’s own culture

 

K 10.6

Knows that the perception of one’s own culture depends also on individual factors {previous experiences, traits of character …}

 

K 10.7

Knows [is aware of] one’s own reactions to (/ linguistic / language / cultural/ ) difference

 

K 10.8	Has cultural references which structure one’s knowledge and perception of °the world / other cultures° as well as one’s intercultural, social and communicative practices
K 10.8.1	Has knowledge about cultures °which are the object of formal learning / which belong to other learners in the class / which one finds in the immediate environment°
K 10.8.2	Knows certain elements which are characteristic of one’s own culture in comparison to other cultures °which are the object of formal learning / which belong to other learners in the class / which one finds in the immediate environment°

 

K 10.9	Knows strategies which one can use to resolve intercultural conflicts
K 10.9.1	Knows that the causes of misunderstanding must be jointly °sought / clarified°

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K 11 - The evolution of cultures

K 11	Knows that cultures are continuously evolving

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K 11.1	Knows that cultural °practices / values° are created by and evolve under the influence of different factors (/ history / the environment / the actions of members of the community / …)
K 11.1.1	Knows that the members of a cultural community °play / may play° an important part in the evolution of their culture
K 11.1.2	Knows that the environment often offers the opportunity for one °to understand / to explain° certain cultural °practices / values°
K 11.1.2.1	Knows the role of institutions and politics in the evolution of cultures
K 11.1.3	Knows that °history / geography° often offer one the opportunity °to understand / to explain° certain cultural °practices / values°
K 11.1.3.1	Knows certain ° historical facts (linked to relations between ° nations / people ° , to migrations …) / geographical facts° which have influenced / influence° the creation or evolution of certain cultures

 

K 11.2	Knows that certain cultures are linked by particular historical relationships (common origin, old contacts, etc.)
K 11.2.1	Knows some major cultural areas (linked to history, religion, language, etc.)

 

K 11.3	Knows that cultures continuously exchange elements between themselves
K 11.3.1	Knows that cultures can influence each other
K 11.3.2	Knows some cultural elements which one’s own culture has borrowed from others, as well as the history of these elements
K 11.3.3	Knows some elements which one’s own culture has given to other cultures
K 11.3.4	Knows that cultural differences tend to dwindle under the influence of globalization

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K 12 - The diversity of cultures

K 12	Knows several phenomena relative to the diversity of cultures

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K 12.1	Knows that there is (still) a great multiplicity of cultures all over the world
K 12.1.1	Knows that in connection with the diversity of cultures, there exists a great plurality of ° practices / customs / uses °
K 12.1.2	Knows that in connection with the diversity of cultures, there exists a great plurality of °values / norms°

 

K 12.2	Knows that it is often difficult to distinguish one culture from another
K 12.2.1	Knows that the borders between cultures are often °blurred / indeterminate / shifting°
K 12.2.2	Knows that it is difficult to distinguish / “count” cultures

 

K 12.3	Knows that one can find an extensive variety of situations of contacts between cultures
K 12.3.1	Knows that one must not confuse °culture and country / culture and language°

 

K 12.4

Knows that different cultures are continuously in contact in our immediate environment

 

K 12.5	Knows that the diversity of cultures does not imply °superiority / inferiority° of any one in relation to the others
K 12.5.1	Knows that relations between countries are often ° unequal / hierarchised °
K 12.5.2	Knows that hierarchies established arbitrarily between cultures change with time
K 12.5.3	Knows that hierarchies established arbitrarily between cultures change according to °one’s point of view / the point of reference°
K 12.5.3.1	Knows that the graphical representation of the world is different according to the maps one is using

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K 13 - Resemblances and differences between cultures

K 13	Knows that resemblances and differences exist between (sub)cultures

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K 13.1	Knows that each culture has (partially) its own way of functioning
K 13.1.1	Knows that the same act may have a different °meaning / value / function° according to different cultures

 

K 13.2	Knows that there may be °resemblances / differences° between cultures
K 13.2.1	Knows some °resemblances / differences° between one’s own culture and other cultures
K 13.2.2	Knows some °resemblances / differences° between °social practices / customs / values / means of expression° between different cultures
K 13.2.3	Knows some °resemblances / differences° between the cultures of different °social / generational / regional° groups
K 13.2.3.1	Knows some°resemblances / differences° between the cultures of different (°social / generational / regional°) groups in one’s immediate environment
K 13.2.4	Knows some differences in °verbal / non-verbal° l expression of feelings (/ of emotions /…) in different cultures3
K 13.2.5	Knows some differences in the °verbal / non-verbal° expression of social relations in different cultures

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K 14 Culture, laguage and identity

K 14	Knows that identity is constructed, amongst other things, in relation to one or more °linguistic / cultural° affiliations

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K 14.1	Knows that identity is constructed on different levels {social, national, supranational …}
K 14.1.1	Knows that the similarities and the differences between European cultures are a constitutive element of European identity

 

K 14.2

Knows that one always belongs to various (sub)cultures

 

K 14.3	Knows that one can have a °multiple / plural / composite° identity
K 14.3.1	Knows that such an identity may be difficult to °assume / live° but that it may be lived in a perfectly harmonious way

 

K 14.4

Knows that °bi/pluricultural / bi/plurilingual° identities exist

 

K 14.5

Knows of the existence of °°dangers of cultural °weakening / alienation° // possibilities of cultural enrichment°° which may come about as a result of contact with other (dominant) °languages / cultures°

 

K 14.6	Knows that one’s own cultural identity may be complex (due to personal, family, national history …)
K 14.6.1	Knows some major elements of one’s own cultural identity

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K 15 - Culture and °acquisition / learning °

K 15	Knows how one °acquires / learns° a culture

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K 15.1

Knows that °belonging to a culture / acculturation° is the result of a long (largely implicit and subconscious) process of learning

 

K 15.2

Knows that one can apprehend a new culture as long as one wants to and one accepts the values linked to that culture

 

K 15.3

Knows that one is never obliged to adopt the °behaviours / values° of another culture

 

K 15.4

Knows that it is normal to commit “errors” of °behaviour / interpretation of behaviours° when one does not sufficiently know a culture and that being aware of this opens the way to learning

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