CARAP > Descriptors

K1 - K7 Language (see directly below)

K8 - K15 Culture

Language

K 1 - Language as semiological system

K 1

Pluralistic approaches are ESSENTIAL for the development of this resource

Knows some of the principles of how languages work

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K 1.1

Pluralistic approaches are IMPORTANT for the development of this resource

Knows that language(s) 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), or between the signifier (the word, the structure, the intonation, etc.) 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 or 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 or 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 or norms
K 1.4.1	Knows that these rules or norms may vary in the strictness or 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 or 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

Pluralistic approaches are USEFUL for the development of this resource

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 (e.g. the mother tongue, the language of schooling, foreign languages, etc.)

K 2 - Language and Society

K 2

Knows the role of society in the way languages work or the role of language in the way society works

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K 2.1	Has knowledge about synchronic variations in languages (e.g. regional, social, generational, professional or specific-public related (international English, “foreigner talk”, motherese, etc.) and other variations)
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 (e.g. official language, regional language, slang, etc.)

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 or 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 or environment
K 2.5.1	Has knowledge about the sociolinguistic diversity of own environment
K 2.5.2	Knows about the role played by different languages in one’s environment (e.g. common language of the country and the school, language of the family, etc.)
K 2.5.3	Knows that one’s own linguistic identity may be complex (due to personal, familial, national history, etc.)
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 or people, resettlements of people) which have influenced or do influence the appearance or development of certain languages

K-2.7

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

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 (or, 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 (e.g. gestures, facial expression etc.)

K 3.2

Possesses knowledge about one’s own communicative repertoire (e.g. languages and varieties, discursive genres, forms of communication, etc.)

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 (e.g. simplification, reformulation, etc.)
K 3.4.1	Knows that one can try to resort to linguistic similarities (e.g. 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 one’s disposal implicit and explicit knowledge and knows that others have knowledge of the same kind
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 language may have difficulty in communication and that he /she may need to or should be helped to ensure better communication
K 3.6.2	Knows that a person possessing knowledge about at least one other language or culture may play the role of mediation towards that other language or culture

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” (e.g. situations of contact, terminological needs linked to new products or technologies, swings of style, etc.)
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, etc.)

K 4.3

Possesses knowledge about the history of languages (e.g. the origin of some languages, some lexical and phonological evolutions, etc.)

K 5 - Multiplicity, diversity, multilingualism & plurilingualism

K 5

Has some knowledge about language diversity, multilingualism or 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 (e.g. phonemes, rhythmic patterns, etc.)

K 5.3

Knows that there are many different kinds of script

K 5.4

Knows that multilingual or plurilingual situations may vary according to countries or regions (e.g. in number or status of languages, attitudes towards languages, etc.)

K 5.5

Knows that multilingual or plurilingual situations are likely or 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 or that one same language is 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 or plurilingualism in one’s own environment and in other places, near or far

K 6 - Similarities and differences between languages

K 6

Knows that there are similarities and differences between languages and linguistic variations

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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 or organising reality
K 6.2.1	Knows that the particular way in which each language expresses or “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 or organisation of reality

K 6.3

Knows that categories used to describe the workings of one language (e.g. the mother tongue, the language of education) may not necessarily exist in other languages (e.g. number, gender, articles, etc.)

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 (e.g. masculine and feminine or masculine, feminine, neuter, etc.)
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 and phonological system
K 6.5.1	Knows that languages, regarding their sounds or sound system, may be different to varying degrees from one another or from one’s own language(s)
K 6.5.2	Knows that other languages may possess sounds which one may not even perceive, but which permit the users of those languages to distinguish words from one another
K 6.5.3	Knows that different languages may resemble each other or may vary in their prosody (e.g. rhythm, accentuation, intonation, etc.)

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 or relations (e.g. agreement, plural, possession, etc.)
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 (e.g. groups of words, words, etc.) may be expressed differently from one language to another (e.g. through the word order, through endings, through prepositions or postpositions, etc.)

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 (e.g. 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 or non-verbal communication systems
K 6.10.1	Knows that there are differences in the verbal or 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 speech acts (e.g. the rituals of greeting, formulae of politeness, etc.) which may seem to be the same, may not necessarily function in 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 (e.g. Who may take the initiative? Who may speak to whom? Who is addressed in a formal manner or in familiar terms as in vous/ tu in French?)

K 7 - Language and acquisition / learning

K 7

Knows how one acquires or 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 or that there is always room for improvement

K 7.2

Knows that one can build on the (structural, discursive or 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 perception one has of 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	Is familiar with various learning strategies and how they can be applied (e.g. listening and repeating, copying several times, translation, trying to produce 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

Culture

K 8 - Cultures: general characteristics

K 8

Possesses knowledge about what cultures are and how they work

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K 8.1

Knows that a culture is a grouping of practices, representations or 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 or manifest themselves in different domains (e.g. social interaction, the relationship with the environment, knowledge of reality, language, table manners, etc.)

K 8.4	Knows that the members of each culture define (partially) specific rules, norms or values about social practices or behaviours
K 8.4.1	Knows some rules, norms or values relative to social practices in certain domains in other cultures (e.g. 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 or values may be more or less rigid or flexible
K 8.4.4	Knows that these rules, norms or values may evolve in time and space

K 8.5

Knows that certain social practices in each culture may be arbitrary (e.g. rites, language3, table manners, etc)

K 8.6	Knows that each culture determines or organises at least partly the perception of the world or way of thinking of its members
K 8.6.1	Knows that facts, behaviours or speech may be perceived or 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 (e.g. numbering, methods of measurement, ways of telling time, etc.)

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

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 conflicting or convergent subcultures

K 9.2	Knows that within a same culture there exist cultural subgroups corresponding to social, regional or generational sub-populations
K 9.2.1	Knows some examples of the variation of cultural practices according to social, regional or 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 or 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 or cultural environment
K 9.4.1	Knows (at least to some extent) which culture(s) one participates in

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 or values specific to each culture make behaviour or 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 or words and the ways in which they are interpreted or 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 underlie verbal or non-verbal communication or interaction
K 10.3.1	Knows that difficulties in communication caused by cultural differences may result in cultural shock or cultural fatigue

K 10.4	Knows that intercultural relations and communication are influenced by knowledge or 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 (i.e. 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 or 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 and of the culture of others depends also on individual factors (e.g. previous experiences, personality traits, etc.)

K 10.7

Knows (or is aware of) one’s own reactions to (e.g. linguistic, language, cultural) difference

K 10.8	Has cultural references which structure one’s knowledge and perception of the world or 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 or 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 or 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 or clarified

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 and values are created by and evolve under the influence of different factors (e.g. history, environment, actions of members of the community, etc.)
K 11.1.1	Knows that the members of a cultural community play or 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 or explain certain cultural practices or 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 or geography often offer one the opportunity to understand or explain certain cultural practices or values
K 11.1.3.1	Knows certain historical facts (linked to relations between nations or people, to migrations, etc.) or geographical facts which have influenced or 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

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 or uses
K 12.1.2	Knows that in connection with the diversity of cultures, there exists a great plurality of values or 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 or shifting
K 12.2.2	Knows that it is difficult to distinguish or “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 or 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 or inferiority of any one in relation to the others
K 12.5.1	Knows that relations between countries are often unequal or 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 or 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

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 or function according to different cultures

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

K 14 Culture, language and identity

K 14

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

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K 14.1	Knows that identity is constructed on different levels (e.g. social, national, supranational, etc.)
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 or composite identity
K 14.3.1	Knows that such an identity may be difficult to assume or live, but that it may be lived in a perfectly harmonious way

K 14.4

Knows that bi/pluricultural or bi/plurilingual identities exist

K 14.5

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

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

K 15 - Culture and acquisition / learning

K 15

Knows how one acquires or learns a culture

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K 15.1

Knows that acculturation or belonging to a culture 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 behaviours or values of another culture

K 15.4

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

Pluralistic approaches are ...
	... useful
	... important
	... essential
... for the development of this resource.

Descriptors of resources

Knowledge

Language

K 1 - Language as semiological system

K 2 - Language and Society

K 3 - Verbal and non-verbal communication

K 4 - Evolution of Languages

K 5 - Multiplicity, diversity, multilingualism & plurilingualism

K 6 - Similarities and differences between languages

K 7 - Language and acquisition / learning

Culture

K 8 - Cultures: general characteristics

K 9 - Cultural and social diversity

K 10 - Cultures and intercultural relations

K 11 - The evolution of cultures

K 12 - The diversity of cultures

K 13 - Resemblances and differences between cultures

K 14 Culture, language and identity

K 15 - Culture and acquisition / learning

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