EALTA

EALTA 2025 Summer School: Aligning language education to the CEFR

Brescia, Italy - 21-23 July 2025
from 10am to 5pm

Venue: Centro Congressi Paolo VI

Address: Via Gezio Calini, 30 - Brescia

Objectives

The aim of this summer school is to work with the processes described in Aligning Language Education with the CEFR: A Handbook.
We will break down the stages into manageable steps and discuss how to ensure quality within those steps.
The school will provide an opportunity for each participant to focus on their own projects, or potential projects, while offering valuable insights and solutions through group collaboration and sharing. The purpose is to make the alignment process practicable and attainable for a variety of stakeholders, purposes and contexts.

Outline of programme

This is a 3-day programme covering the following topics:

the key steps in an alignment process, including reporting and dissemination
strategies for addressing any challenges that may emerge in any alignment process
a consideration of JEDI (justice, equality, diversity, inclusion) issues
the resources needed for a robust alignment process

Target audience

EALTA members and interested individuals who have been, are now or will be:

involved in the development of an alignment process
interested in implementing or improving an alignment
completing an alignment project and in need of peer review

Background knowledge: No knowledge of the alignment process is assumed although it is assumed participants have an interest in engaging with aligning assessments or curricula to the CEFR at whatever level.

School leaders

Neus Figueras

Neus Figueras lectures part-time at the University of Barcelona and has given courses and presented in universities in Spain and in different European countries, in Asia and the USA. She has been involved in a number of international projects and collaborated with the Council of Europe in the dissemination of the CEFR. She is one of the authors of the Manual for Relating examinations to the CEFR (Council of Europe, 2009) and of Aligning language education with the CEFR: a Handbook (2022). She edited, with David Little, Reflecting on the CEFR for languages and its Companion Volume (2021), published by Multilingual Matters. She was the first President (2004-7) of EALTA, and has coordinated the EALTA CEFR SIG for over 10 years.

nfiguera@xtec.cat

Elaine Boyd

Elaine Boyd has worked in assessment design and development for over 35 years for a range of international testing organisations and has designed several courses in assessment literacy along with publishing several articles in this field.
She is a contributing author to Reflecting on the CEFR for languages and its Companion Volume, (2021) Figueras, N. & Little, D. (eds.), published by Multilingual Matters.
She holds a PhD in pragmatics from the University of Cardiff and is an Associate Lecturer on the M.A. Linguistics/TESOL at the Institute of Education, UCL.

elaine.boyd@ucl.ac.uk

Registration Fee

Spaces are limited to 25 participants and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Early Bird Registration (by April 15, 2025): €120.00
Regular Fee (from April 16, 2025 onwards): €140.00

The fee includes:

All the summer school materials
Refreshment station according to the programme
Certificate of attendance

The fee does not include:

All travel, meals and accomodation arrangements.

Registration form

To secure your spot, please complete the registration form below. Once submitted, you will receive instructions for payment via bank transfer.

Registrations are open until May 16th 2025.

Logistics Information

Getting Here: Directions and travel options to the Summer School venue

From Milan-Malpensa Airport (MXP)

By Car: The drive takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Follow signs for the A4 highway towards Venice, then exit at Brescia Centro.
By Train: Take the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale station. From there, take a direct train to Brescia (Trenitalia or Italo). The total travel time is approximately 2 hours.

From Milan-Linate Airport (LIN)

By Car: The drive takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. Take the A35 (BreBeMi) highway towards Brescia, exiting at Brescia Centro.
By Metro: take the M4 line (blue) to San Babila, then switch to the M1 line (red) towards Rho Fiera/Bisceglie for one stop to Duomo, and finally take the M3 line (yellow) towards Comasina to Centrale FS.
By Taxi: about 15-25 min, cost € 25-35.

From Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport (BGY)

By Bus: The Autostradale service (€12, one-way, 60 min travel time) connects Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport to Brescia, arriving at the SIA bus station (Via Solferino 6, platform 24). Buses run from 5:10 AM to 10:30 PM.
Alternatively, the new Orio al Serio Airlink provides a fast and direct connection between the airport and Brescia (Metro Poliambulanza stop), with dozens of daily departures.
By Car: The drive takes about 40 minutes via the A4 highway towards Venice, exiting at Brescia Centro.

From Verona Airport to Brescia

By car: Take the A4 highway towards Milan, exit at Brescia Centro (45 min).
By public transport: Aerobus to Verona Porta Nuova (15 min), then take a train to Brescia (Trenitalia or Italo).

From Brescia Train Station to Centro Paolo VI

By Taxi: take a taxi from the main exit (or call 030 35111); the ride takes 5-10 minutes and costs around €10-15, depending on traffic.
On Foot: The train station is about a 20 minute walk from Centro Paolo VI.