Überlegungen zur Sprachkompetenzbeschreibung und Testvalidierung im Projekt HarmoS/Fremdsprachen

The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK/CDIP) intends to harmonize the cantonal school systems. One of the means to achieve this goal is to define educational standards for a number of school subjects, among them French, German and English as foreign languages (the exact combination of L2's varies between the parts of the country). The EDK/CDIP has entrusted consortiums of experts with this task. The article first describes the exact mission of the L2 Consortium in more detail and provides an overview of the specific conditions in which it is carried through. The article then focuses on issues regarding models of foreign-language proficiency, as well as the operationalisation of such models as tests. Fundamental considerations on practicable models and research design are given special emphasis; at the same time information is provided on the concrete work undertaken by the L2 Consortium.