Preliminary Collaborative Steps in Establishing CEFR Sign Language Levels

This chapter explores the role of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in the context of teaching, learning, and more specifically, assessing signed languages. An exploration of various approaches used in selected universities across Europe provides perspectives on how the CEFR lends itself to adaptation. CEFR will be an important tool in shaping the future quality and comparability of higher education in the field of Deaf Studies and Interpreter Training both within each university and from an international perspective. Specific issues under discussion here are (i) the CEFR in relation to signed languages, (ii) the assessment of signed language skills as guided by the CEFR and (iii) future collaboration from an international perspective.