Why won’t simply adding on applied English language skills to the existing EFL programs be enough to modernize EFL instruction at the tertiary level?

First, one of the goals of the ECOSTAR project is to standardize the teaching of English in higher education, in order to allow for mutual recognition of English courses both in Israel and abroad. This entails adopting a communicative, action-oriented approach, as presented in the CEFR. All skills should be integrated and not only included as isolated ‘add-ons’. Second, as stated, in order to adopt a common language for evaluating the quality of our students’ language and enabling mutual recognition, it is important to align with the CEFR-aligned Framework for English Teaching in Higher Education in Israel.