In today’s very competitive world, companies need to improve their performance when it comes to multilingual business communication. Therefore, they need to establish standards to set up individual, specific and measurable goals for different categories of staff, depending on how they use language in their jobs.

The most frequently used system is the Common European Framework of References, known as the CEFR. The standards put in place by the CEFR provide concrete tools for human resources departments in their analysis of a company’s linguistic needs and the set up of personal development objectives.

The Common European Framework of References (CEFR) was created by the Council of Europe and has been developed through a process of scientific research and wide consultation. It gives a clear definition of teaching and learning objectives and methods and provides the necessary tools for assessment of proficiency. Through a system of “can do” competences needed to solve different tasks, in different situations, the CEFR framework is well suited to an approach that integrates the realities of the work place.