The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR) is a Council of Europe-issued guideline that aims to provide a method of language pedagogy that applies to all languages of Europe. This text provides a comparative analysis of the influence of the CEFR in selected countries within and outside Europe. Having solicited contributors from academia as well as those involved in policy-formation in their respective countries, editors Byram (emeritus, Durham U., England) and Parmenter (Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan U., England) present twinned chapters for each country that address the processes of taking CEFR into consideration in curriculum development, addressing aims, methods, materials, assessment, evaluation, and inspection, as well as the broader intellectual context for CEFR influence. The countries discussed are France, Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, Argentina, Colombia, the US, China, Japan, Taiwan, and New Zealand. Distributed in the US by UTP Distribution. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)