SBATEYL.org: A Virtual Space for Effective Language Training

The paper presents an ongoing European cross-institutional project on teaching young language learners whose aim is to develop a web-based in-service teacher education programme with a school-based follow-up component. The main focus of the project is to bring researchers and teachers together to establish an innovative professional procedure blending theory and practice. Based on the strategic partnership between one local university and one primary school from each participant country, the project aims to foster the professional advancement and teaching practices of primary school teachers. The article initially outlines the main theoretical and methodological issues in the field of early foreign language acquisition in order to contextualise the project. Subsequently, it describes the operational phases of the project as well as the research perspectives underlying the creation of specific syllabuses and modules which will be available on the web portal of the project. In the conclusion it suggests ways of developing our research in order to contribute to the building of a European framework for foreign language teacher training