European network of language teacher associations

European Network
of Language Teacher Associations

Europäisches Netzwerk
der FremdsprachenlehrerInnenverbände

Red Europea de Asociaciones
de Profesores de Lenguas

The REAL2 project – 2009/2011

The ultimate aim of the REAL2 project is to create a vibrant and dynamic umbrella organisation, with legal status, under which many kinds of associations – large, small, monolingual, multilingual, representing not only the "big" languages of Europe, but also the rich variety of languages to be found within our borders – can meet and find ways to motivate learners, inspire teachers, improve professional development opportunities and make a real contribution to a more plurilingual Europe.

To take this work forward, REAL2 will:

• create a website for all language teachers associations where they can find useful and up-to-date information, not only on the project, but also on EU policy matters, what’s happening in the world of languages across Europe, find out more about their counterparts in Europe;

•  send regular newsletters to subscribers;

•  run seminars and other events for language teachers and associations;

•  create a new umbrella organisation with legal status which language teacher associations will be invited to join.

REAL2, co-funded by the European Commission (Lifelong Learning Programme), is led by a core group of eight associations. In the driving seat, CIEP, French "établissement public" for international matters in the field of education is managing the project, and as a co-pilot the UK Association for Language Learning (ALL), is taking an overview from an association perspective.

But participation in REAL2 is not just limited to these seven associations. Our first initiative, REAL1, began with a feasibility study in which we collected data from language teachers associations across the EU in one of the first ever attempts to map the sector. We also asked those who took part to tell us if they supported the idea of a network. 138 associations representing over 150,000 language teachers confirmed their interest in the REAL network.

At the end of the first phase we invited 52 associations to a final meeting in Sèvres (France), where we reported on progress and took soundings about how much support there was across the EU for an umbrella group of the kind REAL proposes. That support was unanimous – all associations represented were keen to be involved in REAL2, some in an active “second circle” of participants, others in an outer circle where they will receive regular updates on the project’s progress and the chance to send in their views, take part in activities and network with similar organisations.