The Role of Language Teachers’ Associations in Research and Language Teacher Training. Il ruolo delle associazioni di insegnanti di lingue nella ricerca disciplinare e nella formazione sul campo

The aim of this contribution is to highlight the central role of language teacher associations in enhancing the quality of language teaching practices through professional development opportunities, training and updating events, research programs, collaborative learning practices, shared experience and best practices. The second part of the work focuses on ANILS, the oldest Italian association of foreign languages teachers, which promotes and support initiative aimed at improving teachers’ professional knowledge, both on the educational and on the methodological teaching front, by means of its own study and research facilities and through collaboration with other associations or research centres.