In-service language teacher training: the importance of needs evaluation for successful training

In-service language teacher training is crucial for improving teaching quality and learners’ outcomes. This paper describes a professional development initiative for the Italian teacher globally, promoted in 2024-2025. Originating from discussions among Italian teachers based in the People’s Republic of China, the project addressed a clear need for supplementary training. A questionnaire was distributed to assess specific needs, followed by a focus group to discuss responses. Subsequently, a three-webinar training program was delivered. A satisfaction questionnaire administered during the final webinar gathered participants’ feedback. This study details the implementation of this tailored program for Italian language teachers, starting from those in China but later expanding to those working in different countries all over the world, and proposes a model for future in-service language teacher training initiatives.