A survey of language learning/teaching with an overview of activities in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic, INDIRE

This report is divided into two parts. The first summarizes the different activities carried out by INDIRE and the Italian Ministry of Education in schools focusing on the role of language teachers in new learning contexts as a result of the pandemic. In the second part the report presents the findings from a survey exploring the knowledge, attitudes and reactions of Italian teachers of languages and CLIL with reference to language teaching, learning and assessment in Italian schools. The findings are drawn from a nationally representative quantitative survey of 2.805 respondents: 78,4% foreign language teachers, 5,3% CLIL teachers, 9,3% both CLIL and language teachers, 1% school leaders. Respondents were mainly from upper secondary (41,3%) and lower secondary schools (31,9%), however primary teachers were also well represented (25,1%). This report aims to answer the following three research questions: RQ1: Are Italian teachers of foreign languages and CLIL teachers familiar with the Italian language policies, norms and reforms, as per the 2019 Council Recommendation on a comprehensive approach to the teaching and learning of languages? RQ2: What are the teachers’ levels of knowledge, attitudes and reactions towards language learning, teaching and assessment? RQ3: How did foreign language and CLIL teachers deal with the challenge of online, remote and blended language teaching, learning and assessment during the pandemic?